Scottish Premiership: What can data trends tell us about how next season might shape up?

Thanks to data supplied by Opta, it is possible to view wider trends across the division and whether the style of football being played in Scotland is shifting.

In the season just gone, compared to the 2019-20 season, there were more passes per game, a higher percentage of passes completed and fewer forward passes.

It suggests more of a focus on possession and perceived control, choosing the right moment to attack.

Only 16.1% of passes made were deemed to be ‘long’, down from 19.8% in 2019-20.

There were also fewer fouls, suggesting a cleaner league overall. Whether or not that is a reflection of refereeing directives or a tactical shift is difficult to assess.

Part of that could be behind a move to more foreign managers and head coaches in the Premiership.

At the end of the 2019-20 season, there was one manager from outside the UK and Ireland – Daniel Stendel at relegated Heart of Midlothian.

There were none at any stage of the following campaign.

Australian Ange Postecoglou and Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst took charge at Celtic and Rangers, respectively, for the 2021-22 season and more teams outside the Old Firm started to look overseas from there.

In the season just finished, Swedish boss Jimmy Thelin got Aberdeen off to a flying league start and ultimately won silverware, German coach Michael Wimmer took charge of Motherwell for 12 matches before returning to his homeland earlier this month, while Finland’s Simo Valakari was unable to keep St Johnstone up having been appointed as Craig Levein’s successor in October.