Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze review articles on soccer performance analysis (PA) using a bibliometric approach to address three main research questions: (a) How has the publication of review articles related to soccer PA evolved over time? (b) Which authors and journals have been the most...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Sports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/5/131 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327138221588480 |
|---|---|
| author | Spyridon Plakias |
| author_facet | Spyridon Plakias |
| author_sort | Spyridon Plakias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: This study aimed to analyze review articles on soccer performance analysis (PA) using a bibliometric approach to address three main research questions: (a) How has the publication of review articles related to soccer PA evolved over time? (b) Which authors and journals have been the most influential in this field and what are the collaboration networks between them? (c) What are the dominant topics, methodological issues, and gaps in the relevant literature? Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database on 24 January 2025, using a comprehensive Boolean expression to identify relevant review articles. The extracted data were analyzed using VOSviewer (1.6.20.0). We employed bibliometric performance analysis, science mapping, and clustering techniques including co-authorship, co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling, and co-citation analyses. Results: The study included 314 review articles, demonstrating an exponential increase in publications since 2017. The most influential journal was <i>Sports Medicine</i>, while the leading authors included F. M. Clemente and H. Sarmento. Co-occurrence analysis revealed five thematic clusters covering physical performance, nutrition, coaching strategies, tactical analysis, and emerging data-driven approaches. Notably, significant gaps in the literature were identified in the areas of set pieces, key performance indicators, and contextual variables. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis, creating a comprehensive map of the review articles on soccer PA, highlights the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of soccer PA research, identifies gaps in the literature, and offers practical considerations for researchers and journal editors aiming to advance the field of soccer PA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f491c4baef9495cbf3339fc875c754b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f491c4baef9495cbf3339fc875c754b2025-08-20T03:47:58ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632025-04-0113513110.3390/sports13050131Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging ThemesSpyridon Plakias0Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karyes, 42100 Trikala, GreeceObjectives: This study aimed to analyze review articles on soccer performance analysis (PA) using a bibliometric approach to address three main research questions: (a) How has the publication of review articles related to soccer PA evolved over time? (b) Which authors and journals have been the most influential in this field and what are the collaboration networks between them? (c) What are the dominant topics, methodological issues, and gaps in the relevant literature? Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database on 24 January 2025, using a comprehensive Boolean expression to identify relevant review articles. The extracted data were analyzed using VOSviewer (1.6.20.0). We employed bibliometric performance analysis, science mapping, and clustering techniques including co-authorship, co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling, and co-citation analyses. Results: The study included 314 review articles, demonstrating an exponential increase in publications since 2017. The most influential journal was <i>Sports Medicine</i>, while the leading authors included F. M. Clemente and H. Sarmento. Co-occurrence analysis revealed five thematic clusters covering physical performance, nutrition, coaching strategies, tactical analysis, and emerging data-driven approaches. Notably, significant gaps in the literature were identified in the areas of set pieces, key performance indicators, and contextual variables. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis, creating a comprehensive map of the review articles on soccer PA, highlights the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of soccer PA research, identifies gaps in the literature, and offers practical considerations for researchers and journal editors aiming to advance the field of soccer PA.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/5/131association footballscience mappingtacticsphysical conditionsports medicine |
| spellingShingle | Spyridon Plakias Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes Sports association football science mapping tactics physical condition sports medicine |
| title | Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes |
| title_full | Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes |
| title_fullStr | Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes |
| title_short | Review Articles on Soccer Performance Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Trends and Emerging Themes |
| title_sort | review articles on soccer performance analysis a bibliometric analysis of current trends and emerging themes |
| topic | association football science mapping tactics physical condition sports medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/5/131 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT spyridonplakias reviewarticlesonsoccerperformanceanalysisabibliometricanalysisofcurrenttrendsandemergingthemes |