
The Numbers Behind Success in Soccer
Discover How Some Modern Professional Soccer Teams and Players Use Analytics to Dominate the Competition
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $11.69
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jim Cassidy
-
By:
-
Chest Dugger
About this listen
What's behind the success of certain professional soccer clubs? Is it money, luck, skill? The answer may surprise you....
The use of analytics in sport is now well embedded. Marginal gains, the bedrock upon which the cycling coach Dave Brailsford built his greatest successes, are cornerstones of most sports nowadays. But, until recently, that did not apply to the biggest sport in the world. Not in soccer. It was as though this simplest of sports is too complicated for statistics. Or that only one statistic counts, the number of times the ball hits the back of the net. "The only statistic that counts", there’s an often used and annoying stock term.
However, in the last 10 years, professional soccer clubs of all levels of wealth and stature have bought into analytics. Data analysts are now a major part of every top professional club. They interact with players, advise coaches, examine the strengths and weaknesses of teams, establish likely tactical organization of different sides; even focus on what a referee might allow and penalize.
Here's what's included in this book:
- The reasons why top spending clubs like PSG and Manchester City don't always win
- How analytics has helped Leicester City overcome the poverty gap in soccer
- How analytics has revolutionizing soccer training sessions and pre-match strategy sessions
- Three players who were chosen by professional soccer clubs using analytics
- How modern analytics fared doing soccer predictions for the 2018 World Cup
- Analytics settles the great debate: Messi vs. Ronaldo
- And much more
Even if you've never played soccer in your life, you will find this book informative and engaging.
Scroll up, and click "buy" now.
©2020 Kumar (P)2021 KumarListeners also enjoyed...
-
Net Gains
- Inside the Beautiful Game's Analytics Revolution
- By: Ryan O'Hanlon
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This in-depth examination of soccer takes listeners on a tour across the world and throughout history, introducing the many people who have attempted to shine a light onto and innovate a sport that, in many ways, is still stuck in the Dark Ages. This deep dive into the rise of analytics in soccer—a sport where tradition reigns supreme—shows how revolutionary tactics and underexplored metrics are breaking the beautiful game wide open.
-
-
Must read!
- By Kathleen V Fahey on 01-26-23
By: Ryan O'Hanlon
-
Soccer Analytics
- Assess Performance, Tactics, Injuries and Team Formation Through Data Analytics and Statistical Analysis
- By: Chest Dugger
- Narrated by: Jim Cassidy
- Length: 1 hr and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook will explain what soccer analytics are and how they work in a game. It will analyze different parts of play during a game and provide ideas and details around how analytics can improve a team during various passages of play.
-
-
Free on Spotify
- By Pogba on 12-01-20
By: Chest Dugger
-
Masters of Modern Soccer
- How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game
- By: Grant Wahl
- Narrated by: Grant Wahl
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Masters of Modern Soccer, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl asks: How do some of the game's smartest figures master the craft of soccer? By profiling players in every key position (American phenomenon Christian Pulisic, Mexican superstar Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Belgium's Vincent Kompany, Spain's Xabi Alonso, Germany's Manuel Neuer) and management (Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc), Wahl reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field and execute in high pressure game situations.
-
-
Great for coaches!
- By Amazon Customer on 09-29-18
By: Grant Wahl
-
Zonal Marking
- From Ajax to Zidane, the Making of Modern Soccer
- By: Michael W. Cox
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A mazy dribble through the recent history of European soccer, showing how shifting styles and influence have shaped the game. In the early 1990s, the Dutch footballing philosophy was worshiped across the continent. Then the baton passed to the Italians, who clearly boasted Europe's strongest league. But when France started winning everything at international level its national academy became the template for others, until suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Europe's most revered player and manager both hailed from Portugal.
-
-
Historical perspective not tactical
- By Jon on 02-11-20
By: Michael W. Cox
-
Expected Goals
- The Story of How Data Conquered Football and Changed the Game Forever
- By: Rory Smith
- Narrated by: Simon Darwen
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Football has always measured success by what you win, but only in the last twenty years have clubs started to think about how you win. Data has now suffused almost every aspect of how football is played, coached, scouted and consumed. But it’s not the algorithms or new metrics that have made this change, it’s the people behind them. This is the story of modern football’s great data revolution and the group of curious, entrepreneurial personalities who zealously believed in its potential to transform the game.
