KEVIN BALVERS

The Athletic article 2025;

Kevin Balvers Has built a career at the intersection of football methodology, performance analysis, and set-piece coaching. Beginning at the Dutch FA (KNVB), responsibilities included developing educational content and supporting national representative teams as a video analyst. A move to Vitesse Arnhem followed, where a club-wide video analysis structure was created from the ground up across the academy before progressing into a first-team analyst role.

Part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, contributing to Vitesse’s first-ever KNVB Cup triumph and successful European campaigns. Alongside club responsibilities, involvement with Patrick Kluivert’s Curaçao National Team staff saw participation in a historic FIFA World Cup qualification campaign that narrowly fell short in the decisive final match against Mexico. Finished the job winning the Caribbean cup in 2017.

Also involved in FC Barcelona’s Academy restructuring methodology project, working alongside Patrick Kluivert and Paco Seirul·lo Vargas to develop the club’s methodology framework and playing philosophy across departments.

An opportunity at Malmö FF brought responsibility for designing and implementing a club-wide football methodology, establishing a clear playing identity from the first team through to the youngest academy age groups. Also responsible for the set-pieces inside the team. The project concluded with a Swedish league title before a move to Arsenal FC as Manager of Methodology in the technical staff of Mikel Arteta.

Three years working closely with Arteta in the technical staff provided invaluable experience in translating tactical concepts into practical learning tools, presentations, and player education. Daily exposure to one of Europe’s most innovative football environments played a major role in shaping both a football philosophy and a specialist approach to set pieces.

Returning to the Netherlands, a position as Manager of Football Vision at PSV Eindhoven followed. Contributing to multiple league titles, domestic success, and consecutive strong Champions League campaigns, the role evolved into becoming PSV’s first full-time Set-Piece Coach in 2025/26. Outstanding attacking output from set plays and underlying expected-goals metrics provided further validation that the methodology, principles, and tactical framework developed throughout a career can consistently deliver results at the highest level.