Future of Talent. Built together.

Richard Allen has worked across all levels of football, holding leadership roles at Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, and The FA – where he helped shape the development of some of England’s most talented players, including Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Jadon Sancho. As Head of Talent ID at The FA, he also led the creation of the Talent Identification education pathway and currently oversees the FA Level 4 program, designed for staff at Premier League and EFL clubs. Since 2022, Richard has worked with FIFA as a High Performance Specialist and Technical Lead in Talent ID, supporting federations worldwide through the global Talent Development Scheme.


In Graz, he’ll share key lessons from his career building long-term talent identification, development, and performance strategies across clubs, national teams, and beyond.

Since taking over youth development at FC Bayern München in 2017, Jochen Sauer has played a key role in shaping the club’s long-term player development strategy from academy to the first team. His work at the FC Bayern Campus is about more than just producing players. It’s about creating a professional environment where young talents grow into top-level athletes who are ready to meet the demands of a global club while staying rooted in the values that define Bayern.


At this year’s Summit, Jochen will share his experience and perspective on how clubs can combine strategy, structure, and identity to develop talent that’s ready to perform at the highest level.

Starting in July 2025, Paul Schaffran will lead one of the most successful youth academies in European football, an environment known for developing top talents and bridging the gap to the professional level. Paul has been part of BVB’s academy since 2021, first as Head of Sports Science, later as Head of Strategy and Development. His work has helped implement innovative concepts like bio-banding, and he played a key role in shaping Dortmund’s academy structure and recruitment in recent years.


In Graz, he’ll share insights from his journey and explain how Borussia Dortmund continues to evolve its youth development model with the clear goal of helping players transition to professional football.

For nearly three decades, Nuno Maurício has played a key role in player development at Benfica. From youth coach to Head of Performance Analysis, he’s helped shape the club’s talent pathway from the inside out. Today, Nuno leads Benfica’s renowned analysis department, where data, football expertise, and research come together to drive performance on the pitch. His work bridges the gap between observation and action, helping coaches and players make better decisions and develop with purpose.


At this year’s Summit, Nuno will explain how performance analysis supports Benfica’s long-term player development – turning day-to-day insights into real progress for young players on their way to the top.