Football – the most mathematical of sports. From shot statistics and league tables to
the geometry of passing and managerial strategy, the modern game is filled with
numbers, patterns and shapes. How do we make sense of these? The answer lies in
the mathematical models applied in biology, physics and economics. Soccermatics
brings football and mathematics together in a mind-bending synthesis, using numbers
to help reveal the inner workings of the beautiful game.
How is the Barcelona midfield linked geometrically?
What’s the similarity between an ant colony and Total Football, Dutch style?
What can defenders learn from lionesses?
How much of a scoreline is pure randomness and how much is skill?
How can probability theory make you money at the bookies?
Welcome to the world of mathematical modelling, expressed brilliantly by David
Sumpter through the prism of football. No matter who you follow – be it Bristol City,
Burton Albion, Barnet or Barrow, or one of the Premier League big boys – you’ll be
amazed at what mathematics has to teach us about the world’s favourite sport.

About the Author

David Sumpter is professor of applied mathematics at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Originally from London, he completed his doctorate in Mathematics at Manchester, and held academic research positions at both Oxford and Cambridge before heading to Sweden. An incomplete list of the applied maths research projects on which David has worked include pigeons flying in pairs over Oxford; the traffic of Cuban leaf-cutter ants; fish swimming between coral in the Great Barrier Reef; swarms of locusts traveling across the Sahara; the gaze of London commuters; dancing honey bees from Sydney; and the tubular structures built by Japanese slime moulds. In his spare time, he exploits his mathematical expertise in training a successful under-nines football team, Uppsala IF 2005. David is a Liverpool supporter with a lifelong affection for Dunfermline Athletic. collective-behavior.com @djsumpter