Aston Villa's Kenyan scout reveals lessons learned from rare UEFA course

Aston Villa’s Kenyan scout, Naythan Kariuki, has opened up on the invaluable lessons he gained after completing the prestigious UEFA Elite Scouting Programme, a month-long initiative that brings together some of the world’s most promising young scouts.

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In a detailed reflection, the 29-year-old outlined key takeaways from the programme, ranging from advanced scouting processes, player development models, and the integration of artificial intelligence in recruitment, to an unexpected but memorable lesson in Swiss cooking.

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Kariuki emphasised that beyond technical knowledge, the greatest lesson from the experts he encountered was the importance of treating people well and investing in meaningful relationships.

“Through the countless experts we were exposed to, all the best in their fields with diverse perspectives, the common thread was, ‘Treat people well and invest in relationships.’

To the friends I have made over the past few months, I am grateful to have seen football through your experiences,” he wrote.

Kariuki expressed deep gratitude for being selected from more than 300 global applicants, emerging among the final cohort of 34 scouts chosen for the highly competitive programme.

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He described the experience as an honour that has significantly shaped his professional outlook.

Reflecting on his journey, Kariuki highlighted how football has opened doors for him across continents, allowing him to build networks and work with clubs in Kenya, Germany, and the United Kingdom before the age of 30.

He reaffirmed his determination to keep innovating and contributing to Aston Villa’s scouting and recruitment ambitions.

“Football is a powerful thing. It gave a man from Kenya the chance to build relationships over the last few months with some of the best in the United States, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Belgium, Jamaica, Portugal, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy.

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It has given me the opportunity to work for clubs in Kenya, Germany, and the United Kingdom before turning 30,” Kariuki noted.

He concluded by thanking programme mentors Stéphane Ehrhart, Kevin Yalale-Matufueuni, and Laurie-Anne Mariau for their guidance.

Kariuki has previously worked with Oxford United, Eden Sports Group in the United Kingdom, and AC Horsens of Denmark.