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A Semi-Supervised Machine Learning Approach to Define Pressing Roles in Football Cover

A Semi-Supervised Machine Learning Approach to Define Pressing Roles in Football

International Journal of Computer Science in Sport
Volume 24 (2025): Issue 2 (June 2025)
By: Andrew Peters,  Nimai Parmar,  Michael Davies and  Nic James  
Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1:

Flow chart of methodology used for current research.
Flow chart of methodology used for current research.

Figure 2.

Bar Chart with SHAP values for the most important variables for broad position classification.
Bar Chart with SHAP values for the most important variables for broad position classification.

Figure 3.

Positional Classification following Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP).
Positional Classification following Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP).

Figure 4.

Positional Classification following Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and subsequent Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) Clustering.
Positional Classification following Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and subsequent Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) Clustering.

Figure 5.

SHAP Value Plot for Winger Classified Group to Identify Optimal Pressing KPIs
SHAP Value Plot for Winger Classified Group to Identify Optimal Pressing KPIs

Figure 6

(a) Ridge plot displaying distribution of optimal variables within each cluster. (b) UMAP projection onto 2-dimensional space followed by GMM of optimal pressing variables.
(a) Ridge plot displaying distribution of optimal variables within each cluster. (b) UMAP projection onto 2-dimensional space followed by GMM of optimal pressing variables.

Figure 7:

UMAP projection onto 2-dimensional space of players with closest similarity to Eberechi Eze from the 2022/2023 Season.
UMAP projection onto 2-dimensional space of players with closest similarity to Eberechi Eze from the 2022/2023 Season.

Figure 8:

(a) Dimensionality reduction & (b) lollipop chart displaying the evolving pressing role for Eberechi Eze over a 3-year season span.
(a) Dimensionality reduction & (b) lollipop chart displaying the evolving pressing role for Eberechi Eze over a 3-year season span.

Figure 9:

Boxplot showing the significant difference between pressing teams and aggressive actions.
Boxplot showing the significant difference between pressing teams and aggressive actions.

Positional Identifiers

Statsbomb Position LabelPositional Identifier
Centre Attacking MidfielderCentral / Attacking Midfielders
Left Centre MidfielderCentral / Attacking Midfielders
Right Centre MidfielderCentral / Attacking Midfielders
Centre BackCentre Back
Left Centre BackCentre Back
Right Centre BackCentre Back
Centre Defensive MidfielderDefensive Midfield
Left Defensive MidfielderDefensive Midfield
Right Defensive MidfielderDefensive Midfield
Centre ForwardForward
Left Centre ForwardForward
Right Centre ForwardForward
Left BackFullback / Wing Back
Left Wing BackFullback / Wing Back
Right BackFullback / Wing Back
Right Wing BackFullback / Wing Back
GoalkeeperGoalkeeper
Left Attacking MidfielderWinger
Left MidfielderWinger
Left WingWinger
Right Attacking MidfielderWinger
Right MidfielderWinger
Right WingWinger

Competitions Used in Data Sample

LeagueTerritorySeasons
1. BundesligaGermany2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
BundesligaAustria2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Champions LeagueEurope2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
ChampionshipEngland2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
EredivisieNetherlands2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Jupiler Pro LeagueBelgium2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
La LigaSpain2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Liga NosPortugal2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Liga ProfesionalArgentina2021; 2022
Ligue 1France2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Premier LeagueEngland2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Serie AItaly2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
Série ABrazil2021; 2022
Super LeagueSwitzerland2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
SuperligaDenmark2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
UEFA Europa Conference LeagueEurope2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23
UEFA Europa LeagueEurope2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23

Table of Players Similar to Eberechi Eze following Similarity Search

PlayerCompetitionTeam% SimilarityDistance
Wilfried ZahaPremier LeagueCrystal Palace94.828510.36
Simon Zoller1. BundesligaBochum93.788600.43
Nicola SansoneSerie ABologna92.538570.51
Amath NdiayeLa LigaMallorca91.365160.59
Hwang Hee-ChanPremier LeagueWolverhampton Wanderers90.605780.64
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcss-2025-0013 | Journal eISSN: 1684-4769
Journal RSS Feed
Language: English
Page range: 62 - 79
Published on: Dec 25, 2025
Published by: International Association of Computer Science in Sport
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year
Keywords:
Pressing,
Dimensionality Reduction,
Player Role,
Umap
Related subjects:
Computer sciences,
Databases and data mining,
Computer sciences, other,
Sports and recreation,
Physical education,
Sports and recreation, other

© 2025 Andrew Peters, Nimai Parmar, Michael Davies, Nic James, published by International Association of Computer Science in Sport
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

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