-
-
Trove of information
- By KaraS on 03-15-24
By: Rory Smith
-
The Barcelona Complex
- Lionel Messi and the Making—and Unmaking—of the World's Greatest Soccer Club
- By: Simon Kuper
- Narrated by: Steve West
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
FC Barcelona is not just the world’s highest grossing sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organizations on the planet. At last count, it had approximately 214 million social media followers, more than any other sports club except Real Madrid CF—and by one earlier measure, more than all 32 NFL teams combined. It has more in common with multinational megacompanies like Netflix or small nation-states than it does with most soccer teams. Journalist Simon Kuper tells the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful club in the world.
-
-
Fantastic book for the serious soccer fan
- By Steve Adams on 04-01-23
By: Simon Kuper
-
Net Gains
- Inside the Beautiful Game's Analytics Revolution
- By: Ryan O'Hanlon
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This in-depth examination of soccer takes listeners on a tour across the world and throughout history, introducing the many people who have attempted to shine a light onto and innovate a sport that, in many ways, is still stuck in the Dark Ages. This deep dive into the rise of analytics in soccer—a sport where tradition reigns supreme—shows how revolutionary tactics and underexplored metrics are breaking the beautiful game wide open.
-
-
Must read!
- By Kathleen V Fahey on 01-26-23
By: Ryan O'Hanlon
-
Soccer Analytics
- Assess Performance, Tactics, Injuries and Team Formation Through Data Analytics and Statistical Analysis
- By: Chest Dugger
- Narrated by: Jim Cassidy
- Length: 1 hr and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook will explain what soccer analytics are and how they work in a game. It will analyze different parts of play during a game and provide ideas and details around how analytics can improve a team during various passages of play.
-
-
Free on Spotify
- By Pogba on 12-01-20
By: Chest Dugger
-
Masters of Modern Soccer
- How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game
- By: Grant Wahl
- Narrated by: Grant Wahl
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Masters of Modern Soccer, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl asks: How do some of the game's smartest figures master the craft of soccer? By profiling players in every key position (American phenomenon Christian Pulisic, Mexican superstar Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Belgium's Vincent Kompany, Spain's Xabi Alonso, Germany's Manuel Neuer) and management (Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc), Wahl reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field and execute in high pressure game situations.
-
-
Great for coaches!
- By Amazon Customer on 09-29-18
By: Grant Wahl
-
Zonal Marking
- From Ajax to Zidane, the Making of Modern Soccer
- By: Michael W. Cox
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A mazy dribble through the recent history of European soccer, showing how shifting styles and influence have shaped the game. In the early 1990s, the Dutch footballing philosophy was worshiped across the continent. Then the baton passed to the Italians, who clearly boasted Europe's strongest league. But when France started winning everything at international level its national academy became the template for others, until suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Europe's most revered player and manager both hailed from Portugal.
-
-
Historical perspective not tactical
- By Jon on 02-11-20
By: Michael W. Cox
-
Expected Goals
- The Story of How Data Conquered Football and Changed the Game Forever
- By: Rory Smith
- Narrated by: Simon Darwen
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Football has always measured success by what you win, but only in the last twenty years have clubs started to think about how you win. Data has now suffused almost every aspect of how football is played, coached, scouted and consumed. But it’s not the algorithms or new metrics that have made this change, it’s the people behind them. This is the story of modern football’s great data revolution and the group of curious, entrepreneurial personalities who zealously believed in its potential to transform the game.
-
-
Trove of information
- By KaraS on 03-15-24
By: Rory Smith
-
The Barcelona Complex
- Lionel Messi and the Making—and Unmaking—of the World's Greatest Soccer Club
- By: Simon Kuper
- Narrated by: Steve West
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
FC Barcelona is not just the world’s highest grossing sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organizations on the planet. At last count, it had approximately 214 million social media followers, more than any other sports club except Real Madrid CF—and by one earlier measure, more than all 32 NFL teams combined. It has more in common with multinational megacompanies like Netflix or small nation-states than it does with most soccer teams. Journalist Simon Kuper tells the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful club in the world.
-
-
Fantastic book for the serious soccer fan
- By Steve Adams on 04-01-23
By: Simon Kuper
-
Pep’s City
- By: Lu Martín, Pol Ballús
- Narrated by: Thomas Judd
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over three seasons in England, Pep Guardiola has built something the Premier League has never seen before: a team that dominates games like no other, scoring goals and collecting points and trophies at record-breaking pace. Throughout that journey, the Spanish journalists Lu Martín and Pol Ballús have been embedded with the club, reporting this inside account of how a phenomenal team was constructed: from the recruitment of Guardiola himself, to the backroom staff that provide the platform for his team and the superstar players that have set a new standard in British football.
