SPECIALIST FOOTBALL RECRUITMENT & EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Football Recruitment & Executive Search.

Exceptional off-field talent for football clubs, leagues and governing bodies. From specialist and management appointments to sporting directors, senior leadership and the C-suite.

Premier LeagueEFLScottish FootballEuropean FootballMLSFootball Executive SearchSporting DirectorsFootball RecruitmentPremier LeagueEFLScottish FootballEuropean FootballMLSFootball Executive SearchSporting DirectorsFootball Recruitment
Who we work with in football

Exceptional talent for the business of football.

Opsynta is a specialist football recruitment and executive search firm connecting clubs, leagues, governing bodies and football organisations with exceptional off-field talent. We recruit across sporting, commercial and operational functions, from specialist and management roles to directors, senior leadership and C-suite appointments in the UK and internationally.

01

Professional Clubs

Premier League, EFL, Scottish, European and international clubs.

02

Leagues & Governing Bodies

Leadership and specialist recruitment for football leagues, federations and governing bodies.

03

Sporting & Football Operations

Sporting directors, technical directors, recruitment, scouting, performance and football operations.

04

Commercial & Corporate

Commercial, partnerships, marketing, finance, people, digital and operations leadership.

What we do

Football Recruitment & Executive Search

Specialist recruitment, retained executive search and talent intelligence designed around the demands of professional football.

01 / FOOTBALL RECRUITMENT

Specialist talent. Stronger teams.

Permanent recruitment for specialist, management and departmental leadership positions across professional football clubs, leagues and governing bodies. We identify, engage and assess candidates against your brief, typically through a success-fee model.

SpecialistsManagersDepartment headsSuccess-fee
02 / EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Critical appointments. Considered search.

Confidential, research-led executive search for directors, senior executives, C-suite and strategically important leadership roles. We map the market and approach relevant leaders discreetly, typically through an exclusive retained mandate.

DirectorsC-suiteRetained searchConfidential
03 / TALENT INTELLIGENCE

Understand the market before you hire.

Market mapping, salary benchmarking, succession research and talent identification support more informed recruitment decisions. Available alongside recruitment and executive search, or as a standalone project where appropriate.

Market mappingCompensation insightSuccessionLeadership intelligence
Functional expertise

Expertise across the business of football.

We recruit across the sporting, commercial, corporate and operational functions that help football organisations compete and grow.

01

Executive Leadership

CEO · COO · Managing Director · Chief of Staff · Executive Director

02

Commercial, Partnerships & Sponsorship

Commercial Manager · Head of Partnerships · Sponsorship Director · Chief Commercial Officer

03

Marketing, Communications & Brand

Marketing Manager · Head of Communications · Brand Director · CMO

04

Finance & Corporate Services

Finance Manager · Financial Controller · Finance Director · CFO · Legal Counsel

05

People, HR & Talent

HR Manager · Talent Acquisition Lead · Head of People · Chief People Officer

06

Operations, Events & Competitions

Operations Manager · Events Director · Head of Competitions · COO

07

Technology, Data & Digital

Data Analyst · Digital Manager · Head of Technology · CTO

08

Strategy, Transformation & Governance

Strategy Manager · Programme Director · Head of Governance · Chief Strategy Officer

09

Sporting Operations

Football Operations Manager · Team Manager · Sporting Director · Technical Director

10

Recruitment, Scouting & Talent Identification

Recruitment Analyst · Scout · Head of Scouting · Director of Recruitment

11

Performance & Medical

Performance Analyst · Head of Performance · Medical Director · High Performance Director

Why Opsynta

We search beyond the obvious.

Football-focused research, proactive talent identification and a personal approach to every appointment. We help you reach the right people, not simply those actively looking.

01 / SPECIALIST

Focused on professional football.

We recruit across professional football, from specialist functions and department heads to sporting directors and executive leadership.

02 / BOUTIQUE

Personal service. Clear accountability.

A hands-on partner who understands your requirements, communicates clearly and stays involved throughout the appointment.

03 / MARKET REACH

Beyond the active market.

Research-led sourcing and direct engagement connect you with active and passive talent across relevant markets.

04 / DISCRETION

Confidential by default.

Sensitive mandates, succession planning and candidate conversations are handled discreetly. We do not use confidential relationships as marketing material.

