Football player

Jean-Pierre Papin has described football as a "universal language".{{cite news | last1 = jarassé | first1 = anne-cécile | last2 = yulia | first2 = k | others = Andrew Burgess (translator) | title = Jean-Pierre Papin: 'Football is a universal language' | url = http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/20539/jean-pierre-papin-football-is-a-universal-language.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130616012247/http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/20539/jean-pierre-papin-football-is-a-universal-language.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 16 June 2013 | work = cafébabel | date = 30 March 2007 }} Footballers across the world and at almost any level may regularly attract large crowds of spectators, and players are the focal points of widespread social phenomena such as association football culture.

Footballers usually begin as amateurs and the best players progress to become professional players. Normally they start at a youth team (any local team) and from there, based on skill and talent, scouts offer contracts. Once signed, some learn to play better football and a few advance to the senior or professional teams.

Pay in some top men's leagues is significantly higher than in other jobs. Players in the Premier League earn an average of $3 million per year.{{Cite web |title=Premier League Salary - How Much Do Premier League Footballers Make? |url=https://www.888sport.com/blog/football/premier-league/premier-league-footballer-salary |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=888 Sport Online |language=en}} In the wealthiest clubs in European football leagues, men earn an average $7.19 million per year.{{Cite web |title=EPL footballer wages England 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/547090/average-annual-first-team-player-salary-in-football-clubs-english-premier-league-uk/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Statista |language=en}} The best players of those clubs can earn up to $260 million per year.{{Cite web |last=Birnbaum |first=Justin |title=The World's Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2023/10/13/the-worlds-highest-paid-soccer-players-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

However, only a fraction of men's professional football players are paid at this level. Wages may be somewhat more moderate in other divisions and leagues. For example, the average annual salary for footballers in Major League Soccer (MLS) is $530,262 as of May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Rueter |first=Paul Tenorio, Tom Bogert and Jeff |title=MLS releases annual list of player salaries |url=https://theathletic.com/4522808/2023/05/16/mls-player-salary-averages/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}

Average salaries in women's leagues are far lower. For example, players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which started in 2012, earn an average of $54,000 per year as of May 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-22 |title=How much players make on USWNT: Salaries for top NWSL players with World Cup prize money {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/uswnt-salaries-nwsl-world-cup-prize-money/wceqlodytbkmb8mw6ewudaxu |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us}} For the first time in 2022, the NWSL guaranteed players a living wage. The minimum salary in 2023 is $36,400 to ensure players do not need second or third jobs to survive.{{Cite web |title=How Much Do NWSL Players Really Make? An In-Depth Look At NWSL Salaries |url=https://the18.com/en/soccer-news/nwsl-salaries-2022-how-much-womens-soccer-players-make |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The18}}

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| alt1 = José Mourinho is a retired football player who post-retirement has worked as a football manager.

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| alt2 = Pia Sundhage is a retired football player who post-retirement has worked as the football manager for the United States and Sweden national teams.

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A minority of retired footballers continue working full-time in football, for instance as football managers. A 1979 study reported that former first-team ballplayers were over-represented as top-ranking executives in their companies and had greater income mobility than second-teamers and reserves.{{cite journal | last1 = Sack | first1 = Allen L. | last2 = Thiel | first2 = Robert | title = College football and social mobility: a case study of Notre Dame football players | journal = Sociology of Education | volume = 52 | issue = 1 | pages = 60–66 | jstor = 2112594 | date = January 1979 | doi=10.2307/2112594}} However, some experience chronic health issues, see below.

{{Main article|Association football positions|Association football formations|Association football tactics and skills}}

In association football, there are four traditional types of specialties (positions): goalkeepers (goalies), defenders (full-backs), midfielders (half-backs), and forwards (attackers). Special purpose positions include such performers as sweepers, stoppers, second forwards (under-attackers), wingers, insiders, etc.

• Goalkeepers: good reflexes, communication with defence, one-on-one ability, command of the penalty area and aerial intelligence.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Scouting report: Colin Doyle, Birmingham City

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/08/newsstory.sport

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2007-05-08}} Scouting report on the Birmingham City goalkeeper evaluates based on these attributes.

