Luke Bornn: Toulouse, Teamworks & making a difference with data
Our guest on Episode #69 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Teamworks, is Luke Bornn.Â
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Luke has been one of the leading figures in sports analytics for more than a decade. After working as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University, he became Head of Analytics at Roma and then with the Sacramento Kings.
In 2020 he co-founded Zelus Analytics, a sports intelligence platform providing data-driven insights to top teams, including Toulouse & AZ Alkmaar.
In 2024, Zelus was acquired by Teamworks and became Teamworks Intelligence. Luke spoke about what he's been doing since we last spoke on the pod in 2021, about his groundbreaking work with Toulouse and about the future of sports analytics.
We hope you enjoy listening to this episode and if you do, please give us a follow via your preferred podcast provider.
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48:38
The past, present and future of tracking data
Tracking data has transformed the way clubs analyse the game.
This cornucopia of information is shaped and analysed by data scientists to create valuable insights for coaches, managers, Heads of Recruitment, Sporting Directors and more.
But how much do you know about tracking data? Ie what it is, how it's collected, how it's analysed (and by whom), and how different departments and personnel use it?
This episode of the TGG Podcast sets out to answer those questions and more.Â
Our guests are:
Michael D'Auria:Â The Executive Vice President of Partnerships, Sports and Technology for Genius Sports, the official tracking data provider for the Premier League. Michael has been at the cutting edge of tracking data provision for more than a decade, having previously been Chief Commercial Officer for Second Spectrum.
Dominic Jordan:Â Chief Data Officer for Twelve Football and the former Director of Data at Manchester United. Dominic 'builds great teams to help great companies become leaner, greener and better equipped to succeed in a data-rich world.'
SHOW NOTES =>
MICHAEL D’AURIA
02:03: Michael defines tracking data.
06:00: Relaying the data to teams and users after matches.
07:17: How tracking data revolutionised data science.
08:20: The origins of tracking data.
08:50: The first time football started to use it.
09:23: Capturing the data at Premier League & Championship matches.
11:56: Positioning tracking cameras inside a stadium.
12:40: Methods of passing data to coaching staff during a match.
14:05: A club data scientist’s job on a matchday.
14:45: The software used to present the live data.
16:00: What managers and coaches see on their tablets during a game.
18:53: Liverpool’s use of data over the years.
19:48: Tracking data’s ways of assessing a player.
22:34: Hopes for sharing data between worldwide leagues.
24:10: Mesh tracking explained.
30:05: Liverpool’s views on early tracking data.
31:24: The future of data science staff at football clubs.
32:32: Does use of data lead to success?
DOMINIC JORDAN
37:13: The difference between event data and tracking data.
38:58: Rise in the number of data staff at clubs.
42:04: Different kinds of tracking.
44:55: How clubs use tracking data.
49:02: Getting tracking data to clubs during a match.
51:07: Tracking data workflows.
56:49: Managers’ views on the use of data.
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1:00:21
Andrew Nestor: Leading West Brom's new era
Our guest on Episode #67 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Genius Sports, is Andrew Nestor.
Andrew is the Sporting Director of West Brom, working under new owner Shilen Patel. When the duo arrived in February 2024, the club's finances were in a "perilous" position.
Since then, they have focused on rejuvenating the squad, while being mindful of profit and sustainability rules.Â
Speaking the morning after West Brom's last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, Nestor told us about his role as Sporting Director, his strategy at the Championship club and how he cut his teeth in football as owner, CEO and General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US.
SHOW NOTES =>
03:35: Andrew's thoughts on Baggies manager Tony Mowbray and the squad.
04:35: How he has found his role so far.
06:02: First impressions of West Brom on arriving at the club.
07:23: The Baggies were known as being innovative before Andrew's arrival - was that the situation he found?
08:16: How he worked on changing the squad, which was the oldest, based on minutes played, and fifth highest-paid in Championship.
10:00: The part the club's Academy plays in Andrew's strategy and extending the stays of younger players.
11:40: His thoughts on West Brom's style of play and how to adapt it.
15:16: Bringing in a data team to support the club's scouting process.
18:40: Planning for life in either the Championship or the Premier League at the same time.
19:25: Why Tony Mowbray was appointed as head coach.
23:57: Keeping a long-term vision for the club despite external pressure.
25:08: Carlos Corberan's departure.
26:52: Andrew's first off-the-field job in football with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
29:05: His career outside the game before that.
29:41: Success at Tampa Bay and working with Paul Mariner and Paul Dalglish.
