Football scout analysis models (based in the 2013/2014 Champions League)

Abstract

First places in major football competitions are no longer a few teams’ achievement. A better understanding of the game becomes crucial with this highly competitive background. Our purpose was to determine scout variables that best describe the technical and tactical characteristics of the 2013/2014 Champions League’s participating teams. All UEFA Champions League’s qualifying phases and play-offs matches (32 teams in 126 matches) were analyzed using scout public domain data. The analyzed variables were goals scored, goals difference, total attempts, attempts on target, disarms, corners, offside, passes completed, passes uncompleted, fouls committed and ball possession. A best subsets multiple regression analysis reveal that total attempts (r²=0.815), ball possession (r²=0.748), passes completed (r²=0.742) and scored goals (r²=0.699) are the most relevant variables to describe the match. The present study was able to show how scout information can be reduced to the coach easily application. Statistics, Soccer, UEFA, Competitions.