• Centre-backs: good heading and tackling ability, height, bravery in attempting challenges, and concentration.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Scouting report: Mark Beevers, Sheffield Wednesday

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/22/championship.sheffieldwednesday

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2008-04-22}} Scouting report on the Sheffield Wednesday centre back evaluates based on these attributes.

• Full-backs: pace, stamina, anticipation, tackling and marking abilities, work rate, and team responsibility.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Scouting report: Kyle Naughton, Sheffield United

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/oct/28/championship-sheffieldunited

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2008-10-28}} Scouting report on the Sheffield United full back based on these attributes.

• Central midfielders: stamina, passing ability, team responsibility, positioning, marking abilities.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Scouting report: Ben Watson, Crystal Palace

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/oct/07/crystalpalace.championship

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2008-10-07}} Scouting report on the Crystal Palace central midfielder based on these attributes.

• Wingers: pace, technical ability like dribbling and close control, off-the-ball intelligence, creativity.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Michael Kightly, Wolverhampton Wanderers

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/30/wolverhamptonwanderersfootball.championship

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2007-10-30}} Scouting report on the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger based on these attributes.

• Forwards: finishing ability, composure, technical ability, heading ability, pace, off-the-ball intelligence.{{cite news

| last = Claridge

| first = Steve

| title = Sam Vokes, Wolves

| url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/30/wolverhamptonwanderersfootball.championship

| access-date = 2008-12-13

| work=The Guardian

| location=London

| date=2007-10-30}} Scouting report on the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward based on these attributes.

{{Main article|American football positions}}

The American football teams' positions are categorized by a form of play where each of them has its spectrum of positions. Those are offensive, defensive, and special teams.

{{Main article|Australian football tactics and skills}}

Research shows that association football players who take less than 200 milliseconds after the referee blows their whistle to make a penalty kick are significantly less likely to score than those who take over a second.{{cite journal | last1 = Jordet | first1 = Geir | last2 = Hartman | first2 = Esther | last3 = Sigmundstad | first3 = Einar |author3-link=Einar Sigmundstad | title = Temporal links to performing under pressure in international soccer penalty shootouts | journal = Psychology of Sport and Exercise | volume = 10 | issue = 6 | pages = 621–627 | doi = 10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.03.004 | date = November 2009 | hdl = 11250/170599 | hdl-access = free }}{{cite web| url = http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2009/09/football-players-who-rush-penalty-kicks.html| title = Football players who rush penalty kicks are less likely to score, 10 September 2009.| date = 10 September 2009}}

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An Irish 2002 study of association and Gaelic football players characterized players as "lean and muscular with a reasonably high level of capacity in all areas of physical performance".{{cite journal | last1 = Strudwick | first1 = A. | last2 = Reilly | first2 = T. | last3 = Doran | first3 = D. | title = Anthropometric and fitness profiles of elite players in two football codes | journal = The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness | volume = 42 | issue = 2 | pages = 239–242 | pmid = 12032422 | date = June 2002 }} The opposite is the case for American football, where obesity could be the cause of grave health problems.{{cite news|last=Korth|first=Joanne|date=29 January 2006|title=Sports: A huge problem: Strength isn't enough: NFL linemen have to be so big, their health may be at risk|work=Tampa Bay Times|publisher=Times Publishing Company|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/29/Sports/A_huge_problem.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203200027/http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/29/Sports/A_huge_problem.shtml|archive-date=February 3, 2008}}

A 2000 study documented injuries sustained by Czech [association] football players at all levels:{{cite journal | last1 = Chomiak| first1 = Jiri | last2 = Junge | first2 = Astrid | last3 = Peterson | first3 = Lars | last4 = Dvorak | first4 = Jiri | title = Severe injuries in football players: influencing factors | journal = American Journal of Sports Medicine | volume = 28 | issue = s5 | pages = s58–s68 | doi = 10.1177/28.suppl_5.S-58 | pmid = 11032109 | date =September 2000 | s2cid = 20055504 }}

