Abstract
We applied social networks analysis to objectively discriminate and describe interpersonal interaction dynamics of players across different top-coaching styles. The aim was to compare metrics in the passing networks of Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and Mauricio Pochettino across the UEFA Champions League seasons from 2017 to 2020. Data on completed passes from 92 games were gathered and average passing networks metrics were computed. We were not only able to find the foundations on which these elite coaches build the passing dynamics in their respective teams, but also to determine important differences that represent their particular coaching signatures. The local cluster coefficient was the only metric not significantly different between coaches. Still, we found higher average shortest-path length for Guardiola's network (mean ± std = 3.00 ± 0.45 a.u.) compared to Klopp's (2.80 ± 0.52 a.u., p = 0.04) and Pochettino's (2.70 ± 0.39 a.u., p = 0.01). Density was higher for Guardiola's (64.16 ± 20.27 a.u.) than for Pochettino's team (51.42 ± 17.28 a.u., p = 0.008). The largest eigenvalue for Guardiola's team (65.95 ± 16.79 a.u.) was higher than for Klopp's (47.06 ± 17.25 a.u., p < 0.001) and Pochettino's (42,62 ± 12.01 a.u., p < 0.001). Centrality dispersion was also higher for Guardiola (0.14 ± 0.02 a.u.) when compared to Klopp (0.12 ± 0.03 a.u., p = 0.008). The local cluster coefficient seems to build the foundation for passing work, however, cohesion characteristics among players in the three teams of the top coaches seems to characterize their own footprint regarding passing dynamics. Guardiola stands out by the high number of passes and the enhanced connection of the most important players in the network. Klopp and Pochettino showed important similarities, which are associated to preferences toward more flexibility of interpersonal linkages synergies.
Highlights
The game model is a process dependent on a diversity of interacting constraints that go beyond the ideas of coaches (Ribeiro et al, 2019a), coaches are the ones responsible for defining the tactical principles under which teams will pursue the intended performance outcomes during attacking and defending plays (Garganta et al, 1997)
We explored the potential of passing social networks to objectively discriminate match dynamics across different coaching framework styles
The LSD post-hoc from one-way ANOVA showed that the largest eigenvalue was higher for Pep Guardiola’s network (65.95 ± 16.79) compared to Klopp’s (47.06 ± 17.25; p < 0.001) and Pochettino’s (42.62 ± 12.01; p < 0.001)
Summary
The game model is a process dependent on a diversity of interacting constraints that go beyond the ideas of coaches (Ribeiro et al, 2019a), coaches are the ones responsible for defining the tactical principles under which teams will pursue the intended performance outcomes during attacking and defending plays (Garganta et al, 1997). Since tactical principles influence the collective organization of a team (Clemente and Martins, 2017), it might be reasonable to associate ball passing information as an important outcome of teammates interaction, especially related to interpersonal coordination during attacking building (Aquino et al, 2020). Not identified as playmakers as the external midfielders, were most frequently involved in successful plays. These are practical and important examples of contributions of individual players to match interplays and of pattern identification in the passing structure of sports teams
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