How Scottish FA used AI in selecting new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli

The SFA have their own in-house data team but called on external help when trying to figure out the best strategy for what a Scotland head coach should look like.

A digital blueprint for footballing success determined by factors like culture, genetics and even weather.

“We looked at 10 different countries, similar size to Scotland, similar population base, similar football history and said ‘right, what are they doing that we need to make sure we’re doing to continue to progress?’

“Then you get a data set and put that against the coaches and that leads you to who you actually want to talk to,” said Mulholland.

The analytics process also dispelled some myths about what makes a good international coach.

“I thought that someone who had been an international manager before would be more successful, but what the data tells us is that people doing that job for the first time at international level are more successful.

“I thought older managers tended to be the ones you go for but there’s actually no difference in terms of success between those under and over 50.

“You would think that people from their own country might be more successful but again we found that wasn’t the case.”