FA begins process of replacing Head of Insights Kate Baker
Baker left the FA after three years in February
Written by Training Ground Guru — March 31, 2021
THE Football Association has started the process of replacing Head of Performance Insights Kate Baker, who left the organisation in February to join UK Sport.
However, the advertised role has the new title of Head of Player Recruitment (Men’s), even though many of the responsibilities are the same as those Baker had.
The person will “lead the strategic and operational development of a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary Player Insight service for England Men's teams… utilising contemporary, evidence-based methodologies, club engagement and relationships” to “identify players and enable their optimal development.”
Baker left the FA after three years in February to become Director of Performance at UK Sport. She had headed up Player Insights, a new department that replaced Talent ID and had a focus on data, video and analysis in identifying players for the national teams.
Baker’s former number two, Catherine Hesford, is still in place at the FA as Player Insights National Lead and is set to be a leading candidate for the new role. The FA is also advertising for a Women's Player Insights National Lead.
The two hires will be ultimately overseen by Technical Director John McDermott, who took over from Les Reed at the end of 2020.
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