{{Blockquote|Trauma was the cause of 81.5% of the injuries, and overuse was the cause of 18.5%. Joint sprains predominated (30%), followed by fractures (16%), muscle strains (15%), ligament ruptures (12%), meniscal tears and contusions (8%), and other injuries. Injuries to the knee were most prevalent (29%), followed by injuries to the ankle (19%) and spine (9%). More injuries occurred during games (59%) than in practice.}}{{Cite web|title=Preventing Football Injuries|url=http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Football_Skating_Injury_Prevention.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117070040/http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Football_Skating_Injury_Prevention.aspx|archive-date=17 November 2016|access-date=16 November 2016|website=www.sportsmd.com}} Patellar tendinitis (knee pain) is considered an injury that comes from overexertion, which also happens to other athletes of virtually every sport. It is a common problem that football players develop and can usually be treated by a quadriceps strengthening program. Jumping activities place particularly high strains on the tendon and with repetitive jumping, tearing and injury of the tendon can occur. The chronic injury and healing response results in inflammation and localized pain.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsmd.com/knee-injuries/patellar-tendonitis/|title=Patellar Tendonitis – SportsMD|website=www.sportsmd.com|date=January 2015|access-date=16 November 2016}}

Although levels of depression and pain in retired football players are on par with the societal average,{{cite journal | last1 = Schwenk | first1 = T.L. | last2 = Gorenflo | first2 = D.W. | last3 = Dopp | first3 = R.R. | last4 = Hipple | first4 = E. | title = Depression and pain in retired professional football players | journal = Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise | volume = 39 | issue = 4 | pages = 599–605 | pmid = 17414796 | date = April 2007 | url = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/555786 | doi=10.1249/mss.0b013e31802fa679| doi-access = free }} some players suffer from post-retirement chronic injuries. Head injuries are a particular concern.

Studies have long shown former American football NFL players have a longer life expectancy than the general public or males with a similar age and race distribution, but a higher rate of cardiovascular issues.{{cite journal |last1=Baron |first1=Sherry |last2=Rinsky |first2=Robert |title=Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-88-085, National Football League players mortality study. |journal=National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |date=1994-01-10 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20022075.html |access-date=10 July 2022}} A study comparing the deaths of former Major League Baseball players found baseball players lived longer still, perhaps suggesting a "healthy worker" bias where NFL athletes lived less long than they would otherwise have, despite their longer than average life expectancy.{{cite web |last1=Meredith |first1=Wadman |title=Former football pros die at a faster rate than baseball veterans |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/former-football-pros-die-faster-rate-baseball-veterans-and-reasons-are-surprising |publisher=Science|access-date=10 July 2022}} A 2009 review of the evidence in the American Journal of Medicine concluded the existing evidence "did not suggest an increased mortality" but does "suggest increased cardiovascular risk..., particularly the heavier linemen."{{cite journal |title=Early Cardiovascular Mortality in Professional Football Players: Fact or Fiction? |journal=American Journal of Medicine |date=1 September 2009 |volume=122 |issue=9 |doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.03.027 |url=https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(09)00441-0/fulltext |access-date=10 July 2022|last1=Selden |first1=Michael A. |last2=Helzberg |first2=John H. |last3=Waeckerle |first3=Joseph F. |pages=811–814 |pmid=19699372 |url-access=subscription }}

In association football, a 2011 German study found that German national team players lived 1.9 years less than the general male population.{{cite journal | last1 = Kuss | first1 = Oliver | last2 = Kluttig | first2 = Alexander | last3 = Greiser | first3 = Karin H. | title = Longevity of soccer players: an investigation of all German internationals from 1908 to 2006 | journal = Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports | volume = 21 | issue = 6 | pages = e260–e265 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01269.x | pmid = 21435018 | date = December 2011 | s2cid = 30783906 }} [http://www.oliverkuss.de/science/publications/Kuss_Longevity_of_Soccer_Players_An_Investigation_of_all_German_Internationals_from_1908-2006.pdf Pdf.]

