The Arena Stage at the Thinking Football Summit hosted a discussion on the role of the Sporting Director, featuring insights from Luís Campos, Nicolás Burdisso, Bruno Costa, and Johannes Spors.

"The role of a sporting director is much broader than just the transfer market. I believe strongly in projects. I analyze, study, and consider the club’s history so that we can build a solid project. Of course, hiring a coach is essential, but so is assembling a good medical team, providing proper working conditions, and having quality training pitches. In other words, it takes a set of factors to translate all our efforts into results," explained Luís Campos, who currently works at Paris Saint-Germain.

He further shared, "In the project I'm working on, for example, my first discussion with Luis Enrique was about the profile of the player he wanted for each position. I can't sign a player the coach doesn't want, so we've always found solutions together. In this sense, I always hire based on competence. I recall, for instance, that at Monaco, we broke the record for profits over three years. However, if we only have a team of young players, I am certain we won’t reach our objectives, which are ultimately to achieve results on the pitch."

Bruno Costa, from Fortaleza, opened the conversation—moderated by Helena Costa, a member of the Board of Directors of the Football Foundation - Liga Portugal—by discussing the challenges posed by the Brazilian calendar, as well as the importance of market intelligence and financial fair play. "All of this represents an incredible learning experience," she remarked.

Nicolás Burdisso, a former Argentine international, noted, "The first challenge for a sporting director is choosing a coach, and you need to understand the culture of the club. Its history, its fans, and the club's goals and management," he said, emphasizing the differences between the clubs he worked with, including Boca Juniors and Fiorentina.

Johannes Spors, the Sporting Director at 777 Partners, highlighted the complexities of the modern role. "These are very challenging times. Communication is key. Day-to-day, clubs need to anticipate everything early to make informed final decisions," he explained.