Leicester hire LEGO's Webster to build data science capabilities
Webster presented a SQL Masterclass for TGG last year
Written by Simon Austin — May 3, 2023
EDD WEBSTER has been appointed Lead Data Scientist at Leicester City after a year with LEGO.
He effectively replaces Mladen Sormaz, the club’s former Head of Analytics, who left last summer after three years to join 777 Partners.
Webster spoke to TGG last September about his unusual journey into football analytics. He began his career working for a travel company in Peru and went on to become a Data and Insights Analyst for City Football Group and then Senior Data and CRM Manager for West Ham.
For the last year Webster has been working as a Data Scientist for LEGO Group. He told TGG that the data operation at the iconic brand was on a different level to that at most football clubs.
“There are 20 data scientists here,” Webster said. “Then you have retail data analytics, data developers. There are so many people I am still trying to intro myself to. That’s where football clubs could really learn from other industries - in terms of having those structures and roles.”
Leicester advertised the Lead Data Scientist role with TGG last November. The job description explained that the purpose of the role was “to lead the club in their use of advanced performance data.”
It added: “Reporting into the Director of Football (John Rudkin), this role will manage the collection and architecture of multiple sources of raw data, build mathematical models, and provide insight and guidance to coaches, analysts and other relevant stakeholders.”
Webster delivered a SQL Masterclass for TGG last year, which you can watch HERE.
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