Unpacking the significance of being selected to the Swedish national youth talent system in football. The adult elite footballer’s perspective

Talent identification and development in sport in the youth years take place in multiple settings, including the local club or regional and national initiatives. This study explores adult elite football players’ experiences of being selected to a national football talent programme at the age of 15 and the significance it had for their development as a footballer. The empirical material consists of retrospective interviews with 12 female and 13 male adult elite football players. The findings showed that the meanings attached to being selected and the significance it had for the players vary both within and between genders. One key finding is that the players home club environment at the time of selection affects how they experienced being selected and experienced the selection process. For both male and female players who played with senior players or in a youth elite team, being selected was perceived as having limited educational value to their development as footballers in the long run. However, players from grassroot clubs emphasised the educative value of being selected and its importance for continued commitment and development as a footballer. Overall, the study contributes with perspectives on extracurricular programmes to be developmental environments for youth football players.