The Relationship Between Age and Performance Across Professional Athletes Playing in a Forward Position in the Premier League

Abstract

Coaches, managers, executives, and fans share a keen interest in determining the peak age for professional soccer players. However, current evidence is primarily based on anecdotal and subjective observations. To address this gap, this paper formally analyzes the peak or optimal age in men's professional soccer. The study concentrates on 559 forwards who played in the Premier League. The data covers the 2000-01 to 2022-23 seasons and was collected from FBref.com. The study concentrates on the forward position. I use the number of games played per season and the number of goals scored as performance measures. To estimate the effect of age on performance, an individual-level fixed effect model was used. The findings indicate that forwards peak at 25 in terms of games played per season, and at 28 in terms of the number of goals scored. The study's outcomes carry significant implications as they can aid managers in deciding the optimal time to acquire a player. By understanding when a player will attain their maximum potential, managers can also optimize their revenue as players will hold a higher valuation during this period of time. To expand upon this investigation, future researchers might consider incorporating additional leagues and analyzing data over longer timeframes.