Al Qadsiah strengthen women’s football leadership before a key transfer window.
Overview
Al Qadsiah, competing in the Saudi Pro League, required a Director of Women’s Football to support the club’s ambitions for the next stage of its women’s football programme.
The appointment was important to the club’s preparation for the season ahead. Al Qadsiah wanted to strengthen football leadership before the summer transfer window, attract top players into the club and build towards a challenge for the league title.
Challenge
The search needed to be conducted on a confidential basis due to the sensitive nature of the appointment. That made discretion essential from the earliest stage of the process, particularly when approaching a small and highly connected talent pool.
Al Qadsiah needed someone who could make an immediate impact, bringing proven expertise and a strong understanding of the women’s football landscape from day one.
The brief was explored across two possible directions. One route focused on a Director of Football profile, responsible for wider football operations, strategy, performance oversight and long-term squad planning. The second focused on a recruitment specialist whose expertise centred on player identification, talent networks, transfer windows and recruitment processes. This distinction helped Al Qadsiah decide whether the priority was broader football leadership or specialist recruitment knowledge, while also considering the potential for the appointed individual to grow and develop into a wider role over time.
With the professional women’s game still developing, there were limited numbers of people who had operated at the required level. The seasonal pressure added further urgency, with the club looking to appoint before the summer transfer window.
Solution
EISG began by mapping the market and presenting Al Qadsiah with two longlists before any talent conversations took place.
The first longlist focused on Director of Football profiles with wider operational leadership experience. The second focused on recruitment specialists with deep player knowledge, strong transfer market understanding and relevant experience in women’s football.
This approach gave the club a clear view of the available market and allowed decision-makers to choose the strongest direction before targeted outreach began.
Beth Reid’s network in women’s football meant a highly relevant profile could be identified quickly. The individual was already known, open to discussion and looking for a challenge of this nature.
“An active network in women’s football made it possible to move quickly and identify a different, highly relevant profile.” Beth Reid, Lead Consultant, EISG
Outcome
Al Qadsiah appointed a candidate within five weeks.
The successful candidate had an agency background and brought extensive knowledge of players, transfer windows, performance analysis and recruitment processes, alongside a strong understanding of player development and coaching. They had also consulted for women’s clubs previously, including in the Saudi Women’s League, giving Al Qadsiah access to specialist market insight, established networks and an individual able to make an immediate impact ahead of a critical recruitment period.
That combination provided a different profile to the one initially envisaged, bringing a fresh perspective alongside proven expertise in women’s football recruitment.
With the appointment completed before the summer transfer window, the club was well positioned to progress its recruitment plans and continue building towards its competitive objectives.