SL Benfica’s youth technical director, Pedro Marques, will return to the OptaPro Analytics Forum in February to participate in a Q&A session with the event’s 300 delegates from the football analytics industry.
Following a successful similar session with Toronto FC analytics manager Devin Pleuler at the 2018 Forum, Marques will discuss the application of analytics in his current role at the Portuguese Primeira Liga club, whom he joined this summer, as well as during the eight years he spent with Manchester City and the City Football Group.
Marques delivered a presentation at the inaugural Forum back in 2014 whilst working at Manchester City, where he showcased how data and analytics can be applied to inform training, with an emphasis on how it can influence player and team performance in a match environment.
Having started his career working as an academy coach and performance analyst at Sporting Clube de Portugal, Marques progressed into first-team analysis before being appointed as the club’s head of performance analysis prior to joining City in 2010. After four seasons in the Premier League, his role at City evolved to become global lead in football performance for the wider City Football Group. In taking on that role, he took the responsibility for establishing the football methodology and performance analysis functions at each of the group’s six clubs located around the world.
His current role has seen him return to player development, with the responsibility for leading and coordinating Benfica’s youth development and player pathway programmes.
On his return to the Forum, Marques said:
“Having been involved in the very first OptaPro Analytics Forum, I am excited to return and take part in an honest discussion around the use of data in informing decision making, creating culture, building relationships and maximising how this information can influence performance on the pitch.
“Alongside this session, I am also looking forward to the presentations. These presentations have often influenced my way of thinking, and the insight they bring has been of huge significance to this industry.”
Proposals are being accepted to present at the 2019 OptaPro Analytics Forum until Monday 15th October. Read this announcement to find out more about the event, and how you can submit a proposal.