About
My name is Michael Calderaro‑Tracey
I’m Michael Calderaro‑Tracey, founder of TESSA, a boutique football agency specialising in goalkeepers and defenders.
With a background in sports science, psychology, and talent identification, I focus on ethical, development‑first representation and performance support — helping players, parents, and clubs make clear, confident decisions that build long‑term success.
Discovering and Nurturing Talent at Tessa.
Philosophy
Talent identification in football requires a clear understanding of development pathways, competitive context, and opportunity.
Players often progress through varied routes, with differences in access to coaching, training volume, physical maturation, and tactical exposure playing a significant role in performance and development.
As a result, evaluation must go beyond isolated actions or short-term outcomes.
TESSA approaches scouting with a strong emphasis on context-driven assessment. Players are evaluated within their tactical role, team structure, and level of competition, with particular attention paid to off-ball behaviour, decision-making, communication, and adaptability.
Live match observation is prioritised wherever possible, as it provides essential insight into game understanding, physical robustness, and mental attributes that are not always visible through video alone. Video analysis is used as a supporting tool for screening, review, and remote identification, particularly where geography or access limits in-person observation.
Scouting work also recognises the importance of long-term potential, including the identification of late developers and players transitioning between youth and senior football. Evaluations are grounded in realism, professionalism, and honesty, with the aim of supporting informed decision-making for clubs, agencies, and players within the women’s football pathway.
The Scout & Agent
Founder of TESSA — Total Edge Scouting & Sports Agency — and a lifelong defender who played as a centre‑back, specifically in the role once known as a sweeper. That position shaped how I see the game: reading play early, valuing intelligence over chaos, and understanding the nuances of the roles football often overlooks.
I hold a BSc in Sports Sciences, I’m a PFSA‑accredited scout, a strength and conditioning coach, and
I bring 20 years of coaching experience across youth, senior, male, and female football. My coaching qualifications pre‑date the modern FA/UEFA structure but are equivalent to today’s UEFA C licence, including FA Goalkeeping certification.
My career has taken me through the Scottish FA, professional and semi‑professional clubs, and coaching roles in both the UK and the USA. These environments shaped my belief in Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) — supporting the player and the person with equal focus, clarity, and honesty.
That philosophy sits at the heart of TESSA’s three‑pillar model:
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Player Services — providing defenders and goalkeepers with objective, specialist performance insight that helps them understand their game and develop with purpose.
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Club Services — offering defensive‑specific recruitment and analysis to clubs who want smarter, evidence‑based decision‑making.
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Agency Services — representing players through a development‑first lens, ensuring their careers are built on clarity, trust, and long‑term growth.
Whether I’m analysing performance, supporting development, advising a club, or guiding a player through the representation process, my aim is simple: to help people make better decisions, develop with intent, and feel understood in a game that often overlooks the details.