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Football CV Builder
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Guide
How to Build a Professional Football CV
A football CV is not the same as a job CV. Scouts, academy directors, and agents review player CVs differently — they're looking for position, physical stats, playing history, and video links within seconds. Your CV needs to be scannable in under 30 seconds while still conveying everything a decision-maker needs to assess you. This guide covers exactly what to include, what to avoid, and how to structure your football CV for maximum impact.
The builder above (coming soon) will generate a professional football CV in 2 minutes with PDF download, email-ready text, and WhatsApp versions — no signup required.
What to Include in Your Football CV — Complete Checklist
Full name
First and last name — not a nickname.
Date of birth / age
Essential for academy and youth applications.
Nationality
Important for international applications and visa eligibility.
Position(s)
Be specific: 'right-sided centre-back' > 'defender.'
Height
In cm and/or feet/inches.
Dominant foot
Left, right, or both.
Current club and level
Include the league or competition level.
Playing history
Most recent 3–5 clubs, in reverse chronological order.
Key achievements
Specific, quantified: '12 goals in 15 games, 2024/25 season.'
Video highlights link
YouTube or Wyscout. Place near the top. This is the most important field.
References
Current or most recent coach/manager with contact details.
Your contact details
Email, phone number, and country.
Common Football CV Mistakes
Making it longer than one page
Scouts scan CVs in 20–30 seconds. If they have to scroll, they'll move on. One page, max. Cut anything that isn't directly relevant to your playing ability.
Burying the video link
Your highlight video should be the first thing a scout sees after your name and position. Put it near the top. If they can't find it in 5 seconds, they won't watch it.
Using vague achievements
'Good goal scorer' means nothing. '14 goals in 12 U18 league matches, 2024/25 season' is specific and credible. Use numbers, dates, and context for every claim.
Poor formatting and design
Multiple fonts, excessive colours, and inconsistent spacing make your CV look amateur. Use one font, clean section headings, and consistent spacing throughout. The builder handles this automatically.
Missing contact information
You'd be surprised how many CVs are sent without an email address or phone number. Include your name, email, phone, and country at the top. Make it impossible not to reach you.
Listing every club since U7
Focus on your most recent 3–5 clubs and your most significant achievements. Scouts don't need your full career timeline from age 7. If you played for a notable academy or professional club, highlight that — otherwise keep it recent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a football CV and why do I need one?
A football CV is a one-page document that summarises your playing career — position, clubs, achievements, physical stats, and video links. Unlike a job CV, a football CV is designed to be scanned in 20 seconds by a scout or academy director. It's the single most important document you'll send alongside your highlight video. Without one, you're asking busy professionals to piece together your career from a vague email.
What should a football player CV include?
A professional football CV should include: full name, date of birth, nationality, position(s), height, dominant foot, current club and level, playing history (chronological), key achievements, video highlight links (YouTube or Wyscout), references (current coach or manager), and your contact details. Keep it to one page. Scouts and academy staff review hundreds of CVs — make yours scannable in seconds.
How long should a football CV be?
One page. Never more than one page for a playing CV. If you have an extensive career at multiple professional clubs, you can extend to two pages, but for youth, academy, semi-pro, and amateur players, one page is the standard. Focus on your best achievements and most recent clubs. Scouts will ask for more detail if they're interested.
Should I include a photo on my football CV?
It's optional. In some European countries (Germany, Netherlands) it's common. In the UK it's less expected but not harmful. If you include one, make it professional — a headshot in kit or training wear, not a cropped Instagram photo. The photo should take up minimal space; your stats and video link matter far more.
What format should I send my football CV in?
Always send as a PDF. Never send a Word document (formatting breaks), a Google Doc link (requires internet and permissions), or an image file (can't copy text). PDF preserves your formatting on any device, works on mobile, and looks professional. Our builder generates a PDF download automatically.
How is a football CV different from a regular job CV?
A football CV focuses on playing attributes — position, physical stats, clubs, achievements, and video — rather than education and employment history. It's designed for scouts and coaches who need to assess your playing ability quickly. Key differences: video links are essential, physical stats matter (height, dominant foot), and playing history takes priority over everything else.
Do I need a football CV if I'm just starting out?
Yes — even more so. When you have limited playing history, a well-structured CV shows professionalism and preparation. Include any club experience (including school and Sunday league), your position, physical stats, a video link, and a brief personal statement about your goals. A clean, professional CV can compensate for a shorter playing history by showing you take your career seriously.
How can I make my football CV stand out?
Three things make a football CV stand out: a strong video link at the top (scouts watch before they read), specific achievements with context (e.g. 'Top scorer in U18 league, 14 goals in 12 games' rather than 'good goal scorer'), and clean design with clear section headings. Avoid excessive colours, multiple fonts, or long paragraphs. White space is your friend — it makes the CV scannable.
Where should I send my football CV once it's ready?
Send it to the right person — not a generic club email. Use Footy Contacts to find scouts, academy recruitment staff, and agents who operate in your target country and level. A CV sent to a named person with a personalised email (use our Email Generator) is dramatically more likely to be opened than one sent to info@club.com.
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