German coach who developed 1,800 players shifts mission to African footballers

Veteran German coach Thomas Geist has joined Nigerian-owned football agency X-TOUCH Sports as Strategic Technical Advisor, Soccernet.ng reports.

Three years after guiding SV Hönnepel-Niedermörmter to avoid relegation in the Landesliga Niederrhein, Geist has committed himself to scouting and nurturing players between Africa and Europe.

In his new role, he will provide advisory support and act as a bridge for technical exchange between the two continents.

With over 35 years of experience in football, Geist has helped groom more than 1,800 players across European clubs and academies.

His expertise is expected to strengthen X-TOUCH’s mission of connecting African prospects with European opportunities.

Geist, who began his journey as a youth player at SV Neukirchen before an injury cut short his career, later returned to the club as a youth coach.

Since then, he has built a reputation for his work in coaching, academy governance, and talent development.

Speaking on the appointment, X-TOUCH founder and FIFA-licensed agent OlaOlu Adedayo described Geist’s addition as a major step for the agency.

“Thomas brings over three decades of experience in football coaching, academy governance, and talent development in Europe, with more than 1,700 footballers having passed through his mentorship,” Adedayo said. “Formalising our partnership signals to players, clubs, and stakeholders that X-TOUCH is serious about delivering excellence, trust, and long-term opportunities for underrepresented footballers.”

As a strategic advisor, Geist will support X-TOUCH with knowledge transfer, bridging European expertise with African football ecosystems. He will provide technical input on scouting, tactical frameworks, and academy governance.

Commenting on his new role, Geist expressed excitement about the partnership.

“I am delighted to join X-TOUCH at this formative stage. The agency’s commitment to combining talent, trust, and technology resonates with me. Together, we can open new doors for African players and academies, giving them the structure and exposure they deserve on the global stage.”