The System: What We Can Learn When Science and Reason Collide with Scottish Football

The System is the story of Scotland’s mission to re-establish itself as a footballing nation that can produce world-class players again. Such was the quality of the footballer once produced in Scotland that by the time the 22 players from the 1982 World Cup Scotland squad retired, they could boast 32 European club competition winners’ medals between them. Although Scotland went on to compete in the 1998 World Cup finals, they have yet to qualify for the competition in the 21st century. This book looks at the science of talent development and how players are brought on under Scotland’s current system. It explores everything from the influence of Scots on the game worldwide, to the demise of street football, the potential flaws in the way children are selected for elite academies, how they are coached and much more. After examining every aspect of the process, Graeme McDowall has concluded that we need to turn the system on its head to produce the type of player Scotland was once famous for.