12 Nov Consistency and identifiability of football teams: a network science perspective
How consistent is your team’s playing style — and how unique is it compared to others?
This research offers a game-changing method to measure two critical aspects of team identity: consistency (how stable your playing style is across matches) and identifiability (how recognizable your style is compared to other teams).
Instead of focusing on formations or individual players, this study uses multi-scale pitch passing networks — maps of how the ball moves across different zones of the pitch — to track and quantify team organization. By analyzing every pass made by every team during an entire LaLiga season, the researchers calculated:
- How similar a team’s passing patterns are across all matches (consistency)
- How different they are compared to other teams (identifiability)
Why does this matter for coaches and performance staff?
Because it allows you to answer key questions:
- Does our team always try to play the same way?
- Are we adapting too much to the opponent?
- Is the opponent likely to impose their style on us — or are they reactive?
One of the most practical takeaways is that consistency and identifiability are measurable — and not always the same. A team can have a unique style (high identifiability) but still be inconsistent in applying it. For example, Barcelona was the most “identifiable” team, while Real Madrid was the most “consistent” over the season.
You can even track which team imposed its style in a specific match, regardless of the final score. This provides valuable insight for match preparation, post-match analysis, and long-term style development.
For practitioners: Consider evaluating your upcoming opponents’ identifiability. If they consistently impose their style, you may need to disrupt their flow. If they adapt frequently, the game plan should focus on reinforcing your own structure.
Application areas:
- Pre-match reports: Who’s likely to impose their game?
- Opposition scouting: How stable is their passing network?
- Internal analysis: Are we staying true to our identity, home and away?
🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76835-3