K. V. OOSTENDE HAS EMBARKED ON A MOMENTOUS JOURNEY TOWARD EXCELLENCE BY FORGING A GROUNDBREAKING ALLIANCE WITH SPORTS DATA CAMPUS. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS POISED TO BE A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE, IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL ANALYTICS.

Valladolid, 21 November 2023.- In the world of professional football, data has become a critical component of success. Clubs are constantly seeking innovative ways to harness the power of information to improve their performance and make more informed decisions. In that line, K. V. Oostende, has taken a significant step forward in their pursuit of excellence by entering into a new collaboration with Sports Data Campus.

K. V. Oostende is a professional football club in Belgium. Holds a unique position as the only professional football club situated along the Belgian coast. While they’ve experienced their share of ups and downs in recent seasons, they are now on a determined path to reclaim their position at the top. Central to this resurgence is their innovative approach to recruitment, which hinges on the extensive use of data.

Robustly led by Robby Van Thuyne, the club’s Head of Recruitment, K. V. Oostende has developed its own data package to identify and evaluate players who align with their desired Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This in-house system is tailored precisely to the club’s requirements and allows them to dig deeper and more comprehensively than ever before. By doing so, they set themselves apart from the competition and unearth talent that might have gone unnoticed in the past.

The journey to this data-driven recruitment system has been a recent one, evolving over the past three months, coinciding with the establishment of the club’s new scouting department and the appointment of a Sports Director in June. This customized data package ensures that K. V. Oostende is scouting players who not only meet their specific KPIs but also align seamlessly with the club’s style of play.

«It is beneficial for both parties. We can share our knowledge of how we do recruitment. On the other hand, we get students who do internships in our club. They can bring in new thoughts, new methods or could help develop our recruitment package even further«, expressed Nils Vanneste, Sports Director of KV Oostende.

David Sáez, CEO of Sports Data Campus, comments: «It is an important step for us to incorporate one of the most traditional clubs in the Belgian league into our ecosystem of partner clubs. We are confident that our international students will benefit from the various projects we will launch together».

The Collaborative Vision

Enter Sports Data Campus, a partner poised to take this innovative approach to the next level. The collaboration between K. V. Oostende and Sports Data Campus is set to create a dynamic environment where the boundaries of football analytics will be continually pushed.

One exciting facet of this collaboration is the introduction of Master’s projects that span across K. V. Oostende’s various teams and global projects. Sports Data Campus, in tandem with K. V. Oostende, will define the scope of these projects. Students will be presented with these unique opportunities, and their applications, including their resumes and cover letters, will be reviewed by K. V. Oostende for project selection. To ensure the projects’ optimal development, one or more tutors from Sports Data Campus will be assigned to guide and support the students throughout the process.

Furthermore, K. V. Oostende will extend its knowledge through the provision of MasterClasses. These classes will offer Sports Data Campus students a comprehensive understanding of how K. V. Oostende operates and provide insights into their analytical ecosystem. This transfer of knowledge is an invaluable resource for budding data analysts, making them well-prepared for the evolving world of football analytics.

In addition to these core elements of collaboration, the partnership will also explore the creation of joint training programs. These programs will aim to leverage the combined expertise of both parties to address specific areas of interest for K. V. Oostende. The potential synergies are boundless, as this collaboration provides a platform for continuous innovation and growth.

As this framework collaboration agreement takes shape, it is clear that K. V. Oostende and Sports Data Campus are committed to pushing the boundaries of football analytics. This partnership is a testament to the shared belief that data-driven decision-making will shape the future of football, and that through collaboration and innovation, new frontiers can be explored.

Collaboration Agreements

The inclusion of K. V. Oostende in the list of Sports Data Campus partners reaffirms our institution’s commitment to providing the highest quality education to students seeking to expand their experience in the sports world and to drive the development of the sports industry globally. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for our students to gain firsthand knowledge through real experiences with a prestigious club, enabling them to develop the skills necessary to enter and thrive in the workforce.

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