Hiring the right Head Coach is more important than signing any player, but football clubs are changing their Head Coach more often than ever before.

Data compiled by TransferRoom, football’s digital marketplace, shows that the average Head Coach lasts 235 days in the job, or less than eight months, and 66% of Head Coaches will no longer be in their current role in a year's time.

This comes at a heavy price, with clubs having to pay off 22 months of a 30-month salary for a dismissed Head Coach on average. Added to that, a new Head Coach is backed by the board to spend 37% more on transfers in their first year. And if they’re sacked due to poor performance they could have also reduced the squad’s total Expected Transfer Value by up to 16%.

So how can club decision makers change that?

Introducing CoachFinder on TransferRoom.

Launched at November 2023's TransferRoom Summit in Lisbon & Online, CoachFinder is a unique tool that gives club decision makers access to a global database of over 5,000 Head Coach profiles.

The tool allows clubs to use the same modern approach to recruit managers as TransferRoom has given them to find players from every corner of the world since launching in 2017.

CoachFinder provides clubs with the platform to quickly identify all relevant candidates, expand their global talent pool and make smart, data-driven decisions in the high-pressure situation of appointing a new Head Coach.

Jonas Ankersen, Founder and CEO of TransferRoom, said: “The rate at which clubs change Head Coach shows there is a clear problem in the recruitment process.

“Clubs spend more time and money than ever on identifying the right players but all too often they end up appointing the wrong Head Coach, because of a lack of access to relevant, up-to-date information.

“CoachFinder will help clubs minimise risk and maximise the potential for success in the most important appointment decision they make.”

How CoachFinder works

Having access to this huge global database gives clubs the chance to look at as many potential candidates as possible, instead of being restricted to the same familiar faces.

Directors of Football, Sporting Directors and other decision makers can take a deep dive into the data, just as they would when assessing players.

The information on each Head Coach goes well beyond just their recent results and league position. Profiles include performance and tactical data, coaching style, track record in increasing the value of players, as well as an overall rating.

Crucially, CoachFinder also provides evaluations of a Head Coach’s success in developing young players and of how good their “fit” is for that particular club. Clubs can compare potential candidates with each other, or their existing Head Coach, to help narrow their search.

All this information is updated in real time and available at the touch of a button, which is crucial when clubs need to move fast to find a new Head Coach.

Ankersen said: “The pressure to succeed and the cost of failure have never been higher.

“Those factors lead to clubs changing Head Coaches more and more frequently, and having to make quick decisions about hiring and firing Head Coaches. But if they are not prepared, those can be the wrong decisions.

“CoachFinder is a one-stop shop that will give clubs access to all the information they need to identify, assess and compare candidates for Head Coach roles - preferably before the time comes to make a change.”

How do I get access to CoachFinder?

CoachFinder is now available exclusively for TransferRoom VIP and Super VIP members, as part of their existing package.

Not on a VIP subscription and looking to upgrade to capitalise on this groundbreaking new tool? New to TransferRoom and want to learn how you can accelerate your transfer market success and identify the right Head Coach through our marketplace? Visit our CoachFinder page to find out more.

For our in-depth data analysis on Head Coach recruitment and the top Head Coaches by Rating, Team Rating Impact and Trust in Youth in world football, click here.