New data has revealed that clubs are not playing more games than in previous seasons, despite increasing complaints from managers about the congested fixture schedule.

Premier League managers - including high-profile figures like Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp - have increasingly voiced their concerns over the congested football schedule and its impact on player welfare. 

Klopp, known for his candid opinions, was particularly vocal about the toll that 'relentless fixtures' were taking on his players in the 2023-2024 campaign, emphasising the heightened risk of injuries and the overall strain on athletes.

Guardiola has made his displeasure with the scheduling for the new 2024-2025 season abundantly clear, emphasising the unsustainable demands it places on players. 

However, the data has shown that 'the vast majority of players are not playing a high volume of matches' and that most athletes are 'playing the same amount of minutes' as they were before. 

Premier League managers - including the likes of Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp - have increasingly voiced their concerns over the congested schedule

A comprehensive study covering players from 40 of the world's top football leagues across five confederations has unveiled significant insights into the trends in match participation and player workload from 2012/13 to 2023/24. 

The report, conducted by the Football Observatory, delves into the proportions of matches played, examining data from the perspectives of various competition organisers including leagues, national associations, confederations, and FIFA.

On average, footballers played 22.7 matches across all competitions over the twelve years studied. This average fluctuated, dropping to 18.0 games during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2019/20 season and peaking at 24.4 matches in 2023/24.

Despite the increase in the number of matches, the average number of minutes played per player per season remained stable. This trend is attributed to the introduction of the five substitutions rule and the expansion of squad sizes, which allowed for greater player rotation. 

Only 0.31 per cent of footballers surveyed played more than 60 matches in all competitions combined per season. Instead, the data actually showed that 21.5 per cent of players participated in ten matches or fewer.

In terms of playing time, just 0.29 per cent of players were on the pitch for more than 5,000 minutes, whereas 35.8 per cent played less than 1,000 minutes in total.

Projections suggest that footballers will play the same amount of minutes but 1.4 per cent more matches on average over the next four years (2024 to 2028) compared to the previous four years (2020 to 2024). 

The projection of stable playing minutes despite more matches is influenced by continued adherence to the five substitutions rule and trends in maintaining larger squad sizes. 

However, the likes of Klopp felt the scheduling hindered his side. The former Liverpool manager pointed out that the demanding schedule not only affects player performance but also undermines the quality of the game.

'We have to protect the players,' Klopp insisted on numerous occasions, noting that footballers are not machines and need adequate rest to perform at their best. He called for more sensible scheduling, including more extended recovery periods between games and better consideration of travel demands, especially for international fixtures. 

Klopp's sentiments were echoed by other Premier League managers who shared his concern for player health. Pep Guardiola of Manchester City and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, formerly of Manchester United, also raised similar issues.

They argued that the relentless pace was unsustainable and that it would lead to long-term physical and mental health problems for players. 

The introduction of the five substitutions rule was seen as a positive step towards addressing these concerns, but managers argue that more needs to be done. 

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate pointed to the significant physical toll on his players as a critical factor in England's Euro 2024 final defeat. 

The accumulation of fatigue from a demanding club season, coupled with the rigors of international competition, left many players struggling to maintain their form and energy levels. Southgate highlighted that several of his key players had been involved in numerous high-stakes games for their clubs, including domestic league matches, European competitions, and international fixtures, leaving them with little time for recovery.