Soccermatics - by David Sumpter (Paperback)

About the Book

Soccer as you have never viewed it before--an eye-opening presentation of the world's favorite sport.

Book Synopsis

Soccer as you have never viewed it before--an eye-opening presentation of the world's favorite sport.

Soccer is the most mathematical of sports--riddled with numbers, patterns, and shapes. How to make sense of them? The answer lies in mathematical modeling, a science with applications in a host of biological systems. Soccermatics brings the two together in a fascinating, mind-bending synthesis.

What's the connection between an ant colony and Total Football, Dutch-style? How is the Barcelona midfield linked geometrically? And how can we relate the mechanics of a Mexican Wave to the singing of cicadas in an Australian valley? Welcome to the world of mathematical modeling, expressed brilliantly by David Sumpter through the prism of soccer. Soccer is indeed more than a game and this book is packed with game theory. After reading it, you will forever watch the game with new eyes.

Review Quotes

"Drawing on stats, physics and natural phenomena, a math professor and amateur coach explains everything from the geometry of passing to managerial strategy to predicting performance. The book is full of game theory and diagrams of famous plays." --Steven Goff, The Washington Post roundup of soccer books

"Sumpter's deconstruction of formations proved why maths and football can't live without each other. It's every football nerd's dream." --FourFourTwo

"This is football looked at in a very different way. David Sumpter is mining a rich and deep seam here in Soccermatics, one that will become an increasingly important part of the game." --Pat Nevin, former Chelsea and Everton star and football media analyst

"Touted as a 'mathematical adventure through the beautiful game, ' this title certainly lives up to and exceeds expectations. The biggest positive for this book is that it is approachable, certainly much more than SOCCERNOMICS from Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski." --International Soccer Network

"Sumpter's love of the game is infectious--it's impossible not to be drawn in . . . SOCCERMATICS is a fascinating book, an intelligent work that strives to reflect the minute intricacies of the game by way of the numbers while never condescending to or overwhelming the reader. Soccer fans and math lovers will be thrilled, but in truth, a general understanding of both is really all you need to enjoy this one." --The Maine Edge

"A fascinating study of the structures and patterns that underpin football matches, with revealing and surprising conclusions." --Michael Cox, editor of Zonal Marking and Guardian Sports

"David Sumpter brings together his two passions, mathematics and football, in a highly original and entertaining way. The beautiful game illustrated through the beauty of mathematics." --Philip Maini FRS, Professor of Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford

"If you really love football and math, well I assume you've already rushed out to buy this." --BookFilter

About the Author

David Sumpter is a professor of applied mathematics at Uppsala University in Sweden, where he runs the Collective Behavior Research Group. Originally from London, he earned his Ph.D. in mathematics at Manchester and held academic research positions at both Oxford and Cambridge. This is his first book. He lives with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he trains a successful soccer team of nine-year-old boys. He lives in Uppsala, Sweden.