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Competition-level and positional differences in match running performance of Vietnamese professional soccer players: a GPS-based season analysis.

Huynh VN, Pham TH, Jamrern R, Thongchai P, Chainok P. · Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026

Researchers used 10 Hz GPS trackers to measure the running output of 160 Vietnamese professional footballers across 57 matches in the top two leagues over the 2024-2025 season, comparing competition levels and playing positions. Top-tier (V-League 1) players covered significantly more high-speed running and sprint distance and recorded higher top speeds, accelerations and decelerations, and running measures also differed significantly by position; the authors propose a composite performance score for profiling players.
Takeaway: Prioritise high-speed running, sprinting and repeated acceleration/deceleration work, and tailor it to your playing position, if you want to train like a higher-level footballer.
Abstract (source)

Introduction: This study aimed to quantify the match-running performance of Vietnamese professional football players utilizing global positioning system (GPS) technology and investigate variations based on competition level and position and establish a composite performance score (CPS) framework for player assessment and categorization.

Methods: A longitudinal observational study was executed throughout the 2024-2025 season, encompassing 57 official matches involving six professional clubs from V-League 1 and V-League 2, comprised 497 player-match observations from 160 outfield players. External-load variables were gathered utilizing 10 Hz GPS devices and encompassed total distance (TD), maximum velocity (Vmax), high-speed running distance (HSR), sprint distance and accelerations/decelerations. Statistical analyses included independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD post hoc comparisons and correlation analyses. V-League 1 players displayed significantly greater HSR, sprint distance, Vmax, accelerations and decelerations ( p

Results: There were significant differences between positions for TD, TD/90, Vmax, HSR and sprint distance (all p

Background: These

Findings: indicate that high-intensity locomotor capacity is an important physical determinant in professional Vietnamese football and that the CPS framework provides a practical multidimensional tool for performance profiling, individualized training and longitudinal athlete monitoring.

Observational / cohortVelocity-Based & Technology
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