-
-
Great listen!
- By Turgon23 on 11-02-23
By: Lu Martín, and others
-
Soccernomics
- By: Simon Kuper, Stefan Szymanski
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why does England lose? Why does Scotland suck? Why doesn't America play the sport internationally... and why do the Germans play with such an efficient but robotic style? Using insights and analogies from economics, statistics, psychology and business to cast a new and entertaining light on how the game works, Soccernomics reveals the often surprisingly counterintuitive truths about soccer.
-
-
Interesting but older version of the book
- By Hansi on 05-08-13
By: Simon Kuper, and others
-
Revolution
- The Rise of Arteta’s Arsenal
- By: Charles Watts
- Narrated by: Gavin Osborn
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
November 2019. Unai Emery’s final game as Arsenal manager sees the Gunners languishing eighth in the league. Appointed in the dying embers of the Wenger years, Emery’s 18 months as Arsenal boss has seen the team and the club go backwards – playing unimaginative, pragmatic football, and recently losing to London rivals Chelsea in the final of the Europa League. Something had to change; a fresh head with fresh ideas. A new leader.
-
-
Solid Gold
- By Kindle Customer on 08-27-24
By: Charles Watts
-
1 Hour Sports Bettor
- By: Michael Austin
- Narrated by: Anthony J. Miano
- Length: 1 hr and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you want to Start, Re-Start or Reset your Sports Betting Endeavor this book will help. You will learn to Develop the mindset, and use the tools that give you the confidence to come out a winner and enjoy the experience. I will review the basics and even down to the types of bets. You’ll also learn or re-learn some forgotten systems that have made people a lot of money.
-
-
Fast Betting Boost
- By Ella N. Gittens on 08-31-23
By: Michael Austin
-
The Age of Football
- Soccer and the 21st Century
- By: David Goldblatt
- Narrated by: David Goldblatt
- Length: 24 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With breathtaking scope and unparalleled knowledge of the game, The Age of Football explores soccer's vital role in our social, political, and economic lives: its connections to social discord in the Middle East and political division in Europe; the reasons behind its surprising surge in popularity in China, India, and the United States; and its use (and misuse) in the global advance of equality and human rights. Goldblatt proves that whether you call it football or soccer, you can't make sense of the modern world without understanding its most popular sport.
-
-
Very informative
- By Chad n Emily W. on 06-27-23
By: David Goldblatt
-
Soccer Tough
- Simple Football Psychology Techniques to Improve Your Game
- By: Dan Abrahams
- Narrated by: Hugh Jones
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Technique, speed, and tactical execution are crucial components of winning soccer, but it is mental toughness that marks out the very best players - the ability to play when pressure is highest, the opposition is strongest, and fear is greatest. Top players and coaches understand the importance of sport psychology in soccer but how do you train your mind to become the best player you can be? Soccer Tough demystifies this crucial side of the game and offers practical techniques that will enable soccer players of all abilities to actively develop focus, energy, and confidence.
-
-
Amazing Book
- By Frank West on 08-13-23
By: Dan Abrahams
-
Calling the Shots
- How to Win in Football and Life
- By: David Dein
- Narrated by: Arsène Wenger, David Dein
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's no doubt that Dein has been one of the most significant and influential figures in British football for over three decades—operating at club and international level. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Premier League, hugely influential within the England set-up and, of course, was the mastermind—along with Arsène Wenger—in creating the glory days of Arsenal Football Club, leading the team for almost a quarter of a century.
-
-
Modern Day Herbert Chapman
- By Will on 02-10-23
By: David Dein
-
Superforecasting
- The Art and Science of Prediction
- By: Philip Tetlock, Dan Gardner
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone would benefit from seeing further into the future, whether buying stocks, crafting policy, launching a new product, or simply planning the week's meals. Unfortunately, people tend to be terrible forecasters. As Wharton professor Philip Tetlock showed in a landmark 2005 study, even experts' predictions are only slightly better than chance. However, an important and underreported conclusion of that study was that some experts do have real foresight.
