Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position
Background: This study aimed to examine differences in match running performance (MRP) of elite male football players according to their team positions. Methods: The sample included 108 male football players from five Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League group-stage match...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MRE Press
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Men's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-532/pdf/JOMH2024121401.pdf |
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| author | Borko Katanic Radivoje Radakovic Stefan Djordjevic Karuppasamy Govindasamy Vlad Adrian Geantă Alexandru Ioan Băltean Mima Stankovic |
| author_facet | Borko Katanic Radivoje Radakovic Stefan Djordjevic Karuppasamy Govindasamy Vlad Adrian Geantă Alexandru Ioan Băltean Mima Stankovic |
| author_sort | Borko Katanic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This study aimed to examine differences in match running
performance (MRP) of elite male football players according to their team
positions. Methods: The sample included 108 male football players from
five Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League group-stage
matches (2021/22). Players’ movement performance was classified by position:
central backs (CB; n = 22), fullbacks (FB; n = 21), central midfielders (CM; n =
28), wingers (W; n = 18), forwards (F; n = 19). Movement performance was assessed
using the InStat Fitness optical system and classified by velocity: walking,
jogging, running, high-intensity running and sprinting. Additional parameters
included: total distance, average and maximum movement velocity, and the number
of accelerations and sprints performed. Results: The main findings were:
(i) Forwards covered a shorter distance (8449 m; p = 0.001) than other
players—1587 m less than fullbacks, 1871 m less than central midfielders and
2157 m less than wingers. They also covered less distance in walking (p
= 0.006) and jogging (p = 0.001) than other players; (ii) Wingers and
central midfielders covered greater distances (p = 0.001) than central
backs and forwards; (iii) Central backs covered less distance in high-velocity
running (539 m; p = 0.001)—286 m less than fullbacks, 301 m less than
central midfielders, 300 m less than wingers and 158 m less than forwards. They
also sprinted less (62 m; p = 0.001)—91 m less than fullbacks, 95 m
less than wingers and 80 m less than forwards—and performed fewer sprints
overall; (iv) Central midfielders and wingers had the highest average velocity
(p = 0.001); (v) No differences were found in the number of
accelerations or maximum velocity. Conclusions: These findings highlight
the different physical demands and roles of various positions in male football,
informing training adjustments to enhance players’ abilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8226cbeb97ec4b888ecb1d959fa547d9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1875-6867 1875-6859 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MRE Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-8226cbeb97ec4b888ecb1d959fa547d92025-08-20T03:53:13ZengMRE PressJournal of Men's Health1875-68671875-68592025-04-01214899410.22514/jomh.2025.055S1875-6867(25)00372-0Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing positionBorko Katanic0Radivoje Radakovic1Stefan Djordjevic2Karuppasamy Govindasamy3Vlad Adrian Geantă4Alexandru Ioan Băltean5Mima Stankovic6Montenegrin Sports Academy, 81000 Podgorica, MontenegroDepartment of Information Technologies, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, SerbiaFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaDepartment of Sports Recreation and Wellness, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Hyderabad Campus, 509217 Hyderabad, IndiaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310130 Arad, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310130 Arad, RomaniaFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaBackground: This study aimed to examine differences in match running performance (MRP) of elite male football players according to their team positions. Methods: The sample included 108 male football players from five Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League group-stage matches (2021/22). Players’ movement performance was classified by position: central backs (CB; n = 22), fullbacks (FB; n = 21), central midfielders (CM; n = 28), wingers (W; n = 18), forwards (F; n = 19). Movement performance was assessed using the InStat Fitness optical system and classified by velocity: walking, jogging, running, high-intensity running and sprinting. Additional parameters included: total distance, average and maximum movement velocity, and the number of accelerations and sprints performed. Results: The main findings were: (i) Forwards covered a shorter distance (8449 m; p = 0.001) than other players—1587 m less than fullbacks, 1871 m less than central midfielders and 2157 m less than wingers. They also covered less distance in walking (p = 0.006) and jogging (p = 0.001) than other players; (ii) Wingers and central midfielders covered greater distances (p = 0.001) than central backs and forwards; (iii) Central backs covered less distance in high-velocity running (539 m; p = 0.001)—286 m less than fullbacks, 301 m less than central midfielders, 300 m less than wingers and 158 m less than forwards. They also sprinted less (62 m; p = 0.001)—91 m less than fullbacks, 95 m less than wingers and 80 m less than forwards—and performed fewer sprints overall; (iv) Central midfielders and wingers had the highest average velocity (p = 0.001); (v) No differences were found in the number of accelerations or maximum velocity. Conclusions: These findings highlight the different physical demands and roles of various positions in male football, informing training adjustments to enhance players’ abilities.https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-532/pdf/JOMH2024121401.pdfhigh-intensity runningmatch analysisphysical demandsplaying positionsoccertactical role |
| spellingShingle | Borko Katanic Radivoje Radakovic Stefan Djordjevic Karuppasamy Govindasamy Vlad Adrian Geantă Alexandru Ioan Băltean Mima Stankovic Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position Journal of Men's Health high-intensity running match analysis physical demands playing position soccer tactical role |
| title | Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| title_full | Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| title_fullStr | Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| title_short | Differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| title_sort | differences in match running performance of elite male football players relative to playing position |
| topic | high-intensity running match analysis physical demands playing position soccer tactical role |
| url | https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-532/pdf/JOMH2024121401.pdf |
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