Aston Villa are hiring a scientist to use frontier data and technology such as artificial intelligence to gain a cutting edge over rivals. The Premier League club is seeking a ‘curious, diligent and technically rigorous professional’ to turn complex information into wins. The successful applicant will ‘prototype technologies’ to put the Villans ‘at the forefront of generative AI adoption’, according to an advert.
Advanced computer science fields such as deep and machine learning are at the heart of the role at one of English football’s oldest sides. The applied scientist will work in these complex realms across the club’s departments, spanning scouting through to first-team matches. The successful candidate ‘can expect to work and lead on a range of football-focused research projects’, including a ‘causal understanding’ of how to score more goals, according to the job description.
One of the responsibilities reads: ‘Explore and prototype technologies to put AVFC at the forefront of Generative AI adoption.’ One of the rewards will be an ‘attractive remuneration package’. Liverpool has already become one of the first teams in the world to use an AI system for tactics at corner kicks, called TacticAI.
The tool, which suggests adjustments to players’ positions, has been developed by Google DeepMind in collaboration with the Reds. Manchester City, who play local rivals United in the Community Shield today, have a lead AI scientist at their parent .