-
-
Great for Experts
- By Michael on 02-20-17
By: Philip Tetlock, and others
-
How Not to Be Wrong
- The Power of Mathematical Thinking
- By: Jordan Ellenberg
- Narrated by: Jordan Ellenberg
- Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ellenberg chases mathematical threads through a vast range of time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, encountering, among other things, baseball, Reaganomics, daring lottery schemes, Voltaire, the replicability crisis in psychology, Italian Renaissance painting, artificial languages, the development of non-Euclidean geometry, the coming obesity apocalypse, Antonin Scalia's views on crime and punishment, the psychology of slime molds, what Facebook can and can't figure out about you, and the existence of God.
-
-
Great book but better in writing
- By Michael on 07-02-14
By: Jordan Ellenberg
-
Wenger
- My Life and Lessons in Red & White
- By: Arsène Wenger
- Narrated by: Arsène Wenger
- Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Wenger: My Life and Lessons in Red and White, world-renowned and revolutionary soccer coach Arsène Wenger finally tells his own story for the very first time. Wenger opens up about his life, sharing principles for success on and off the field with lessons on leadership, personal development, and management.
-
-
Nostalgic but not overly compelling
- By Scott Shepherd on 11-25-20
By: Arsène Wenger
-
Let Them Lead
- Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team
- By: John U. Bacon
- Narrated by: John U. Bacon
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When John U. Bacon played for the Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats, he never scored a goal. Yet somehow, years later he found himself leading his alma mater’s downtrodden program. How bad? The team hadn’t won a game in over a year, making them the nation’s worst squad. With almost everyone expecting more failure, Bacon made it special to play for Huron by making it hard, which inspired the players to excel. Then he defied conventional wisdom again by putting the players in charge of team discipline, goal-setting, and even decision-making—and it worked.
-
-
Get Inspired
- By Kyle on 03-31-25
By: John U. Bacon
-
José Mourinho
- Up Close & Personal
- By: Robert Beasley
- Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mourinho is both a sumptuous celebration of The Special One's managerial career so far, and an enigmatic insight into his unique brand of football wisdom and philosophy. In the legendary manager's very first audiobook, and in his own images and captions, José Mourinho charts the peaks and troughs of the opening 15 years of what has been a stellar rise to the summit of the global game.
-
-
Poor Quality
- By Sanjay Patel on 04-10-20
By: Robert Beasley
What listeners say about The Numbers Behind Success in Soccer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christian Kotitschke
- 08-25-21
Great content, great story flow, great narration
First off all, this book is currently very much up to date on some of the analytics content. Written in 2020 and having listened to it in 2021 this topic is still very much up to date in an industry that moves reasonably fast especially over the last few years.
To be clear, this is not a deep dive into how clubs do soccer analytics, but it highlights approaches and how to think about the field of analytics available to you when trying to apply it to soccer. As that I think it gives a very detailed and complete overview. From there it is up to you to take the learnings and dive into the details.
What makes this and many other books from Chest Dugger stand out is the narrative flow and built in but hidden dry soccer humor. When the author seemingly has fun with the book he is writing and when it shines through in the narration, I know I stumbled onto a good one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- George Dickey
- 10-26-22
Cool Book!!
I want to get better at soccer, and these workouts seem fantastic. I found this book so cool to listen through
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kayleigh Ward
- 10-17-22
A meaningful way.
Soccer tryouts are nerve-wracking. After months and months of practice, everything is at stake on one particular day. The author of this book outlines easy strategies for making trials enjoyable as well as how to progress through each phase of a tryout without getting caught up in your own thoughts. Really a good book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Eloise Humphreys
- 10-17-22
Awesome book.
An amazing job is done by Chest Dugger in detailing each process to take before a soccer tryout. Chest Dugger does a fantastic job at outlining the basics of things, including how to introduce oneself, what to eat, and what to do after the tryouts!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Niamh Leonard
- 10-17-22
Great instruction!!
Every one of Chest Dugger's books has been extremely beneficial and educational. The time that was spent organizing the information is greatly appreciated.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Zachary Harris
- 10-26-22
Pretty Basic!!
A good book that definitely gets to the point and explains some of the nuances of soccer warm-ups
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Elise Fraser
- 10-17-22
Soccer Defense Skills!!
Key concepts and defense-related topics are covered in this book. There are also useful drills included. Suitable for all levels. Liked it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jane Rubinstein
- 10-26-22
Training drills
A good book with lots of visual training exercises. The book focuses more on coaches than on the match-day setup, which is acceptable yet important to know. The troubleshooting part is very helpful since it suggests the appropriate drills based on the issue.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!