Over the years, technology has begun to have an increasingly close relationship with the world of soccer.
Gone are the days when everything was done empirically, from refereeing to training. Just look at how the VAR is changing the way of refereeing.
However, it has not only served to precisely implement the regulations but has also helped train players or facilitate the selection of players, by technical directors.
Let’s review seven technological innovations that revolutionized soccer..
1. Big Data
Perhaps one of the most important advances is the compilation of information about the world’s players and teams.
It is not only about proper names but about the specific traits that allow us to know the performance of each player in a precise way.
An example of this type of technology is Opta, a company that is dedicated to gathering data from players to know their performance: passes, kilometers traveled, scoring opportunities are taken, shots on goal, among other variables.
Although this company founded in 1996 was only officially intended to satisfy the curiosity of users, over time it ended up becoming an important business within soccer.
This type of data collection has not only changed the way in which journalists share information about soccer.
But it even affects the price of players, since clubs or technical directors review this type of base of data to know the qualities of footballers, whether they are looking for a guy with certain characteristics or wanting to know the numbers of a prospect.
With this data, we also have other types of websites that report free livescore about games, so fans can stay up to date with the latest scores and track them in real-time.
2. Footbonaut
Jurgen Klopp and his Borussia Dortmund owe a lot to this machine.
This device was created exclusively for players to improve their technique and the accuracy of their passing.
The Footbonaut is a cage that measures approximately 14 meters and that throws balls (at a speed that can be configured) to the player who is in the center of the cell within a circle that defines their space of movement.
The rule is that he can only make two touches: one of reception and the next he must send the ball to an illuminated cell that appears randomly.
One of the great supports it offers is that it not only helps the players with the exercises but also provides data on the performance of each one in the time they have been training, indicating which areas are.
Thus, the Footbonaut is one of those responsible (but not the only one) of the two BVB championships.
3. GPS
There is a type of technology developed by the STAT Sports company that consists of a vest that has a computer called Apex on the back, right between the shoulder blades, which is used to monitor the health and know the performance of footballers, among other functions.
What it does is measure in real-time various elements such as heart rate and acceleration capacity, as well as the trips made, and even, through a sensor, the force of the shocks.
It is used to know when a player begins to decrease his performance due to fatigue, helping the coach to determine what is the best time to change it, having the eleven on the field in the best possible physical condition.
4. Drones
It recently emerged that Pep Guardiola had the intention of using drones to monitor each of the movements of his players at Manchester City in order to explain to them what he wants them to do since a view from above would allow his pupils to understand what part of the field should be or how to move.
The use of drones begins to spread to such a level that Manchester United prohibits the flight of drones over its sports city to avoid sports espionage.
5. Missile tracking technology
Mikey Tamar – a former member of the Israeli army – managed to get a logarithm, used to track missiles, that can be used to monitor a ball.
With this in mind, he founded a technology called Pixellot. This idea soon attracted attention from many investors and currently, this technology is used by many European clubs such as Real Madrid or Real Sociedad, and many others around the world.
By means of this technology, it will be possible to make a detailed follow-up of each one of the players on the field.
It is currently for the exclusive use of the Mexican league, but the information is planned to be public soon, according to statements made by Enrique Bonilla.
