Network analysis to understand variability and patterns of individual and collective behaviour in professional football: a systematic review

This systematic review aimed to synthesise and critically evaluate studies employing network analysis to investigate variability and patterns of individual and collective behaviour in elite professional football. A systematic search was conducted across five databases (Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and SciELO) up to 15 June 2025, complemented by manual reference screening. Eligible studies involved professional football teams and applied network analysis to describe player interactions and collective dynamics. Following PRISMA guidelines, 72 studies were included and assessed for methodological quality using the STROBE checklist. Data extraction and results were synthesised narratively. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (INPLASY) under the registration number INPLASY202550097. The findings indicate that network analysis effectively identifies key players, quantifies individual and collective variability, captures team trends and dynamics, and reveals adaptive tactical patterns across match situations, phases of play, and competitive contexts. Several studies highlighted the potential of predictive models using network metrics to forecast performance and support decisions. Methodological heterogeneity, particularly in sample sizes, data collection, network construction, and metric selection, limits cross-study comparability. Network analysis is a strategic tool in elite football, providing valuable insights to improve performance assessment, tactical planning, and applied sport science. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. Grant/Award Number 2024.04417.BD.