{{blockquote|Football players participating in international matches for Germany have reduced longevity compared to the general population. This disadvantage was the larger, the earlier the international football player started his international career. This finding is in line with the current knowledge of life expectancy in major athletes, especially those from other team sports|sign=|source=}}

A 1983 study of rugby players found that the life expectancy of All Blacks was the same as for the general population.{{Cite journal | pmid = 6578423 | year = 1983 | last1 = Beaglehole | first1 = R. | last2 = Stewart | first2 = A. | title = The longevity of international rugby players | journal = The New Zealand Medical Journal | volume = 96 | issue = 735 | pages = 513–515 | url = https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal | access-date = 24 September 2015 | archive-date = 26 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190326083117/https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2012/vol-125-no-1361/cc-hayes | url-status = dead }}

Australian rules footballers have lower death rates than the general population.{{Cite journal |last1=Orchard |first1=JW |author-link=John Orchard (doctor) |last2=Orchard |first2=JJ |last3=Semsarian |first3=C |last4=La Gerche |first4=A |last5=Driscoll |first5=T |date=2022 |title=Reduced death rates of elite Australian rules footballers compared to age-matched general population |url=https://www.jsams.org/article/S1440-2440(22)00214-6/fulltext |journal=Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport|volume=25 |issue=9 |pages=710–714 |doi=10.1016/j.jsams.2022.08.003 |pmid=35999145 |s2cid=251479792 |url-access=subscription }}

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| alt1 = Abby Wambach, a retired player known for scoring header goals

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| alt2 = Heading of the ball in association football can increase the risk of chronic brain damage.

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American football players are prone to head injuries such as concussions. In later life, this increases the risk of dementia{{cite journal | last1 = Guskiewicz | first1 = Kevin M. | title = Association between recurrent concussion and late-life cognitive impairment in retired professional football players | journal = Neurosurgery | volume = 57 | issue = 4 | pages = 719–726 | pmid = 16239884 | doi = 10.1227/01.NEU.0000175725.75780.DD | date = October 2005 | s2cid = 2473241 |display-authors=etal}} and Alzheimer's.{{cite web | last = Ritter | first = Jim | title = Research: Football players may be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's | url = http://loyolahealth.org/about-us/newswire/research-football-players-may-be-more-vulnerable-alzheimers | publisher = Loyola University Health System | date = 18 July 2011 | access-date = 5 November 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111208154129/http://loyolahealth.org/about-us/newswire/research-football-players-may-be-more-vulnerable-alzheimers | archive-date = 8 December 2011 | df = dmy-all }} Professional American football players self-reporting concussions are at greater risk for having depressive episodes later in life compared with those retired players self-reporting no concussions.{{cite journal | last1 = Kerr | first1 = Zachary Y. | last2 = Marshall | first2 = Stephen W. | last3 = Harding | first3 = Herndon P. Jr. | last4 = Guskiewicz | first4 = Kevin M. | title = Nine-year risk of depression diagnosis increases with increasing self-reported concussions in retired professional football players | journal = American Journal of Sports Medicine | volume = 40 | issue = 10 | pages = 2206–2212 | pmid = 22922518 | doi = 10.1177/0363546512456193 | date = October 2012 | s2cid = 25752165 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/dynasty-to-death-cbc-s-fifth-estate-examines-head-injuries-in-football-1.725631|title=Dynasty to death: CBC's Fifth Estate examines head injuries in football|date=19 November 2008|work=cbc.ca}}

Probably due to the repeated trauma associated with heading balls, professional association football has been suggested to increase the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.{{cite journal | last1 = Chiò | first1 = Adriano | last2 = Benzi | first2 = Gianmartino | last3 = Dossena | first3 = Maurizia | last4 = Mutani | first4 = Roberto | last5 = Mora | first5 = Gabriele | title = Severely increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Italian professional football players | journal = Brain | volume = 128 | issue = 3 | pages = 472–476 | pmid = 15634730 | doi = 10.1093/brain/awh373 | date = January 2005 | doi-access = free }} In a 1987 study of former Norwegian association football national team players, one third of the players were found to have central cerebral atrophy, i.e. brain damage.{{cite journal | last1 = Sortland | first1 = O. | last2 = Tysvaer | first2 = A.T. | title = Brain damage in former association football players: an evaluation by cerebral computed tomography | journal = Neuroradiology | volume = 31 | issue = 1 | pages = 44–48 | pmid = 2717003 | doi = 10.1007/BF00342029 | date = March 1989| s2cid = 21039119 | url = https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00342029| url-access = subscription }} A 1999 study connected soccer to chronic traumatic head injury (CTHI):{{cite journal | last1 = Matser | first1 = Erik J.T. | last2 = Kessels | first2 = Alphons G. | last3 = Lezak | first3 = Muriel D. | last4 = Jordan | first4 = Barry D. | last5 = Troost | first5 = Jaap | title = Neuropsychological impairment in amateur soccer players | journal = JAMA | volume = 282 | issue = 10 | pages = 971–973 | pmid = 10485683 | doi = 10.1001/jama.282.10.971 | date = September 1999 | s2cid = 22772205 | doi-access = }} (free access)

