Head of Football Insights

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-new-role-martin-11199752

 

Leicester City advertise new role to 'support' Russell Martin and James McCarron
Leicester City are looking for a Head of Football Insights to join them

Leicester City are set to bring in support for Russell Martin(Image: 2026 Plumb Images)

Josh Holland Leicester City correspondent
13:00, 15 Oct 2026
Leicester City are recruiting a new Head of Football Insights to support first-team manager Russell Martin and sporting director James McCarron.

The Foxes reshaped their senior leadership at the end of last season, with McCarron arriving from City Football Group. The former Lommel sporting director joined the club in a newly created role at the King Power Stadium.

McCarron worked with Jon Rudkin, who became chief football officer, throughout the summer to appoint Martin and overhaul the playing squad. City signed 16 players for the 2026/27 season and sold the majority of last season's squad following relegation to League One.

 

Months after restructuring their leadership setup, Leicester are now actively recruiting a 'Head of Football Insights' to work within the football department at Seagrave.

The job description reads: "We’re on the lookout for a passionate and skilled Head of Football Insights to join our squad at Leicester City Football Club.

"As a Head of Football Insights, you’ll play a key role in leading Leicester City Football Club's Football Insights Department, integrating Performance Analysis, Data Science and Recruitment data into a high-performing function that delivers objective, timely and actionable insight across key football decisions.

"Your responsibilities will include supporting the First Team Manager and Sporting Director through objective evidence-based football insight through objective evidence and oversight of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) linked to the Football Strategy, and you’ll need to bring an approach of continuous improvement, curiosity and collaboration to the table."

It adds when describing what the right candidate needs: "The ideal candidate will have significant experience leading Performance Analysis, Data Science or Football Insights within elite professional football.

"You’ll need to possess an excellent understanding of elite football tactics, coaching processes and performance analysis and be well-versed in using modern analysis platforms, tracking data and AI-enabled workflows. Evidence of influencing high-level football decision-making through objective insight is essential, and we’re looking for someone who thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced environment."

In the summer, Premier League side Tottenham appointed Joe Ferrelly as Head of Football Insights from Sport Republic – the group that jointly owns Southampton, Valenciennes and Goztepe. The role involves applying data insights across football systems, research and decision science.

[AKCJ]

This is just a blatant waste of money. Everything that this role is being asked to do can be done by a competent Chief Football Officer.

 

Stop ****ing about and sack Jon Rudkin.

[Muzzy_no7]

Basically a full admission that Rudkin isn’t up to his job.

[davieG]

Just now, AKCJ said:

This is just a blatant waste of money. Everything that this role is being asked to do can be done by a competent Chief Football Officer.

 

Stop ****ing about and sack Jon Rudkin.

Perhaps one of the buyers has already indicated that they want Rudkin gone and this is his replacement once the deal has gone through.

 

Dream on davieG

[RedSoxUK]

Does Jon Rudkin actually do anything...

[davieG]

4 minutes ago, RedSoxUK said:

Does Jon Rudkin actually do anything...

Interview.

[plinchiestincture]

I suspect the club hierarchy have been on Foxestalk incognito and been struck by the wide but cohesive range of insights and, inevitably, concluded "we're 'aving a bit of that!"

[filbertway]

The club finally admitting that Rudkin can't do what Pearson/Walsh did alongside doing their actual job pretty well.

 

I'm all for it as long as it's someone that will challenge the status quo and have the freedom to speak up. Obviously that's a big if.

 

If it's someone to basically do what Rudkin wants so he's freed up to do...whatever someone like him does with their free time. Then it's just a waste of cash.

[brookfox]

Chart of the persons motivation in the days after they present their initial insight showing how we pass the ball too much and it’s completely ignored.

 

[Foxes1]

42 minutes ago, RedSoxUK said:

Does Jon Rudkin actually do anything...

Tends to Top's polo horses.

[Edingleyfox]

I really can’t see the point of another technocrat.. It’s fairly obvious that the style of play doesn’t suit the calibre of players that we have and that the team looks slow and weak in challenges particularly in defence. We don’t need lecturing that the Xg doesn’t reflect the results and over a period things will improve. I would like to see investment in scouting rather than finding old contacts of the manager that were OK 3 years ago or bringing another person to trawl through spreadsheets without watching people play. 

[Gamble92]

Stop paying a stupid high line with hobbits with no pace and stop thinking having 70% of the ball means anything if you’re going as quick as my 90 year old Gran on the way to get her prescription. 
 

100k please

 

[Foxes1]

26 minutes ago, plinchiestincture said:

I suspect the club hierarchy have been on Foxestalk incognito and been struck by the wide but cohesive range of insights and, inevitably, concluded "we're 'aving a bit of that!"

None of the current hierarchy come on to Foxestalk, I can confirm that.

Yours Faithfully.

Jon.

[foxfanazer]

Not very reassuring when those employing have no football insight themselves 

[Pita]

46 minutes ago, davieG said:

Interview.

Not very well 😳😳😳

[ALC Fox]

I'd be fully on board with this if I didn't think this was just going to pay lip service to the idea that we're a modern football club.

 

Every club that wants to do well needs a major focus on data not just on the analysis of the current squad but also in the recruitment of playing and coaching staff.

 

Having a separate data chief and Sporting Director is fine for me as long as they can work together well.

 

Do I have the confidence that this club, whoever they hire, will use this person's expertise properly? No, not really. Not while Rudkin and King Power are the ultimate decision makers.

Edited 6 hours ago by ALC Fox

[5waller5]

slightly off thread but linked to our appalling recruitment:
 

Do we still have the Thai visual merchandising manager as our MD?? Or has she been replaced?? 

[FLAN]

First assignment. Should we swap the Kop with the family stand 

[Wsl]

If we're not there already, we surely must be getting to the stage where we won't be seen by any team as the big scalp other clubs want to get by beating us but the absolute laughing stock of League 1.

[Silva Fox]

1 hour ago, RedSoxUK said:

Does Jon Rudkin actually do anything...

Embarrass himself!

[Samilktray]

I’ve applied 

[Lambert09]

I think half the reason we struggle is the same as our recruitment, we hire someone deemed not good enough by someone higher up the pyramid.  I really hope we don’t just get someone in the door for the sake of it.. I prefer when we have a person planned than an actual job advert like this. 
 

That said, any change at the club is good at this point. 

[whoareyaaa]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

The club finally admitting that Rudkin can't do what Pearson/Walsh did alongside doing their actual job pretty well.

 

I'm all for it as long as it's someone that will challenge the status quo and have the freedom to speak up. Obviously that's a big if.

 

If it's someone to basically do what Rudkin wants so he's freed up to do...whatever someone like him does with their free time. Then it's just a waste of cash.

Pearson was basically running the whole club with Shakey and Walsh although we did have Viachia at the time as well and Susan and John wasn't that important in regards to descsion making.

 

If and when we get a new owner I would sack Rudkin, this Mcarron and bring in Pearson to build what he did previously with Walsh and Wheelan.

 

Didn't Pearson have a hand in pretty much everything regards to medical, players and running of the club in general.

 

Until we get a new owner nothing is going to change.

Edited 5 hours ago by whoareyaaa

[foxfanazer]

19 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

I’ve applied 

Aren't things bad enough already 

[Pita]

Someone else for Rudkin to hide behind