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851-0557-00L 3 Credits BSC , DS , DR , MSC D-GESS , D-INFK , D-MATH
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Soccer Analytics

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Ulrik Brandes
Students should be comfortable with mathematical derivations and scripting for data analysis.
VVZ CR 4.33

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:33:17

Abstract

Soccer analytics refers to the use of data in tactical decision-making, recruitment, strategic planning, and fan engagement in association football. This course is first and foremost about data, problems, and methods. They are discussed, however, with reference to the broader context of measurement and data science in sports and society.

Objective

Students gain insight into the role of data science in professional football. They learn to capture aspects of the beautiful game in observable data to inform tactical, strategic, and communicative decision-making. By appreciating difficulties that arise even in activities with highly regulated interactions such as team sports, they reflect on the use of data science in the study of collective behavior.

Content

The content is organized into two streams. The first stream consists of lectures in which principles, methods, and their application are introduced and discussed. The following is a rough overview, with exemplary aspects listed for each topic. 1. Introduction - history of measurement and analytics in sports - laws of the game: equipment, space, time, actors - data: match, event, tracking; sources, availability, uses 2. Outcomes - competitions: tournaments, leagues - ranking teams: coefficients, latent strengths - predicting results: odds, statistics 3. Individual Actions - running: heatmaps, trajectories, pitch control - passing: networks, line breaking, crosses - shooting: expected goals, expected points 4. Match Phases - set pieces: penalties, free kicks, etc. - game cycle: states, principles, expected threat 5. Collective Behavior - formations: positions, shapes - lineups: composition, contributions 6. Environment - recruitment: player profiles, transfer market, agents - governance: clubs, leagues, associations, confederations - engagement: attendance, merchandise, social media In the second stream, students gain first-hand experience by collaboratively analyzing professional-grade data from the qualifiers for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 in Switzerland. Groups of up to five students collaborate on opposition reports about teams and players in preparation for the tournament. This is the fourth, updated edition of the course. It is now an annual offering.

Resources

Literature

Most references will be to research articles and other more technical resources, but any of the following popular books may help to set the mood. Many of them are available in updated editions. * Chris Anderson & David Sally (2011). The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Football is Wrong. Penguin Books * Christoph Biermann (2019). Football Hackers: The Science and Art of a Data Revolution. Bonnier Books * Tobias Escher (2020). Der Schlüssel zum Spiel: Wie moderner Fußball funktioniert. Rowohlt * Simon Kuper & Stefan Szymanski (2009). Soccernomics. Nation Books * Timo Jankowski (2015). Successful German Soccer Tactics: The Best Match Plans for a Winning Team. Meyer & Meyer * David Sumpter (2016). Soccermatics: Mathematical Adventures in the Beautiful Game. Bloomsbury * Tifo-The Athletic (2022). How to Watch Football: 52 Rules for Understanding the Beautiful Game, on and off the Pitch. Particular Books * James Tippett (2019). The Expected Goals Philosophy: A Game-Changing Way of Analysing Football. Independently Published * Jonathan Wilson (2008). Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics. Orion

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , DS , DR , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Max Places
384

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Soccer Analytics
  • Wed 18:15-20:00 (HG F 7)
  • 26.02 Date 18:15-20:00 (ETA F 5)
2 h weekly

Offered In