{{blockquote|[P]articipation in amateur association football in general and concussion specifically is associated with impaired performance in memory and planning functions. Due to the worldwide popularity of soccer, these observations may have important public health implications}}

Anterior cruciate ligaments are particularly vulnerable in most types of football due to injuries that can be sustained during tackles.

An increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the hip joint has been found in retired football players.{{cite journal | last1 = Klünder | first1 = Kurt B. | last2 = Ruda | first2 = Bjarne | last3 = Hansen | first3 = Jørgen | title = Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joint in retired football players | journal = Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica | volume = 51 | issue = 1–6 | pages = 925–927 | pmid = 7211298 | doi = 10.3109/17453678008990896 | date = December 1980 | doi-access = free }}

A 2012 study of association football injuries found that 19% of all injuries were muscle injuries, of which 54% affected the thigh muscles.{{Cite book|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15630-4_111|chapter=Thigh Muscle Injuries in Professional Football Players: A Seven Year Follow-Up of the UEFA Injury Study|journal=Sports Injuries Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation |pages=871–875|year=2012|last1=Ekstrand|first1=Jan|title=Sports Injuries|isbn=978-3-642-15629-8}}

In a 2009 study, association football was found to be associated with favourable sleep patterns and psychological functioning in adolescent male football players.{{cite journal | last1 = Brand | first1 = Serge | last2 = Beck | first2 = Johannes | last3 = Gerber | first3 = Markus | last4 = Hatzinger | first4 = Martin | last5 = Holsboer-Trachsler | first5 = Edith | title = 'Football is good for your sleep': favorable sleep patterns and psychological functioning of adolescent male intense football players compared to controls | journal = Journal of Health Psychology | volume = 14 | issue = 8 | pages = 1144–1155 | pmid = 19858334 | doi = 10.1177/1359105309342602 | date = November 2009 | s2cid = 10312855 }}

The rate of suicide among NFL vets has been found to be 59% lower than in the general population.{{cite magazine | last = Epstein | first = David | title = Dead wrong: two studies refute reports in the media about former NFL players' life expectancy | url = https://www.si.com/vault/2012/05/21/106194121/dead-wrong | magazine = Sports Illustrated | publisher = Time Inc. | date = 21 May 2012 }}

In 2012, FIFA released a paper intended to identify key risk factors for association football players.{{cite journal | last1 = Fuller | first1 = Colin W. | last2 = Junge | first2 = Astrid | last3 = Dvorak | first3 = Jiri | title = Risk management: FIFA's approach for protecting the health of football players | journal = British Journal of Sports Medicine | volume = 46 | issue = 1 | pages = 11–17 | doi = 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090634 | pmid = 22143999 | date = January 2012 | pmc = 3254133 }}

In 2015, a systematic review of a sample of fifty-four peer-reviewed publications and three articles on elite athletes’ mortality and longevity, resulted in major longevity outcomes for the elite athletes (baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and cycling) "compared to age and sex-matched controls from the general population and other athletes." The span longevities were influenced by factors like the type of sport, the playing position, the race, and the energy system.{{cite journal | first1 = Srdjan |last1 = Lemez | first2 = Joseph |last2 = Baker | title = Do Elite Athletes Live Longer? A Systematic Review of Mortality and Longevity in Elite Athletes | journal = Sports Medicine - Open | date =December 1, 2015 | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | page = 16 | doi = 10.1186/s40798-015-0024-x | pmid = 26301178 | oclc = 7659615440 | issn = 2199-1170 | publisher = Springer Open | pmc = 4534511 |doi-access = free }}

