Performance Analysis and Coaches in Football

Performance Analysis and Coaches in Football: A Practical Guide for Coaches is a primary text for coaches and students wishing to develop their knowledge of how to utilise performance analysis to support their coaching practice.

Using case studies to offer real-world examples of how coaches can use different forms of performance analysis to support their role in first team environments, talent development environments and women’s and girls’ football, this new text is a fundamental guide for individuals studying and aspiring to work in applied football environments, offering a guide on how to use performance analysis to support player development and team performance in football. The book goes on to examine the way in which performance analysis can be used to support coach development and how it can be used to address some of the sociological issues in football coaching environments.

Drawing on contributions from both academics and practitioners in the subject of performance analysis, and its use by coaches, Performance Analysis and Coaches in Football highlights how coaches and analysts have worked collaboratively to ensure effective performance analysis processes are followed within football clubs.

This thoughtful and practical textbook is key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students on courses such as BA Football Studies, BSc Football Coaching, MSc Performance Football Coaching, and MSc Football Coaching as well as benefit coaches who undertake Football Association coaching certificates.

Patrick Oxenham is the Academy Insights Manager at Fulham Football Club with over 10 years’ experience working with elite football clubs. He is also a former Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Patrick is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Professional Studies (DProf) in Data Science, focusing his research on the use of data science frameworks to support process improvements within a Premier League Academy. Patrick is an active researcher with recent projects in the field of performance analysis and data science.

Tom Hounsell is First Team Coach at Wycombe Wanderers FC. He has previously held senior roles within the men’s game, including First Team Assistant Head Coach and Interim Manager at Burton Albion FC. Prior to these roles, Tom spent over a decade at Fulham FC Academy. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he also served as the Academy Insights Manager. Beyond his applied coaching work, Tom has worked as a Subject Lead and Senior Lecturer at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He managed multiple undergraduate and postgraduate football coaching, sports coaching, and performance analysis programmes.

Claire Mulvenna currently works in learning and development in elite football. She has over 10 years’ experience as a lecturer and researcher, specialising in the use of performance analysis by coaches and the integration of performance analysis processes in elite football practice. Claire completed her PhD in 2022, focusing on the opportunities and challenges of using performance analysis technology in football. Prior to her career in higher education, she held several coaching and performance analysis roles in both men’s and women’s football.