How Data Analysis and Information Systems Are Changing Football
Introduction: It makes sense to start this piece with two quotes from German football journalist and author of a recent book “Football Hackers”, Christoph Biermann who said, “data is part of an ongoing evolution that changes football from a game of opinions into one of knowledge. (Biermann 2019, pg8) The writer also makes the strong point that “the future of football will not simply belong to those with the best data, but those who draw the best conclusions from the information at their disposal.” (Biermann 2019, pg8) This piece will discuss how data analytics and information systems have impacted the world of football and the industries around it over the last few decades. This piece will analyse how data has change football tactics, scouting of players, player fitness and the betting industry. Who is using this data? How is it being used, and why? Definitions, History and Influences “Data analytics is the science of analysing raw data in order to make conclusions about that