05 / INTELLIGENCE

Research that informs decisions.

Market mapping, salary benchmarking and succession research help define realistic briefs and informed decisions.

06 / PERSPECTIVE

Look beyond familiar names.

We consider relevant experience across football and adjacent industries where skills and context can transfer effectively.

Our approach

A considered approach to every hire.

We begin with your objectives and the role to be filled, then identify, engage and assess suitable people before supporting you through to appointment.

01

Understand the brief

Understand the organisation, then agree the mandate, success profile, culture, remuneration and non-negotiables.

02

Identify the talent

Research football clubs, leagues, governing bodies and relevant adjacent industries to identify the strongest potential talent.

03

Engage & assess

Approach relevant active and passive leaders confidentially, then assess capability, experience, motivation, values and fit against the brief.

04

Shortlist & appoint

Receive a focused, evidence-led shortlist with support through interviews, referencing, offer and appointment.

International reach. Personal delivery.

Football talent has no borders.

With UK and US operations, we support football recruitment and executive search in the UK and internationally, identifying talent across domestic leagues and global football markets.

Talk through an international hire
01 / Region

Africa

02 / Region

Asia

03 / Region

Europe

04 / Region

North America

05 / Region

South America

06 / Region

Australia

Boutique by design

A specialist team. Personally accountable.

Opsynta combines the rigour of executive search with the flexibility of specialist recruitment for football organisations. Our team works closely with clients and candidates, with clear communication and personal accountability throughout.

Mike Noyes-Perrin, Founder and CEO of Opsynta

Mike Noyes-Perrin

Founder & CEO

Mike leads client partnerships and search strategy, working directly with football organisations on senior appointments.

LinkedIn profile
Jodie Noyes-Perrin, Co-Founder of Opsynta

Jodie Noyes-Perrin

Co-Founder

Jodie helps shape our candidate experience and long-term relationships across football.

LinkedIn profile
Dean Faithfull, Recruitment Director at Opsynta

Dean Faithfull

Recruitment Director

Dean partners with football organisations and senior candidates to deliver leadership appointments with care and rigour.

LinkedIn profile
Laura Sagar, Talent and Research Associate at Opsynta

Laura Sagar

Talent & Research Associate

Laura supports research and outreach, helping us build meaningful relationships with relevant leaders across football.

Opsynta on LinkedIn
Discretion by default

Trust is part of the search.

Senior appointments often begin long before they become public. We work discreetly with organisations considering leadership change and with accomplished executives who may be open to the right opportunity without being visible on the market.

Our relationships are private. Our approach is rigorous. Our reputation is built on both.
Client mandates stay confidential.Searches can involve succession planning, organisational change or appointments that are not yet public. We protect that sensitivity throughout the process.
Candidate conversations stay confidential.Many of the strongest leaders are successful in their current roles. A conversation with Opsynta does not mean they are publicly looking to move.
No logo wall. No name-dropping.We do not publish confidential client lists, candidate names or private mandates simply to create marketing proof. Discretion is a professional standard, not a limitation.
Access beyond the active market.Trust enables long-term relationships with senior leaders who may never apply to an advert or appear in a traditional candidate database.
Clear, competitive fees

Flexible ways to work together.

Choose the recruitment model that fits your role. We explain the scope, fees and process before work begins, with personal delivery throughout.

01 / Appointed candidate

Permanent football recruitment

For specialist, management and leadership vacancies. We identify, assess and introduce suitable candidates, with a success fee payable when an Opsynta-introduced candidate is appointed.

02 / Dedicated search

Retained executive search

For critical director, executive and C-suite appointments. An exclusive, research-led mandate with confidential outreach, structured assessment and agreed fee stages.

For professional football clubs, leagues, governing bodies and closely related football organisations.

For candidates

Your next chapter deserves the right conversation.

We build confidential relationships with talented professionals across football, from specialists and managers to sporting directors and senior leaders. Share your experience and ambitions so we can consider you for relevant opportunities, with discretion at every stage.

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Start a conversation

Great leadership starts with a conversation.

Tell us about a football vacancy, a future hiring requirement or your next move in the game. Initial conversations are confidential.

Telephone 020 7101 4747
Head Office Riverbank House, 1 Putney Bridge Approach, London, SW6 3JD

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