An observational study held from professional footballers -active (during their career) and recently retired (post-career, aged more than 45 years)- in 70 countries between 2007 and 2013, elaborated on data from the World Footballers' Union (FIFPro), recorded 214 deaths of which 25% was caused by accidents, 11% by suicides and 33% by a suspected cardiac pathology (on an overall 55% of deaths caused by some sort of disease).{{cite journal | author = V Gouttebarge | author2 = W Ooms | author3 = T Tummers | author4 = H Inklaar | url = https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/sports-med-physical-fitness/article.php?cod=R40Y2015N11A1376 | title = Mortality in international professional football (soccer): a descriptive study | journal = The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness | date = November 1, 2015 | volume = 55 | issue = 11 | pages = 1376–82 | pmid = 25289716 | format = PDF | access-date = September 12, 2020 | oclc = 8086984568 | issn = 0022-4707}}

Clinical evaluation, ECG, and echocardiography are required for the athletes as pre-participation tools in order to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in people aged less than 35. To evaluate the risk of myocardial fibrosis, may use and recommend the additional use of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with pre- and post-contrast and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) images.{{cite journal | title = Sudden cardiac death in football players: Towards a new pre-participation algorithm | author = Sophie I. Mavrogeni | author2 = Konstantinos Tsarouhas | author3 = Demetrios A. Spandidos | author4 = Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein | author5 = Flora Bacopoulou | pmid = 30679986 | doi = 10.3892/etm.2018.7041 | journal = Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine | date = February 1, 2019 | volume = 17 | issue = 2 | pages = 1792–0981| issn = 1792-1015 | publisher = Spandidos Publications | pmc = 6327574 | oclc = 7991416583}} Even encouraged, it wasn't yet made mandatory.

In 2015, 205 deaths among North American professional athletes who were registered as active at the time of their decease were analysed. Data were collected for the four major sports: National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB). The NFL and NBA active players had "a higher likelihood of dying in a car accident" and a significantly higher likelihood of dying from a cardiac-related illness compared to the NHL and MLB active populations.{{cite journal | url = https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25996659/ | title = Early death in active professional athletes: Trends and causes | author = S. Lemez | author2 = N. Wattie | author3 = J. Baker | journal = Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports | date = May 1, 2016 | volume = 26 | issue = 5 | pages = 544–9 | doi = 10.1111/sms.12480 | pmid = 25996659 | format = PDF | publisher = Wiley Online Library | s2cid = 41743986 | via = Google | issn = 0905-7188 | oclc = 6189719938 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200912082333/https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=Early+death+in+active+professional+athletes:+Trends+and+causes | archive-date = 12 September 2020 | url-status = live }}

In 2013, a study on 3,439 retired athletes of the National Football Leagues with at least five credited playing seasons between 1959 and 1988 did not show a statistical correlation between suicide mortality and professional activity, particularly football-related compared with the general control sample. No stratification was reported between speed and non-speed position players.{{cite journal | author = Everett J. Lehman | author2 = Misty J. Hein | author3 = Christine M. Gersic | url = https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42170/cdc_42170_DS1.pdf? | format = PDF | title = Suicide Mortality Among Retired National Football League Players Who Played 5 or More Seasons | doi = 10.1177/0363546516645093 | journal = Am J Sports Med | date = October 1, 2016 | volume = 44 | issue = 10 | pages = 2486–2491 | pmid = 27159317 | pmc = 5048489 | oclc = 8147151940 | issn = 0363-5465}}

Until the 2000s a very limited number of formal studies has been published on mortality from all causes in soccer players, despite the high interest of the public to the matter.

An extended study held in Italy between 1975 and 2003 on a total of 5.389 players, aged 14–35 years, highlighted that, while the mortality for cancer and cardiovascular diseases among the football players cohort was significantly lower than the general Italian population, the "mortality rates for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and car accidents were significantly higher than expected, and for ALS the risk is 18 times than expected."{{cite book | first = Emanuela | last= Taioli | url = https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/17/6/600/475352?searchresult=1 | title = All causes mortality in male professional soccer player | journal = European Journal of Public Health | volume = 17 | issue = 6 | date = December 2007 | pages = 600–604 | doi = 10.1093/eurpub/ckm035 | publisher = Oxford University Press| pmid= 17434875 }}

• Lists of association football players
• List of American football players
• List of footballers (Gaelic football)

• Sports unions

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Category:Terminology used in multiple sports

Player

Player

Category:Lists of football people

Category:Gaelic footballers

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Player