Since its beginning, football has been a proud game of people from all backgrounds. From time to time, some geniuses would appear and change the way teams played their game. Rinus Michels, for example, paved the way for total football, and the game has never been the same since.
In recent years, significant changes have been seen as technology and AI have developed. Behind football fields and managers, there are people in offices who sit by the computer and study the data. Why? Because it helps on the pitch. These technologies provide valuable insights, which we will try to uncover in this article.
How Football Changed
Football data as we know it was goals, assists, possession, and several other percentages that we were interested in as fans. It is clear from the get-go that these stats exist only on the surface level and lack an in-depth understanding of the game. Decisions were based on subjective observations, and sudden changes from the opposition were met unprepared.
New technologies emerged, and analysis became more detailed and automated. Optical tracking can monitor how a player moves throughout the pitch, while wearable devices control the sportsman’s physical metrics, including heart rate, distance covered, etc. These are the tools and technology that allow managers and staff to analyze performances in a detailed way that was unimaginable a few years ago.
Here are some of the tools that were not available some time ago:
- Expected Goals
xG measures the probability of a goal. It quantifies the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal.
- Expected Threat
xT measures the potential dangers created by a player’s movements, decisions, and actions when it comes to offensive play.
- Passing Networks
Visualizes frequency and patterns of passes between players in a match, helping the manager understand how each player behaves and reacts on the peach.
What Changes Does Technology Bring?
Technology transforms multiple aspects and niches. Let’s start with scouting. Before, scouts traveled a lot and relied on their networks and intuition. Now, everything is automated, and intuition can be a thing of the past. Data-driven approaches remove the person’s subjectivity and present the players on field activities like passing accuracy, defensive contributions, and positioning in numbers.
Match Analysis
AI can process real-time and historical data to optimize tactics, line-ups, and almost every aspect when it comes to football. Coaches may rely on their recommendations and strategies for future games and exploit opponent weaknesses.
AI’s ability to capture multiple insights by analyzing the amount of data that the human brain cannot. Then, these data will be collected, and patterns will be created to help develop future strategies. However, the question remains, where does the individuality of the manager stand in this era of technology and AI?
Athlete Development
As we’ve mentioned, various metrics like distance covered, sprint speed, and heart rate can be tracked during training and matches. This information is very useful for the staff as they can create individual training programs for the players that can translate into results in the field.
It can also provide dietary recommendations for better performance and recovery. Injury prevention is another area where AI excels. Machine learning algorithms assess training loads and injury history, identify risk factors, and adjust routines to minimize injuries.
Impact on Fans
Obviously, technology also changed the way we watch and interact with the game. It started by shooting the matches from various angles, continued with multiple streaming services, and made it easy to watch the game. Fans can also analyze stats, track live metrics, and better understand the game. According to bookiesnotongamstop, betting companies also use data analytics to determine the most profitable outcome. This can influence fan sentiment if their team is valued as an underdog. After some time, the data-driven approach may even influence public opinion; on a larger scale, it may even affect player’s mindsets before some matches, for better or for worse.
What Lies In The Future?
The future can be challenging, as automated processes can be so refined that some professions will no longer be required. But this does not concern only football. Obviously, some professionals in multiple fields are worried as well. We should also consider that an overemphasis on statistical insights risks diminishing football’s human aspects. Players and coaches rely on instinct, creativity, and emotional intelligence, elements that numerical models struggle to quantify. Tactical decisions shaped solely by algorithms may lead to rigid playstyles that reduce spontaneity.
However, as AI and data science become accessible to academies, lower-tier clubs, and amateur players, the whole game could benefit. AI may suggest training drills, identify strengths and weaknesses, and contribute to the overall football level. Also, AI models trained on extensive match footage can suggest tactical adjustments in real time, refining team strategies beyond traditional analysis.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, football is transforming, and it brings several benefits as well as concerns. It may affect player development and in-game tactics to maximize performance. As AI and data analytics transform the game we love, it may lack emotionality and human touch in the future.
