The Professional Football Players' Observatory (PFPO) is very proud to release the findings of the third Demographic Study of Footballers in Europe. This publication is based on a census of 13,108 footballers currently playing for 534 clubs in 36 top division leagues of UEFA member national associations.
The 80-page report shows that footballers in Europe are becoming older, taller, more mobile, especially internationally, and increasingly trained in a different club from which they play in. Though the percentage of players having migrated internationally during their career is 45.7%, that of footballers playing in the club by which they have been trained is only 23.4%.
Barcelona is the European club with the shortest players, while Inter Milan regroups the oldest ones. Manchester United has the greatest squad stability, while Tottenham has the roster with the most active full internationals. More results are to be found in the attached file.
The Study is divided into four chapters: "Age & Height"; "Training & Experience"; "Expatriates and International Recruitment"; "Signings and Mobility"; plus a special chapter "Talents" dedicated to the most promising U21 players. An extract of the report may be downloaded after free registration from www.eurofootplayers.org/publications. Our 1,350 registered users can use their customary password.
The publication can be purchased on www.cies.ch/cies-shop/catalog/3. Journalists, students and academics may obtain a special discount by replying to this email.
<b>About the Professional Football Players Observatory</b>
The Professional Football Players’ Observatory (PFPO) is a research group that generates comparable statistical indicators in the areas of demography, training, international recruitment, mobility and pitch performance of professional football players. Created in 2005, the PFPO brings together researchers from the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), the ThéMA research centre of the University of Franche-Comté, and the Institute of Sports Science of the University of Lausanne.
Professional Football Players Observatory (PFPO)
CIES, Avenue du Peyrou 1
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
+41 32 718 39 00
