Efficiency in European football teams using WindowDEA: analysis and evolution
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
ISSN: 1741-0401
Article publication date: 19 November 2018
Issue publication date: 19 November 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze efficiency and its evolution in teams that played in the UEFA Champions League during nine seasons. The aim is to present a research procedure for determining the most accurate data envelopment analysis to estimate and compare the efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the authors analyzed the existence of a temporal trend using the S-statistic. The authors calculated the Kruskal–Wallis statistic to verify if there is stability in relative ranks. The results of the aforementioned tests have indicated that window analysis is an accurate methodology to apply to the sample. The authors analyzed 94 clubs with a sample of 288 observations, obtaining 768 efficiency ratios. They have been calculated using super-efficiency which enables to discriminate efficient units.
Findings
Results indicate that there is a low efficiency level in the nine seasons observed. There is a strong correlation between sports results and the efficiency of semifinalists. The authors conclude that improvement in a club’s efficiency could enhance its sports results. Finally, as practical implications, the authors highlight benchmark teams and alternative sports tactics to help clubs become more efficient and achieve better sports results.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to sports efficiency literature by presenting a research procedure to identify the most accurate methodology to be applied to panel data. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first empirical study on international football competitions applying WindowDEA to incomplete panel data.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors want to thank financial support from Project Grant ECO2016-77-P (AEI/FEDER, UE); Project UZCUD 2015-SOC-01 (Universidad de Zaragoza and CUD); Research group COMPETE S52_17 R (Autonomous Government of Aragón); and ECO2017-86305-C4-4-R (AEI/FEDER, UE). The authors also acknowledge Carlo Morosi and OPTA Sport for the provision of data. Fabíola Zambom-Ferraresi was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the Public University of Navarre and by Health Economics research group of Public University of Navarre. The authors also thank comments of 8th ESEA European Conference on Sports Economics.
Citation
García-Cebrián, L.I., Zambom-Ferraresi, F. and Lera-López, F. (2018), "Efficiency in European football teams using WindowDEA: analysis and evolution", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 67 No. 9, pp. 2126-2148. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2018-0053
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited