What Do We Know About Player Selection in Academy Soccer? A Narrative Review

Identification and selection are critical elements in developing talented players in professional soccer. In academy systems, players must survive regular selection processes at various ages to retain their position at the club. Despite its prevalence, this process continues to present challenges that may affect the realisation of many talented players. This narrative review attempts to address what is known about ways to improve talent selection in soccer, while also highlighting key gaps in research that are critical for enhancing practices. Importantly, this review also discusses some of the many cognitive biases, both personal and systemic, that can influence player selection to ensure players are equally afforded development opportunities. This work has important implications for researchers and practitioners looking to improve identification and selection practices and processes