{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T14:58:22Z","timestamp":1761663502294,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761609600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study analysed how tactical systems and match outcomes influence micro-level passing network metrics across playing positions in a professional football team competing in the Portuguese First Division during the 2020\u20132021 season. It examined how structural variation affects Degree Centrality, Degree Prestige, and Proximity Prestige across tactical systems (1-4-1-4-1, 1-4-3-3, 1-3-4-3) and outcomes (win, loss, draw) in different positions. Data from 28 league matches were used, with adjacency matrices constructed from teammate interactions. Players were grouped into six positions: goalkeepers, fullbacks, central defenders, central midfielders, wingers, and strikers. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) across positions, tactical systems, and match outcomes. Central defenders consistently showed higher values of Degree Centrality and Degree Prestige across most systems and outcomes, highlighting their structural importance. In contrast, strikers and wingers displayed greater Proximity Prestige in the 1-4-3-3 and 1-3-4-3, reflecting their offensive positioning. Match outcome analysis indicated that wingers had significantly higher Degree Prestige in won matches compared to losses. Overall, results show that micro-level network metrics vary meaningfully by position and context, underscoring the importance of interpreting them cautiously. Despite the novelty of this study, focusing on the initial tactical systems without capturing within-match adjustments may condition the generality of the results. Coaches and practitioners should account for tactical and outcome-related variations when applying network analysis to optimise team dynamics.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/app152111513","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T14:29:34Z","timestamp":1761661774000},"page":"11513","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Positional Influence in Football Passing Networks: An Analysis of the Tactical Systems and Match Outcomes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9092-6530","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ricardo","family":"Alves","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3774-6661","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gon\u00e7alo","family":"Dias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT\u2014Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center (UID\/6185\/2023), Av. Dr. M\u00e1rio Soares N.\u00b0 110, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro Interdisciplinar de Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz-Quebrada-Dafundo, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2321-4998","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno Andr\u00e9","family":"Nunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health and Sport, Southampton Solent University, Southampton SO14 0YN, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1812-2300","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando","family":"Martins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT\u2014Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center (UID\/6185\/2023), Av. Dr. M\u00e1rio Soares N.\u00b0 110, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal"},{"name":"Instituto de Telecomunica\u00e7\u00f5es, Delega\u00e7\u00e3o da Covilh\u00e3, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"inED\u2014Centre for Research & Innovation in Education, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1750-5019","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"S\u00e9rgio M.","family":"Querido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro Interdisciplinar de Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz-Quebrada-Dafundo, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7922-1540","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vasco","family":"Vaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro Interdisciplinar de Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz-Quebrada-Dafundo, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1080\/24748668.2016.11868892","article-title":"Game Style in Soccer: What Is It and Can We Quantify It?","volume":"16","author":"Hewitt","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. 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