Tonsser: An attempt to change the way young players are scouted through data
Summary
It was established in 2014 by Peter Holm and Simon Hjaere.Sport Republic, co-owned by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft and supported by lead investor Dragan Solak, recently acquired a stake in the company that hopes to revolutionise the way young players are scouted through the use of data on a social media-type platform.Players apply to join Tonsser United and you would need a certain number of votes and data to be selected, explains Holm. Ankersen joined the board in 2021.Other financial backers include several professional players, with Brentfords Christian Norgaard, Philadelphia Unions Alejandro Bedoya and RB Leipzigs Yussuf Poulsen all involved.Holm counts Borussia Dortmunds Erling Haaland, who used the app in his youth years, and Frankfurts Jesper Lindstrom, who was active on Tonsser for three or four years as a teenager, as success stories.Tonsser United have already played against several notable academy teams, including Fulham, Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon and Lille.Forty per cent of the players who have taken part in a Tonsser United event, or played for one of our teams in a tournament, have gone on to sign for a pro academy, says Holm.I have known the company for quite a while, the best part of five years, and I have always admired the mission they have, Ankersen, who is not yet ready to discuss Sport Republic and Southampton, explains to The Athletic.They are providing opportunities for young players and there are some massive inefficiencies in the system: who gets selected, who doesnt.Technology can help solve that problem, and that is what Tonsser has done. For me, those dreams didnt need to be broken.Bedoya, who captains MLS side Philadelphia Union, believes Tonsser can make a significant difference to so many young players lives.The players who have been playing, who may be seen as an academy reject, Tonsser will give those rejects a chance to continue their dream, Bedoya says.The 34-year-old said he was approached by the Danish company in 2016 but felt it was too early to jump on board.But when that conversation arose several years later, Bedoya felt he would be able to help shape Tonssers vision and play an important role in raising its awareness in the United States.Growing up in the States we have more of a pay-to-play system from an early age. The fact that the 2026 World Cup will be in the States (co-hosted with Mexico and Canada) is huge.One element that could attract young players to join Tonsser in America is the possibility of earning an athletic scholarship at a university, meaning they will be able to further their education and continue playing football.Not everyone is going to make it as a professional, but if they are scouted by great collegiate programmes, they can pursue their dream and earn a great education, Bedoya adds. Getting a scholarship could be very important for Tonsser.Bedoya, Norgaard and Poulsen recently spoke on a call and shared why they decided to invest in the Danish company.There are conversations being held about the possibility of a player advisory board being created, which would allow the trio to help shape the company and use their experiences to push it in a certain direction.For Bedoya, that is ensuring it proves to be a success in the US.The goal would be to have a player signed up to Tonsser who may not have the means to participate in these tournaments or is someone who doesnt get a scholarship for an academy, but he continues to love the game and play, he says.There could be a Tonsser United-style team in the United States where these overlooked players are given the chance to compete against academies.