31:39: Meeting WBA chairman Shilen Patel for the first time.
32:23: Leaving Tampa Bay to go to Bologna.
34:44: How Andrew and Shilen ended up joining West Brom.
35:42: Shilen's involvement with the club.
36:32: Andrew's first experience of being a Sporting Director.
37:33: His wide remit at The Hawthorns.
39:06: Working closely with Ian Pearce.
39:54: The club's financial situation, largely affected by the loss of parachute payments.
41:52: What are the Baggies' short and medium-term prospects?
43:56: Reflections on the January transfer window.
46:07: Where Andrew bases himself.
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46:41
Vitor Matos: Elite developer
It's great to be back for Season 6 of the TGG Podcast - and with a new sponsor, Genius Sports.
Our first guest of the new season is Vitor Matos, the former Head of Elite Development at Liverpool. During five seasons at Anfield, Vitor helped to nurture a new generation of talent and deliver a number of trophies.
Since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, he has been Assistant to Pep Lijnders at Red Bull Salzburg.
In this episode, Vitor told us what it was like to work alongside Jurgen Klopp, the key components of development, how Curtis Jones can lead the new generation at Liverpool and how Arne Slot has made subtle changes this season.Â
SHOW NOTES =>
02:10: What he's been doing since leaving Red Bull Salzburg in December 2024. Reflections on that period now.
04:36: Jurgen Klopp coming in as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull but periods didn't overlap. Parallels between Red Bull clubs and Liverpool.
06:33: How he started in coaching. Mourinho as an inspiration.Â
08:02: Meeting Pep Lijnders for the first time.
09:40: Influence of Professor Vitor Frade/ studying under him at University of Porto.
11:56: Why is Portuguese coaching so strong? Why is there a paucity of top English coaches?Â
16:49: How the move to Liverpool came about.Â
23:18: Manager and club committed to youth development and giving opportunities.Â
24:40: Development of Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah. Considering whether to loan players out or not.
35:33: Who should we be looking out for in the next generation of young players at Liverpool?
36:29: What was it like working with Jurgen Klopp and what makes him so special? Could you have stayed on when he left?
39:23: Transition of Arne Slot into the club. Tactical changes. Transformation of Ryan Gravenberch.
45:25: Ambitions for the future.
48:24: Favourite training exercises.
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50:50
Robbie Savage: Pundit to Manager
Our guest on Episode #65 of the TGG Podcast is Robbie Savage.Â
As a player, Robbie made 346 Premier League appearances and captained four clubs. After retiring, he became a household name as a TV and radio pundit and appeared on Strictly in 2011.
Now he's pursuing a different career, as a Manager, with Macclesfield in the Northern Premier League. Robbie told us why he'd turned to coaching, about his approach to leadership and about his lofty ambitions as a Manager.
SHOW NOTES =>
02:07: Wishing he'd gone into coaching earlier. How move from Director of Football came about.
06:44: Coaching badges? Starts A Licence next year and then hopefully Pro. Need your badges. Sees coaching as a vocation and ambition to reach the top.
10:58: Engaging with fans. Pitching in. Change in relationship with players when you become Manager. Treat them like he would treat his son.Â
13:40: Change in man management since he was a player. Becoming less visibly emotional. Calmer. Use of video analysis. Macclesfield expected to win every week.Â
18:43: Style of play. Preferred formation. Players win matches, not tactics.Â
24:40: Behaviour on the touchline? Setting the mood or calm and composed? Heart rate going high in technical area.Â
27:55: Change in style of play in non-league. Guardiola influence. Wants his team to get the ball forward quickly when possible. Not keen on playing out from the back.Â
32:36: Assistant wears a GoPro because of abuse from fans. Doesn't get paid at the moment. Could change when they go full-time.Â
38:15: Approach has changed on 606 phone-in. More understanding of Managers. Important to have consistency of messaging as a pundit or Manager. Has had offers as a Manager at bigger clubs.Â
44:15: Released at Manchester United. Make or break. Coached a team at Macclesfield made up of players who had been released and had great success. Callum West went to Burnley and now at Barnsley.Â
49:21: Do the Academies prepare players well enough? James Edmondson from Blackburn. Difference between Academy and senior football. Strength of the pyramid.Â
54:16: Different than he seemed as a player. Pantomime character. More than 350 Premier League games and captained four clubs. Keeps a book about all matches and what the Managers said.Â
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Welcome to the Training Ground Guru Podcast. In every episode we bring you insights from the teams behind the teams in professional football. Thank you for listening.
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