How Sports Analytics Enhances Competitive Parity in Football: A Case Study of Brentford FC

Kane, Luke (2025) How Sports Analytics Enhances Competitive Parity in Football: A Case Study of Brentford FC. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This dissertation investigates the extent to which sports analytics can enhance competitive parity in professional football, particularly in the context of increasing financial inequality among clubs. The study focuses on how analytics can be used to bridge the gap between wealthier and resource-constrained clubs through data-driven recruitment, player development, and performance optimisation.

Using a quantitative research methodology, the dissertation analyses data from Premier League clubs between 2020 and 2024. Key metrics such as expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), injury records, and points-per-pound spent are used to evaluate performance and financial efficiency. Case studies of Brentford FC, Fulham FC, and Manchester United offer comparative insight into the real-world impact of analytics integration.

Findings reveal that clubs with strong analytics infrastructures such as Brentford, which achieved 16.6 points per £ million spent in the 2024/25 season outperform their financial expectations by recruiting efficiently and maintaining tactical consistency. In contrast, clubs with less structured data strategies often suffer from costly inefficiencies, despite significantly higher budgets. The study concludes that sports analytics is not merely a tool for marginal gains but a strategic necessity in a regulated financial landscape.

This research contributes to the growing literature on football analytics and provides practical implications for clubs seeking sustainable success under UEFA Financial Fair Play and Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Supervisors:	Name Email -, - UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > Sports > Soccer H Social Sciences > Economics > Business G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > Sports
Divisions:	School of Business (- 2025) > BA (Honours) in Business Studies
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2026 14:10
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2026 14:10
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/9182

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