My Own Football Journey
I am Santeri Volotinen — and I am writing my own story in football.
Growing up in a small village in Finland, my journey has taken me from Finland to Azerbaijan, from Germany to Bolivia — and through football cultures across Europe, Asia and South America. Football has always been the constant.
I have played the game myself, experienced it as a passionate groundhopper from the stands, and today I work in scouting.
These perspectives shape how I see football: combining emotion, curiosity and structure. I have learned from some of the best — from the classroom to the sidelines. In international environments I work across languages and move comfortably between different cultures.
- Youth & first-team evaluation, with European and Latin American market experience.
- Live scouting, video scouting, and data-backed comparisons.
- AFC Ajax(Dec 2024–present)
- Switzerland U21: position-specific player profiling(2025)
- RosenborgRosenborg BK(Apr 2025–Jan 2026)
- GOKIXXGOKIXX GmbH(May 2023–Jan 2024)
- FinnishEnglishGermanSpanishTurkish
Education and Practice
During my Football Management studies in Germany, I deepened my understanding of the structures of professional football.
At the same time, I engaged with the international Football Business Inside conferences in Austria and Slovakia, gaining insights into the business side of the game through discussions with industry professionals.
The subsequent Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Scouting and Squad Planning, in cooperation with the International Football Institute (IFI), further sharpened my understanding of modern squad building, elite talent identification and the strategic background of player transfers.
During my professional work with GOKIXX in Germany, I spent many weekends visiting elite youth academies and professional environments. I attended training sessions and matches, observed academy structures from close range and supported young players in their development on the path toward professional football. This gave me direct insight into different development models — from youth football to professional environments.
Through Ajax, I had the opportunity to experience the philosophy and training methods of one of the world’s most renowned academies directly at the training complex De Toekomst. Alongside my weekly online scouting work, I was also given the opportunity to scout an international elite tournament live — the U20 World Cup in Chile. This combination of structured analysis and live observation further sharpened my ability to assess the potential of talents across different age groups.
For Rosenborg, I regularly attended matches in Finland to analyze players live. In addition, I continuously worked with online and data scouting using modern platforms. As part of squad planning processes, I evaluated position-specific player profiles in line with the club’s strategic direction.
I am fascinated by how mentality, culture and environment shape development — every country teaches something different about the game.
For me, football is both profession and passion — a global language that connects people long before they share the same words.
Football is global. And so is my perspective.
How I work
- Start with role requirements and the recruitment context.
- Watch with a framework: potential, risks, and consistency.
- Compare candidates side-by-side to reduce bias.
- Deliver clear recommendations with supporting evidence.
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