Ferreras promoted to Data Analytics Lead by Arsenal
Susana Ferreras: Joined Arsenal from Vodafone in 2018
Written by Simon Austin — August 25, 2024
Susana Ferreras has been promoted to Arsenal Data Analytics Lead, managing their Research and Insights team.
The Spaniard replaces Tolly Coburn, who has left the club after eight years to become Head of Men’s Insights at the Football Association. Coburn's role involves “implementing advanced analytical models, providing actionable insights and driving evidenced-based processes and decisions around player selection, development and performance of England men's teams.”
Coburn joined the Gunners from the Lawn Tennis Association in 2016 as an Analyst Assistant and was promoted to Data Analytics Lead in February 2022.
Ferreras joined Arsenal as a Data Scientist in October 2018, having previously worked for the communications companies Telefonica and Vodafone. Former Arsenal Head of Analytics Sarah Rudd recalled hiring Ferreras when she appeared on the TGG Podcast in September 2023.
“When we were hiring for the position that Mikhail Zhilkin got, we only had two women applicants,” Rudd remembered. “One was Susana. She had won a silver medal for Spain at the Olympics (in basketball). The other was a woman working in Formula One, who had to drop out.
“It was really shocking to see how few female applicants there were. Susana was so impressive that we decided to shuffle things and make a position for her.”
Ferreras has worked as Operations Manager for the Spain Women's basketball team at major competitions since 2011 and helped them win silver in Rio in 2016. The overall boss of Arsenal's data analytics department is the American Chris Dove, whose title is Head of Software and Analytics. He replaced Rudd, who had left to set up her own consultancy, in July 2021.
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