Evaluation of the Technical Performance of Football Players in the UEFA Champions League

Qing Yi, Miguel-Ángel Gómez-Ruano, Hongyou Liu, Shaoliang Zhang, Binghong Gao, Fabian Wunderlich and Daniel Memmert
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Qing Yi: School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
Miguel-Ángel Gómez-Ruano: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Hongyou Liu: School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
Shaoliang Zhang: Division of Sport Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Binghong Gao: School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
Fabian Wunderlich: Institute of Training and Computer Science in Sport, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Daniel Memmert: Institute of Training and Computer Science in Sport, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the technical match performance of top-class football players in a long-term perspective. Technical performance profiles of players according to five playing positions (central defender, full back, wide midfielder, central midfielder, forward) and five situational variables (competition stage, match location, quality of team, quality of opponent, match outcome) were established. Technical match data of players in the UEFA Champions League from season 2009–2010 to 2016–2017 were analyzed. The true effects of positional and situational variables on players’ technical performance were evaluated by the non-clinical magnitude-based inference. Results showed that the effect of competition stage on player’s performance was negligible. Quality of team , quality of opponent and match outcome revealed the strongest effects on player’s performance (ES: −0.42 ± 0.10–0.59 ± 0.10) while the effect of match location was relatively lower (ES: −0.32 ± 0.10–0.23 ± 0.07). The number of variables that showed statistical differences under five competing contexts for wide midfielders and forwards were higher than those of central defenders, full backs, and central midfielders. Differences of players’ match performance could mainly be identified in variables related to goal scoring, passing, and organizing, these findings may provide important insights for coaches and analysts during the match preparation and training session.

Keywords: technical performance profile; situational variable; playing position; football; soccer; match analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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