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Kendall correlations and radar charts to include goals for and goals against in soccer rankings

Author

Listed:
  • Roy Cerqueti

    (Sapienza University of Rome
    University of Angers)

  • Raffaele Mattera

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Valerio Ficcadenti

    (London South Bank University)

Abstract

This paper deals with the challenging themes of the way sporting teams and athletes are ranked in sports competitions. Starting from the paradigmatic case of soccer, we advance a new method for ranking teams in the official national championships through computational statistics methods based on Kendall correlations and radar charts. In detail, we consider the goals for and against the teams in the individual matches as a further source of score assignment beyond the usual win-tie-lose trichotomy. Our approach overcomes some biases in the scoring rules that are currently employed. The methodological proposal is tested over the relevant case of the Italian “Serie A” championships played during 1930–2023.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy Cerqueti & Raffaele Mattera & Valerio Ficcadenti, 2025. "Kendall correlations and radar charts to include goals for and goals against in soccer rankings," Computational Statistics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1849-1872, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:compst:v:40:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s00180-024-01542-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00180-024-01542-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valerio Ficcadenti & Roy Cerqueti & Ciro Hosseini Varde’i, 2023. "A rank-size approach to analyse soccer competitions and teams: the case of the Italian football league “Serie A"," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 325(1), pages 85-113, June.
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