Determining Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics Among Football Players According to Playing Position

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in anthropometric characteristics among football players according to their playing positions. The study employed a cross-sectional comparative design and was conducted on a sample of 50 active football players from FC Sileks, aged 17–30 years. The sample comprised 50 outfield players, who were classified into three positional groups: defenders (n = 20), midfielders (n = 14), and forwards (n = 16). The anthropometric profile was assessed using 18 anthropometric variables representing basic body dimensions, body circumferences, transverse skeletal dimensions, and subcutaneous fat tissue indicators. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post hoc comparisons. Effect sizes were estimated using partial eta squared (η²ₚ). The results demonstrated that football players occupying different playing positions differed significantly in their overall anthropometric profiles. The most pronounced differences were observed in body height, body mass, selected transverse skeletal dimensions, body circumferences, and skinfold thickness measurements. These findings suggest that playing position is associated with distinct morphological characteristics, indicating that football players should not be considered a morphologically homogeneous group in anthropometric analyses. From a practical perspective, position-specific anthropometric profiling should be incorporated into the routine assessment of football players to support sports medicine monitoring, talent identification, and individualized training programmes. Furthermore, because these anthropometric assessments are inexpensive, non-invasive, and feasible in field settings, they represent a practical tool for clubs with limited resources seeking to optimize player evaluation according to positional demands.