One thing has become clear over the past few years: there has never been more information available about player development. At the same time, there have probably never been more questions about what actually leads to better development.

Data has become more sophisticated. Training methods continue to evolve. New technologies provide insights that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago. Yet the fundamental questions remain the same. How do we identify potential? How do we create environments where players can develop? And how do we make better decisions throughout that process?

Those questions don’t have simple answers. And they certainly aren’t answered from a single perspective.

That’s exactly why we created the Talent Development Summit.

More than a Conference

On November 17–18, the Summit returns to Graz for its third edition. Once again, we’ll bring together a carefully selected group of experts from leading clubs, national associations, research institutions and emerging football markets. While their backgrounds differ, they all share the same ambition: advancing player development through knowledge, experience and open exchange.

Looking back at the first two editions, one thing stands out. The greatest value wasn’t just the quality of the presentations. It was the conversations they created.

The feedback has been remarkably consistent. Participants appreciated the depth of the discussions, the diversity of the speakers and, above all, the opportunity to exchange ideas with people facing similar challenges in completely different environments. Bringing together representatives from clubs, federations, leagues and organizations across Europe and beyond creates conversations that rarely happen anywhere else.

That’s why we’ve deliberately kept the Summit an invite-only event. Rather than creating the biggest possible conference, we want to create the right environment for honest discussions, challenging questions and meaningful exchange.

Going Deeper in 2026

We’ve listened closely to the feedback from the first two editions and used it to shape this year’s Summit.

That means putting even greater emphasis on keynotes that go deeper into specific, relevant questions in talent development. We want our speakers to move beyond general concepts and give participants a closer look at the approaches, processes and experiences behind their work.

At the same time, we’re creating even more room for what happens between and around those sessions. Quality networking has always been an important part of the Summit, and this year we’re making sure the schedule and setting provide enough time and opportunity for conversations to develop naturally, whether that means continuing a discussion from a keynote, comparing approaches with someone from a different football environment or simply getting to know the people behind the roles.

And because two days dedicated to sport shouldn’t happen entirely from a seat, we’ll also create opportunities to get active together around the program. For us, these moments are another way to meet, exchange ideas and experience the Summit beyond the conference setting.

The principles behind the Summit remain the same. We want to bring together people who approach player development from different perspectives and give them the setting to learn from each other.

There is no universal blueprint for developing better players. But going deeper, sharing experiences and challenging our own thinking can help us make better decisions. At a time when information has never been more accessible, simply adding more of it isn’t enough. What matters is understanding what to do with it.

That’s the conversation we want to continue in Graz this November.