What is an online portfolio and how to create one

Most people think they need more experience.

What they actually need is proof.

In football, especially in roles like scouting or analysis, your ability to show your thinking matters more than the qualifications on your CV. That’s where an online portfolio comes in.

And no, I’m not talking about a quiet blog or a forgotten GitHub link.

I’m talking about something people actually see.

What an Online Portfolio Really Is

An online portfolio isn’t just a fancy digital CV.

It’s a public, evolving body of work. It’s a place where you consistency show the skills that clubs, agencies, and consultancies are hiring for.

Think about:

• Scout reports
• Web dashboards
• Data visualisations
• Video telestrations
• Tactical breakdowns
• Code for recruitment models or apps

Now this is different depending on the type of role you’re going for. But it can be applied to performance analysis, recruitment analysis, scouting, performance, and any field in football really.

The aim is simple: show that you can do the job before you’ve been hired to do it. This is especially important if you don’t already have industry experience.

Why Sharing Publicly Matters

Here’s the shift:
Posting on a private blog or personal website hides your work unless. Yes your family and friends might see your work, possibly a few other people online might see it if you share the link with them. The thing is this required you to already have an audience.

The likelihood is that you don’t already have thousands of followers right?

But platforms like X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Substack come with a built-in algorithm. That means your work doesn’t just reach your followers, it can reach anyone who’s interested in that topic.

It’s not about growing a huge audience, and trying to go viral.

You just need to post consistently valuable work on a platform that knows how to distribute it.

That’s how portfolios become visible.
That’s how your network grows.
That’s how feedback loops form, and you improve faster.

An online portfolio is a must. It allows you to develop, make new connections with people in the game, and meet people who are on the same path as you. This community aspect is so important.

If you want to be a part of a community that will help you make connections, develop your skills, give you feedback on your work and meet live with me every single week. Check out the Recruitment Room membership community.

My goal is to help aspiring, new and current analysts and scouts land roles working in football recruitment.

Click here to check out the Recruitment Room membership community.

What to Share (and Where to Start)

Start by thinking about the job you want and reverse-engineer the skills that role demands.

Here are some examples to get you thinking.

If you want to be a recruitment analyst, share:

• Player dossiers
• Tableau dashboards
• Python code for data analysis
• Short threads breaking down player metrics

If you want to be a scout, share:

• Scout reports
• Opinions on prospects
• Telestrated video clips
• Game breakdowns written with intent

Choose one platform to begin.
My advice: pick X for fast feedback, LinkedIn for professional reach, or Substack if you prefer long-form writing.

But whichever you pick, commit to it.
Don’t just post once and wait. Post weekly. Share your process. Improve in public.

You have to be consistent, share regularly, comment on other people’s work, build a network. Remember the goal isn’t to go viral.

The Boring Truth

Most people don’t share because they’re worried their work “isn’t ready.”

But it never is.

The ones who move quickest are the ones who ship early, practice in public, and improve while the rest are making their work “perfect” in private.

Don’t let silence slow you down.

Don’t let your faulty beliefs hold you back.