Football is a dynamic sport that has been continuously evolving over the years. With the rise of sports analytics, clubs are now utilizing innovative techniques and data models to achieve marginal gains and compete at the highest level. These advancements have made sports analytics increasingly important in the modern game.
If you’re interested in understanding how analytics have impacted football in recent years, there are numerous books available that explore this subject. In this article, we’ll take you through 10 of the best sports analytics books, catering to beginners as well as those with extensive knowledge on the topic.
1. The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Soccer Is Wrong by David Sally
Published in 2013, David Sally’s The Numbers Game was one of the earliest books to delve into the new types of innovation being introduced within football. This myth-busting guide explores how numbers are impacting the sport and dives deep into the analytics behind predicting winners and losers. Through unconventional analysis, this book challenges traditional beliefs and provides valuable insights into the modern era of football.
2. How to Watch Football: 52 Rules for Understanding the Beautiful Game, On and Off the Pitch by Tifo – The Athletic
From the popular Tifo Football Podcast and Tifo YouTube channel comes How to Watch Football, a text aimed at revolutionizing the way you experience the game. This book encourages a more analytical, tactically-focused approach to watching football, allowing you to become more observant and notice details that shape the outcome of a match. By changing the way you watch, you can gain a deeper understanding of the beautiful game.
3. The Expected Goals Philosophy: A Game-Changing Way of Analysing Football by James Tippett
James Tippett’s The Expected Goals Philosophy explores the vital role of Expected Goals (xG) in analyzing football. xG is a statistical framework that helps assess the quality of different chances within a match, making it a fundamental tool in modern soccer analytics. This book provides a comprehensive understanding of xG and how it influences the way we evaluate and analyze the game.
4. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis
While not solely focused on football, Moneyball is a renowned book that delves into the power of analytics in sports. The author, Michael Lewis, tells the story of the Oakland Athletics baseball team and their journey to success through innovative use of data and analytics. This book highlights the impact of analytics in elite-level sports and provides valuable insights that can be applied to football.
5. Mathletics: How Gamblers, Managers, and Sports Enthusiasts Use Mathematics in Baseball, Basketball, and Football by Wayne L. Winston
Mathletics by Wayne L. Winston explores the practical applications of mathematics in popular U.S. sports such as baseball, basketball, and American football. While not specific to football, this book provides a fascinating insight into how mathematics can be used to analyze statistical and probability-related questions in sports. It emphasizes the importance of using mathematical tools to evaluate players and enhance performance.
6. Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution by Ryan O’Hanlon
Net Gains by Ryan O’Hanlon offers an in-depth examination of the rise of analytics in soccer. O’Hanlon takes readers on a global tour, exploring innovative approaches to the game and how analytics have transformed our understanding of football. This book showcases how the increased acceptance of analytics has revolutionized the way coaches, players, and fans view and analyze the sport.
7. Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Syzmanski
Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Syzmanski is a classic sports analytics book that combines economics, statistics, psychology, and business to challenge traditional beliefs in football. Exploring questions like “Why do England lose?” and “Why doesn’t America dominate the sport internationally?”, this book provides counter-intuitive insights into the game. It offers a fresh perspective on well-known subjects in football and is a great starting point for those new to sports analytics.
8. Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won by Tobias J. Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim
Scorecasting challenges long-established truisms in football by revealing the hidden influences behind how sports are played and games are won. Tobias Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim use behavioral economics to debunk myths and provide fresh perspectives on the sport. This book emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in elite-level sports.
9. Football Hackers: The Science and Art of a Data Revolution by Christoph Biermann
In Football Hackers, Christoph Biermann explores the data revolution in football and its impact on the sport. By interviewing scientists, coaches, managers, scouts, and psychologists, Biermann delves into the cutting-edge approaches used to push the game forward. This book provides valuable insights into the role of data and analytics in shaping the future of football.
10. Outside the Box: A Statistical Journey through the History of Football by Duncan Alexander
Duncan Alexander, co-founder of OptaJoe, takes readers on a statistical journey through the history of football in Outside the Box. This book utilizes the OptaJoe archives to trace the evolution of stats in football and observe how analytics have transformed elite soccer competitions. It offers an accessible and informative account of the history of sports analytics in football.
These 10 sports analytics books provide a wide range of insights into the evolving landscape of football. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced enthusiast, these books will help you gain a deeper understanding of the role of analytics in the sport.
Read More: 7 easy steps to get started in football data and analytics?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are these books suitable for beginners?
A: Yes, these books cater to readers of all levels. Whether you’re new to sports analytics or already have a strong knowledge base, there’s something for everyone.
Q: Can I apply the concepts from these books to other sports?
A: While these books primarily focus on football, many of the concepts and principles discussed can be applied to other sports as well.
Q: Are these books available for purchase online?
A: Yes, you can find these books on various online platforms such as Zerobertooficial and other reputable bookstores.
Q: Is there a recommended reading order for these books?
A: There’s no specific order in which these books should be read. You can choose based on your interests and the level of depth you’re looking to explore.
Conclusion
Sports analytics has become an integral part of football, enabling clubs to gain a competitive edge through data-driven decision-making. The 10 books mentioned in this article offer valuable insights into the world of sports analytics, catering to readers of all levels. From myth-busting to statistical analyses, these books will enhance your understanding of the role analytics plays in the beautiful game. So grab a book, dive into the data, and unlock the secrets of football analytics.