Since summer 2025, Mannheim-born Robin Eder has been working as video analyst for the VfL Wolfsburg women. In this interview, the 31-year-old talks about his routine around matchdays, the detailed work behind analysing opponents and why video and data analysis are becoming increasingly important in modern professional football.
Robin Eder, what does your daily routine as a video analyst at VfL Wolfsburg look like?
Robin Eder: My working day usually starts fairly early, sometime between 7 and 8am. I often have about an hour to an hour and a half in the office before the others arrive. I often use that time to correct things or prepare analyses that we’ll present later in the day within the coaching staff or to the team. I also frequently watch matches involving the next opponent or even upcoming opponents further down the line. That way you can start doing some of the groundwork early. What the days look like exactly depends a lot on how our week is structured and when matches are coming up. It’s definitely a very varied job.
What tasks are part of your everyday work?
Robin: It varies a lot. Sometimes I’m also out on the pitch and carry out a live analysis during training or record sessions using a drone. We then use that footage, for example, to show the team tactical aspects the next day. In addition, match scenes are recorded, cut and prepared for the coaching staff. These scenes are then visualised and edited so that they can be shown either to head coach Stephan Lerch or later to the team as well.
What exactly does match analysis mean in professional football?
Robin: For an opponent analysis, we usually watch several matches of a team, most of the time four or five. I then cut those matches into individual sequences – small clips that show different phases of play. In doing so, I follow the principles of our coaching staff. We think about how we want to play against this opponent and which situations are important for us. From several matches, we often end up with more than a hundred clips covering certain phases of play. My task is then to reduce that large number of scenes to a minimum. In the end, there might be five particularly meaningful sequences left that best characterise the opponent. I then discuss these in detail with assistant coach Philipp Arnold before we present them to the head coach and develop the match plan together.
How do you work together when it comes to set pieces?
Robin: I prepare set pieces together with our goalkeeping coach Marcel Schulz. I compile the relevant analyses and statistics for him, for example which players take set pieces or which players often act as the main targets. We look at corners, free kicks and also throw-ins in the final third and analyse what is typical for the opponent. Marcel contributes his perspective, particularly with regard to the goalkeepers. In the end, we decide together which scenes are most relevant for the team.
How does the analysis work during a match?
Robin: On matchday I usually sit in an elevated position in the stadium rather than on the bench. From there I have the live feed and analyse the match together with the coaching staff. We’re constantly in contact with the assistant coach and the goalkeeping coach via headsets. At the same time, we’re already cutting scenes during the match and preparing, for example, two or three important sequences for half-time. So it’s a constant exchange. If we notice certain things, we discuss them directly within the coaching staff and can make adjustments if necessary.
Has the analysis field in women’s football changed in recent years?
Robin: Definitely. This area has grown enormously over the past ten years in particular. There are more and more technical possibilities and new influences. One major factor is data analysis, for example. A distinction is made between qualitative analysis – meaning video and match scenes – and quantitative analysis using statistical data. Today you get access to a huge amount of data, and an important part of the job is filtering out the information that is actually relevant. In the end, it’s about comparing data and images and gaining insights that can be implemented on the training pitch.
Can you still watch a football match normally? Or does the analysis automatically start running in your head?
Robin: Watching a game “normally” like before is actually difficult. You automatically pay attention to what one team is doing and how the other reacts. That analytical eye is always there. You focus much more on tactical patterns and movements in the game.
What do outsiders underestimate most about your job?
Robin: Probably the time involved. Many people only see the match itself, but not the many hours of preparation that happen before and afterwards. Especially during periods like the international break, we try to get a lot of work done in advance. When several matches are coming up in a short space of time, we prepare the opponent analyses as far ahead as possible. That gives us more time later for the post-match analysis of our own games. For me personally, this job is something special. I played football myself at a competitive level as a child and later moved into this field. Being able to work in professional football today and be part of a team is something I’m very grateful for. I do this job with great passion and commitment. Even when the days are long, you’re happy to do it when you love what you do.
