Brentford Owner on the Transfers They Missed and How Analytics Built a Premier League Contender

SUBSCRIBE TO MEN IN BLAZERS ON YOUTUBE!    / @meninblazers   In this conversation from the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Brentford owner Matthew Benham sits down with Rog to explain how smart data, analytics, and innovative thinking turned Brentford F.C. into one of the most efficient clubs in the Premier League. Benham discusses the strategy behind Brentford’s rise—from using early expected-goals models and betting analytics to finding undervalued talent in the transfer market. He also reveals the players Brentford nearly signed before they became global superstars, including Eberechi Eze, Omar Marmoush, and Michael Olise. If you’re interested in sports analytics, football strategy, scouting, and the business of soccer, this conversation offers a rare inside look at how a smaller club competes with billion-dollar teams. ----------------------------------------------------- "Running the Game" is a series from Men in Blazers where we speak to the brightest minds working behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest clubs in the world. We go deep on the business of football, boardroom strategy, and culture building to learn all it takes to run an elite football club today. JOIN US FOR MIB LIVE IN ATLANTA ON MARCH 27th! Tickets available here: https://mibcourage.co/3OwXrHT Order Rog's new book "We Are the World (Cup)" now: https://a.co/d/0eMdbvoa Check out the Men in Blazers Shop: https://mibcourage.co/4qIb2L1 Sign up for our newsletters: https://mibcourage.co/4nyEGQ1 Join our Discord!   / discord   Listen to all our Men in Blazers podcasts: Wondery | https://mibcourage.co/43QaCW3 iTunes | https://apple.co/3oxDKj3 Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3B4eCpe and all major podcasting apps. Connect with us on social Twitter |   / meninblazers   Instagram |   / meninblazers   Tik Tok |   / meninblazers   Facebook |   / meninblazers   Threads | https://www.threads.net/@meninblazers Rog on Twitter |   / rogbennett   Still want to know more about Men in Blazers? Right this way → https://meninblazers.com/ ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 - Panic from losing Mbeumo & Wissa? 03:44 - Early data analytics in football 07:48 - Why Brentford? 12:33 - Midtjylland and Danish football 17:01 - From Thomas Frank to Keith Andrews 21:45 - What data says about set pieces 27:10 - Most important data for strikers 33:35 - Eze, Olise, & the moves Brentford DIDN’T make 35:03 - Has data analytics improved the PL? 37:42 - Evolving data analytics in football #brentford #matthewbenham #dataanalytics #footballanalysis #runningthegame #premierleague