Training Ground Guru Podcast Rob Mackenzie: Leading Tottenham's talent hunt
Oct 16, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Rob Mackenzie, Head of Scouting at Tottenham Hotspur, shares insights from his two decades of experience in football recruitment. He dives into the intricate role of scouting, the importance of character assessment using examples like Mohammed Kudus, and how athleticism shapes player selection in the Premier League. Rob highlights the challenges of finding hidden gems in today's market and recounts his experiences discovering talents like Riyad Mahrez, illustrating the complex interplay between scouting and club strategy.
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What A Head Of Scouting Actually Does
- The Head of Scouting manages identification, assessment and recommendation of players from U19s to first team across live and video scouting.
- Rob also supports the technical director and head coach by bringing player cases to life and handling early agent contact.
People Over Location In Scouting
- Tottenham prioritises individual scout quality over physical location and mixes overseas and UK-based staff for market intel and competition coverage.
- The department includes hybrid recruitment analysts and an insights analyst to combine data with live scouting.
Treat Squad Building As Continuous
- Continuously monitor your squad and potential recruits across seasons; squad building is ongoing not just at windows.
- Maximise live scouting opportunities by watching players in the most relevant matches before windows close.