A secret algorithm brought EPL success to Brighton. It told them to hire this ex-Socceroo

The best way to sum up Brighton & Hove Albion’s novel approach to data and analytics-driven recruitment is that not even Dario Vidosic is sure why they hired him. He can take a guess, but the details are a closely guarded secret. That’s how protective Brighton’s owner and chairman, Tony Bloom, is of the algorithm that has turned the club into a Premier League mainstay.

A professional gambler-turned-sports betting entrepreneur, Bloom uses the same mathematical skills and insights that made him his fortune – predominantly in poker – to help him pick out hidden bargains on the transfer market and find coaches whose ideas neatly fit the club’s ethos.

Vidosic, the 37-year-old former Socceroo, is the latest such example to have been plucked from relative anonymity and parachuted into a crucial posting at Brighton. He was appointed five months ago as head coach of their Women’s Super League team, and they have been the surprise packets of the season thus far – to the point where Vidosic was named the competition’s manager of the month for October, with the Seagulls dropping only two of their seven games thus far to sit third on the table, above Manchester United and Arsenal.

A long-time admirer of Brighton’s footballing philosophy, and particularly of previous coaches Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter, being inside the club has brought Vidosic no closer to understanding the numbers that underpin it.

“It’s one that I’ve asked, and I’m never going to be told,” Vidosic said.

“In terms of players – in terms of everything – we just get the results. How the results get done ... I don’t know the ins and outs of it. I don’t think anyone knows. It’s through a separate company that the owner is affiliated with; they have their metrics that they measure in terms of playing style, development as well.

“I must have done something good to please the data.”

Dario Vidosic is the new coach of Brighton’s WSL side.Credit: Getty Images

Vidosic was probably always going to become a coach. He credits his vastly experienced father, Rado – a former assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Brisbane Roar, who has also worked at four other clubs – for teaching him “pretty much everything” he knows about the game, and sparking his own interest in the tactical side of it.

When he retired in 2022, Vidosic began working within the academy of Melbourne City, his final A-League club. He then became an assistant to his old man, who was at the helm of their women’s team – but one round into the 2022-23 season, Patrick Kisnorbo left City’s men’s team for French club ESTAC Troyes, Rado left the women’s team to replace him, and Dario was suddenly promoted to head coach.

Last season – his only full one in the job – City finished top to claim the A-League premiership, their first piece of women’s silverware in four years, as Vidosic introduced an eye-catching, high-possession style of football.

“I must have done something good to please the data.”

Dario Vidosic

Brighton’s top brass were watching from afar and liked what they saw. Bloom’s algorithm spat out a set of numbers that were matched with more qualitative data on Vidosic’s background, character and leadership qualities. The club, eager to take their WSL operations to the next level, got in touch. Things moved quickly. Within a few days, a contract was offered and signed, and Vidosic became the first Australian to work as a head coach in the WSL since Joe Montemurro departed Arsenal three years ago.

But first, he needed a co-sign from another prominent Aussie coach to get his British work permit over the line.

Step forward, Mr Postecoglou. Vidosic played under him during his time with Australia’s junior national teams, and later the Socceroos. The people at Brighton told him that an endorsement from Postecoglou would be the best way to convince the three-person panel who would decide whether he could work in the country.

“What’s really great about Ange is he wants to help young Aussie coaches,” Vidosic said.

Tony Bloom competes at the 2007 Aussie Millions Poker Championships at Crown Casino, Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images

“When I spoke to him, he was up to date with all my results [at City]. He said, ‘Terrific start,’ so he has a real interest in other Australian coaches and wanting us to be successful. And I’m sure his letter of recommendation, the words he wrote down for me, would have played a big part ... without it, I might have been denied, I’m not too sure.”

In fairness, Postecoglou probably owed him one. It was Vidosic who helped alert him (via his father) to the availability of Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha, former teammates of his many years ago at separate clubs in Germany. They, of course, went on to become crucial players at Brisbane Roar, the club at which Postecoglou emerged from the coaching wilderness and began on the trajectory that has resulted with him being at Tottenham Hotspur.

Vidosic is now dreaming of doing something similar. Thanks to the time difference in Europe, his days are now jam-packed with football, from morning – when the A-Leagues are on – through to dark. He takes in Brighton’s home Premier League games live at the Amex Stadium and has an open invitation from their men’s coach, Fabian Hürzeler, to watch as much first-team training as he wants.

Last month, when Brighton beat Spurs 3-2 at home, Vidosic was there in the stands and caught up with Postecoglou, and former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak, his old teammate.

“I know they probably weren’t thrilled about that result,” he said. “I came down, saw Mile, gave him a big hug, Ange as well … I didn’t want to take up too much of their time, because I knew they were locked in, but just wanted to thank them personally and wish them all the best.”

Vidosic could not have dreamed of a better start with Brighton, but it’s only a start. The club is aiming for a top-four finish, but he sees no reason why they can’t challenge for the title.

If there’s one thing he’s learnt from his time in football, it’s that looking or planning too far ahead is pointless. He never planned to end up in the women’s game, for instance, and he certainly never thought he’d be in a competition as highly regarded as the WSL this early in his coaching career – but here he is.

“Like I’ve said to the girls, you could play ... I don’t want to say a perfect game, because there’s no such thing as a perfect game, and I think that’s the beauty of it – you can always be better,” he said.

“There’s always moments or parts of a game – especially in this league, because the other teams are also very, very good. You’re going to be challenged. There’s going to be moments when you have to suffer. When you’re dominating, then how do you make the most of those moments?

“In terms of where we started, to where we’ve come, I am very happy. I can’t be too harsh. The girls have been awesome from day one. We’re experiencing different things, and now we’ve got the respect within the league where Manchester United come to us and they change their approach to try to deny us what we’re doing.

“We just want to evolve and get better, and we want to also try to keep the league guessing, so they can’t prepare for us, and try to make it as difficult as possible.”

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