Table 3 Interpretation of network centrality metrics in football context. Note: practical examples are based on common tactical observations in football, provided for illustrative purposes rather than as research findings.
From: The impact of team quality, match outcomes, and match location on pitch-passing networks
Centrality metric | Mathematical definition | Football interpretation | Practical example |
|---|---|---|---|
Degree centrality (DC) | Measures the number of direct passing connections between a node (zone) and other nodes (zones) | Identifies “busy” areas of the pitch with high passing activity6,32 | Central midfield zones in possession-based teams like Barcelona typically show high DC values, reflecting their style with frequent short passing |
Closeness centrality (CC) | Measures how efficiently (with shortest paths) a node (zone) can connect to all other nodes (zones) | Reveals zones that enable quick ball distribution to all pitch areas32 | Zones occupied by deep-lying playmakers (e.g., Pirlo, Kroos) show high CC, allowing efficient ball distribution anywhere on the pitch |
Betweenness centrality (BC) | Measures how often a node (zone) lies on the shortest path between other node (zone) pairs | Highlights crucial transitional zones that connect different areas of the pitch32 | Defensive midfield zones (occupied by players like Casemiro or Kanté) often show high BC as they form critical links between defensive and attacking regions |
