In 2019, Wisła Kraków, a historic Polish football club with a rich legacy, faced a severe financial crisis that led to its relegation. This threatened the club's very existence and damaged its reputation. Traditional methods had failed, creating an urgent need for a radical solution to regain competitiveness and restore fan confidence.
A visionary AI entrepreneur took over the club, recognizing the critical need for a disruptive approach. Instead of relying on conventional scouting, the club harnessed the power of data and deployed a custom AI model. This model analyzed thousands of coaches from across the globe, assessing their impact, tactics, leadership, and even personality traits to identify the perfect fit.
The AI identified Albert Rude, a relatively unknown coach from Costa Rica, as the best candidate. Despite initial scepticism from football journalists and commentators, Rude implemented AI-driven strategies that led Wisła Kraków to an improbable victory in the 2024 Polish Cup. This success not only restored fan pride but also proved the power of data-driven decision-making in a sport traditionally dominated by human intuition.
The entire project, including the development and implementation of the AI model and its subsequent successful application, was executed by Wisła Kraków, with VML providing communication and advisory support.
