The effect of coach dismissal on team performance and match physical demands in Spanish professional soccer leagues

ABSTRACTThe present study aimed to examine the relationship between coach dismissal and team performance, and match physical demands in the top two professional Spanish soccer leagues across both short and long term within a season. Data were collected from all matches played in the First (Liga Santander; n = 2,950) and Second Spanish Division (Liga Smartbank; n = 2,966) over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019). Team performance (points won), total distance (TD), high-intensity running distance (HIRD, distance 21–24 km⋅h−1), very-high-intensity running distance (VHIRD, >24 km⋅h−1) and the number of efforts between 21–24 km⋅h−1 (Sp21) and >24 km⋅h−1 (Sp24) were analysed. All within-season coaching dismissals were examined. Results showed that team performance was significantly higher after coach dismissal across short term (p < .001). Concerning match physical demands, across the short term, only TD was significantly greater after coach dismissal (p < .01); while across long terms, TD, HIRD, VHIRD, Sp21 and Sp24 were significantly greater during post coach dismissal stage (p < .001) than the prior coach dismissal stage. Such findings demonstrate that coach replacement could positively influence on team performance and match physical demands, not only across the short term but also over the season.KEYWORDS: Professional footballmatch running performancecoach replacementlongitudinal analysisperformance Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementRestrictions apply to the availability of these data. Data were obtained from LaLiga and are available at https://www.laliga.es/en with the permission of LaLiga.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Government of Extremadura (Department of Economy and Infrastructure), LaLiga Research and Analysis Sections, and Fernando Valhondo Calaff Foundation.