Publicação
Associated constraints with (in)success in the junior/senior transition in portuguese soccer players
| Resumo: | The main objective of this thesis was to analyse the constraints associated with success and failure in the transition from youth to senior levels among Portuguese football players, with the aim of deepening the understanding of the various factors and variables that may influence this process. Four studies were conducted, providing: (1) a comprehensive review of the most relevant literature on the youth-to-senior transition, outlining key barriers and facilitators of this critical stage; (2) a content analysis of the perceptions of coaches and coordinators regarding the transition process, highlighting the factors they believe support or hinder progression; (3) a content analysis of players’ perspectives on the challenges faced during the transition; and (4) the development of a tailored talent development model, accompanied by a practical intervention proposal intended for use by clubs, federations, and other stakeholders involved in the development of young players.A scoping review was carried out across the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2020) guidelines. For the two original studies, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Portuguese professional football coaches (57.2 ± 7.22 years old; 18.7 ± 6.09 professional seasons; 10 ± 5.39 career clubs), 5 Portuguese football academy coordinators (46.4 ± 5.59 years old; 4.8 ± 2.48 professional seasons; 1.8 ± 1.09 career clubs), and 20 professional football players (10 successful players - 39.3 ± 11.96 years; 13.4 ± 7.02 professional seasons; 5.8 ± 3.48 career clubs; 10 unsuccessful players - 35.6 ± 12.22 years; 2.5 ± 2.59 professional seasons; 2.2 ± 2.14 career clubs) to gather in-depth insights into the youth-to-senior transition. These interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a content analysis approach, employing a combined deductive–inductive coding process. The most relevant findings and testimonies derived from these interviews formed the basis for the proposed development model and its corresponding practical intervention.The analysis of data from the different studies allows us to suggest that: (1) The multifaceted nature of the transition from youth to senior levels in football highlights psychosocial, organizational, and physical factors as key influences on player progression. The complexity of this process lies not only in the presence of these individual factors, but especially in how they interact and manifest differently across various contexts. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing more effective interventions tailored to the actual needs of athletes undergoing this transition; (2) Successful transition from youth to professional football depends on multiple factors, including effective contextual alignment, strong technical and human leadership, flexible methodologies, and multidisciplinary support. Clubs play a central role in creating structured and safe developmental environments. Key challenges include pressure for immediate results, poor expectation management, and ineffective communication. B teams are generally seen as effective facilitators of this process, while the role of under-23 teams remains a subject of ongoing debate. Ultimately, the success of the transition lies in the club’s ability to adapt development strategies to the individual profile of each player; (3) In an increasingly demanding sports environment, the transition to the senior level requires ambition, discipline, resilience, and self-reflection. Success depends on the quality of the relationship with coaches, the suitability of the competitive context, and the value placed on academic education. Barriers such as pressure, poor expectation management, and the undervaluation of maturation persist, calling for a gradual, personalized approach supported by conscious and attentive leadership; (4) The thematic analysis highlights the complexity of player development, particularly during the transition from youth to senior levels. Success in this process requires more than investment in infrastructure and specialized staff; it depends on alignment across levels, a clear developmental philosophy, and an inclusive culture. The combination of intentional methodologies, careful selection processes, and appreciation of the competitive context fosters balanced growth. The proposed model adopts a holistic approach, integrating performance with human development, preparing players for the challenges of both professional football and life. Given the impact of football and the multitude of variables that influence it, this study provides valuable insights into the transition from youth to senior levels. |
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| Autores principais: | Tomás, João Henrique Pataco |
| Assunto: | Futebol Sénior Futebol de Formação Jogador de Futebol Performance Treinador Coach Football Player Performance Senior Football Youth Football |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | tese de doutoramento |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Coimbra |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra |
| Resumo: | The main objective of this thesis was to analyse the constraints associated with success and failure in the transition from youth to senior levels among Portuguese football players, with the aim of deepening the understanding of the various factors and variables that may influence this process. Four studies were conducted, providing: (1) a comprehensive review of the most relevant literature on the youth-to-senior transition, outlining key barriers and facilitators of this critical stage; (2) a content analysis of the perceptions of coaches and coordinators regarding the transition process, highlighting the factors they believe support or hinder progression; (3) a content analysis of players’ perspectives on the challenges faced during the transition; and (4) the development of a tailored talent development model, accompanied by a practical intervention proposal intended for use by clubs, federations, and other stakeholders involved in the development of young players.A scoping review was carried out across the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2020) guidelines. For the two original studies, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Portuguese professional football coaches (57.2 ± 7.22 years old; 18.7 ± 6.09 professional seasons; 10 ± 5.39 career clubs), 5 Portuguese football academy coordinators (46.4 ± 5.59 years old; 4.8 ± 2.48 professional seasons; 1.8 ± 1.09 career clubs), and 20 professional football players (10 successful players - 39.3 ± 11.96 years; 13.4 ± 7.02 professional seasons; 5.8 ± 3.48 career clubs; 10 unsuccessful players - 35.6 ± 12.22 years; 2.5 ± 2.59 professional seasons; 2.2 ± 2.14 career clubs) to gather in-depth insights into the youth-to-senior transition. These interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a content analysis approach, employing a combined deductive–inductive coding process. The most relevant findings and testimonies derived from these interviews formed the basis for the proposed development model and its corresponding practical intervention.The analysis of data from the different studies allows us to suggest that: (1) The multifaceted nature of the transition from youth to senior levels in football highlights psychosocial, organizational, and physical factors as key influences on player progression. The complexity of this process lies not only in the presence of these individual factors, but especially in how they interact and manifest differently across various contexts. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing more effective interventions tailored to the actual needs of athletes undergoing this transition; (2) Successful transition from youth to professional football depends on multiple factors, including effective contextual alignment, strong technical and human leadership, flexible methodologies, and multidisciplinary support. Clubs play a central role in creating structured and safe developmental environments. Key challenges include pressure for immediate results, poor expectation management, and ineffective communication. B teams are generally seen as effective facilitators of this process, while the role of under-23 teams remains a subject of ongoing debate. Ultimately, the success of the transition lies in the club’s ability to adapt development strategies to the individual profile of each player; (3) In an increasingly demanding sports environment, the transition to the senior level requires ambition, discipline, resilience, and self-reflection. Success depends on the quality of the relationship with coaches, the suitability of the competitive context, and the value placed on academic education. Barriers such as pressure, poor expectation management, and the undervaluation of maturation persist, calling for a gradual, personalized approach supported by conscious and attentive leadership; (4) The thematic analysis highlights the complexity of player development, particularly during the transition from youth to senior levels. Success in this process requires more than investment in infrastructure and specialized staff; it depends on alignment across levels, a clear developmental philosophy, and an inclusive culture. The combination of intentional methodologies, careful selection processes, and appreciation of the competitive context fosters balanced growth. The proposed model adopts a holistic approach, integrating performance with human development, preparing players for the challenges of both professional football and life. Given the impact of football and the multitude of variables that influence it, this study provides valuable insights into the transition from youth to senior levels. |
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