First Team Opposition Analyst

Organisation: Huddersfield Town AFC
Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 24 June 2026
Interview date: 8 July 2026
Job Description: Job Description

Post Title
First Team Opposition Analyst.

Department/Location
First Team Analysis, Canalside Training Centre.

Reports To
First Team Head Coach.
Sporting Director.

Purpose of the Role
The post holder will lead the tactical analysis of upcoming opponents and provide high-quality insights that support coaching staff in developing effective match strategies and game plans. The Opposition Analyst will combine detailed video analysis, performance data, and football expertise to identify opposition strengths, weaknesses, and behavioural trends, ensuring the coaching staff are equipped with the information needed to maximise First Team performance.

Functional Links
Internal: Performance Analysts.
Player Recruitment Staff.
Coaching Staff.
Physical Performance Team.
Football Administration Manager / Academy Secretary.
Players.
Sporting Director and Senior Leadership Team.
Staff and Managers throughout the organisation.

External: External: Including, but not limited to

Performance Analysts from other Clubs.
Regulatory bodies (e.g., the Premier League, EFL, FA etc.).

Key Performance Indicators
• The post holder presents detailed and informed analysis of forthcoming opposition to Coaches, in accordance with the Head Coach and Coaching staff requirements.
• The post holder identifies and uses patterns and trends in players’ performance to positively impact on players’ individual development plans.
• The post holder provides analysis during the training process, through the filming and coding of training sessions.
• Performance analysis data is shared with other staff within the First Team as required, to inform and support a holistic approach to coaching and player performances.
Role Specific Responsibilities

Analysis

The post holder will be required to:

• Lead the analysis of all upcoming opponents, identifying tactical structures, playing principles, key players, and strategic tendencies while highlighting exploitable weaknesses and potential threats.

• Produce high-quality opposition reports, presentations, and video content that deliver clear and actionable insights.

• Utilise third-party and bespoke datasets to support, evidence, and challenge tactical observations.

• Work closely with Coaching staff to develop game plans and provide evidence-based recommendations that influence decision-making.

• Deliver live opposition analysis and tactical coding during matches, identifying tactical adaptations and emerging trends.

• Maintain databases of League One opponents, tactical trends, and benchmarking metrics throughout the season.

• Collaborate with Player Recruitment, Academy, Coaching, and Performance departments to support wider football objectives.

• Contribute to analytical projects that drive innovation and competitive advantage across the Club.

• Implement feedback for performance support upon specified metrics, to aid First Team players’ development.

Other

• Be willing to work unsociable hours in line with the annual fixture schedule, which will include evenings and weekends, to fulfil the demands of the role.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder will also be required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Head Coach, the Sporting Director, and/or any other Senior Leader.
How to apply: Huddersfield Town AFC First Team Opposition Analyst Up to £35,000 per annum, depending on skills, qualifications, and experience. Full-time and permanent - 35+ hours per week, including both home and away match days, evenings, and weekends. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented individual to join our First Team Performance Analysis department, focusing on opposition analysis. In this role you will be encouraged to influence tactical planning, challenge thinking, and provide the insights that help Coaches and players make better decisions both on and off the pitch. Working closely with the Head Coach, coaching staff, and wider performance team, you will lead the opposition analysis process, transforming video, data, and tactical observations into clear, actionable insights that support match preparation and competitive success. Candidates must have previous proven experience of performance analysis in First Team football, combined with an undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, for example, Performance Analysis, Sports Science, or Sports Coaching. The varied nature of this role requires applicants to have excellent communication skills, a well-organised approach to work, and excellent IT skills, including previous experience with analysis software including Wyscout, Sportscode, and Tableau. This role requires flexibility and a willingness to work non-standard hours in accordance with the needs of the Club. The successful candidate will be required to travel to away fixtures with the First Team, while also supporting home fixtures. Passionate about making a difference through sport, you must be able to quickly adjust to the requirements of the role, also forming positive relationships with other team members and demonstrating commitment to the Club’s ambitions. If you have the specified qualifications and personal attributes and are enthusiastic about the variety and opportunities that this role offers, we would love to hear from you. We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements. The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage. To apply, please create an account in our online application portal and ensure you complete the associated questions in full. Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and other stakeholders to share this commitment. As this role will involve the supervision of and work with children and young people or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will require an Enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRC) through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and clearance to work in football. Applicants must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions in accordance with the associated legislation; disclosure may be via a separate letter addressed to the Head of Human Resources and EDI. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. Equality and Inclusion Huddersfield Town AFC strives to promote a diverse and inclusive community – a place where everyone can be themselves and in which everyone feels valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential. We offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment arrangements, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination. We have comprehensive employment benefits including a Flexible Working Policy and enhanced provisions in relation to maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay. We are well known as a leader within the football industry for our inclusive practices. We hold the Advanced Level Health Check Award for the Premier League Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Standard (PLEDIS) and the Gold Award for the EFL Equality Code of Practice. We are also a Disability Confident Leader, a Mindful Employer, and the first organisation to be accredited as both a Menopause Friendly and Menstruation Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, and we are particularly seeking to diversify our workforce in relation to gender, ethnicity, and disability. We are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate. As a Club, we describe our vision as ‘Everything Together’ and our associated values relate to the word ‘Everything’. If your values align with ours, we would love to hear from you. Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website: https://careers.htafc.com/ To apply, please complete the application form in our portal. If you need any assistance and/or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us by email to jobs@htafc.com Completed applications must be submitted by 9:00am on Wednesday 24th June 2026. Interviews are likely to take place in early July 2026.