Case Study: Empoli Football Club achieves faster, sharper talent scouting with IBM watsonx

Empoli FC redefines scouting to stay ahead in Serie A

Empoli Football Club, one of Serie A’s smaller clubs, needed a faster, more effective way to scout emerging soccer talent and keep pace with wealthier rivals. Managing large volumes of match reports, performance data and scout evaluations had become overwhelming, making it harder to spot promising players before competitors did. IBM watsonx was used as part of the effort to modernize the club’s scouting approach.

IBM, working with Adiacent, implemented Talent Scouting, an AI-driven portal that consolidates live observations, historical records and performance metrics into one platform. The solution automates analysis, organizes players into profiles and helps scouts make quicker, more precise decisions. As a result, Empoli FC accelerated player evaluation and recruitment, reduced time spent on manual data gathering, and strengthened its reputation for innovation in talent development.

Empoli Football Club

Armando Perna

Chief Scout