Introduction
Manchester City, one of the most successful football clubs globally, encountered a critical recruitment challenge when trying to fill a coaching role for their Girls Football Program in Abu Dhabi. With tight deadlines and a niche talent pool, they turned to Jobs4football for support. This case study explores how Football Vision Executive’s innovative strategies, global network, and fast action helped secure the ideal candidate, demonstrating the company’s expertise in overcoming complex recruitment hurdles for elite football organisations.
Background
The partnership between Football Vision Executive’s and Manchester City was sparked at a UCFB career networking event, where Football Vision Executive’s Co-Founder, Darren Melia, met Manchester City’s Talent Acquisition team. While Manchester City typically handles its own recruitment, they occasionally face challenges with hard-to-fill roles that require niche expertise. The Girls Football Coach position in Abu Dhabi was one such case, and the Talent Acquisition team reached out to Football Vision Executive’s for assistance in securing a top-tier candidate quickly.
The Challenge
Manchester City had already exhausted their usual recruitment channels, including aggressive promotion via their own platforms and career days, but failed to attract suitable candidates for the Girls Football Coach role in Abu Dhabi. Compounding the difficulty was the time-sensitive nature of the vacancy—they needed to fill the position urgently. Finding a candidate who not only fit the specialised requirements but could also relocate quickly to the Gulf region was proving to be a significant challenge.
The Solution
Football Vision Executive’s implemented a dynamic, multifaceted recruitment strategy to tackle the challenges head-on:
- Immediate Promotion – The position was quickly advertised through Football Vision Executive’s social media channels and filtered candidate databases, reaching their extensive football industry network.
- Targeted Headhunting – Jobs4football’s consultants worked tirelessly to proactively identify and reach out to potential candidates, raising awareness of the unique opportunity with Manchester City.
- LinkedIn Optimization – Leveraging LinkedIn as a key tool, the team searched for candidates matching Manchester City’s specifications, ensuring focused efforts were directed towards candidates who could meet the requirements.
- Curated Shortlist – A shortlist of three candidates was quickly assembled, with each meeting the job’s demands, budgetary constraints, and ability to relocate swiftly.
The Result
Within a short period, Football Vision Executive’s delivered a high-quality shortlist, allowing Manchester City to interview top-tier candidates under a tight deadline. Ultimately, they selected Hayley Moles for the role—a coach whose experience and qualifications made her an outstanding fit.
Hayley’s background was perfectly aligned with Manchester City’s needs. In addition to her coaching experience, she held personal training and refereeing certifications, as well as a strong academic foundation in sports science. Her prior work in sports education and one-on-one coaching helped her stand out as the ideal candidate for the role in Abu Dhabi.
Conclusion
Football Vision Executive’s ability to understand the precise needs of Manchester City, coupled with their proactive approach and global football network, resulted in the successful placement of a highly qualified coach in a challenging recruitment scenario. By delivering exceptional results under tight deadlines, Jobs4football demonstrated their capability to navigate complex recruitment landscapes, securing the best talent for top football organisations. This success not only met Manchester City’s immediate staffing needs but also strengthened their long-term girls’ football program in Abu Dhabi.