New publication with UCG alumnus: 'From grief to goals? The performance effects of sudden player death in professional football'

When a professional footballer dies unexpectedly, the impact is enormous. Shock, disbelief, and grief spread among the team and the fans. But what does such a tragedy mean for on-field performance? New research conducted by Richard Jong-A-Pin (University College Groningen) and UCG alumnus Gianluca Prandi shows that teams often perform temporarily better in the period immediately following such a loss.

The researchers analysed data from 203 professional footballers who died unexpectedly between 1970 and 2024, examining match results before and after these events. They found a clear but short-lived rally effect: teams tend to achieve better results in the first few matches.

A recent example is the death of Diogo Jota on 3 July 2025. Football manager José Mourinho captured the sentiment by saying that teams can sometimes emerge even stronger in times of loss.

The effect is temporary and fades after a few matches. The study highlights that sports performance is not determined solely by tactics and skill, but is also strongly influenced by unexpected and emotional events.