Scientific Trends in Physical and Physiological Performance Research on Female Football Players (2001-2025): Bibliometric Study

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Aksoy Ö.

Türkiye Klinikleri Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, cilt.18, sa.2, ss.259-269, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

ABS TRACT Objective: This study aimed to analyze the prominent trends in scientific research on the physical and physiological performance of female football players between 2001 and 2025 using bibliometric methods. Material and Methods: A total of 599 articles obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database were limited to publications written in English and classified as “articles”. VOSviewer software was used for data analysis, while Microsoft Excel was used to visualize the graphical outputs. Results: The number of publications showed a significant increase over the years, with a notable acceleration particularly after 2020. The United States, Spain, Brazil, and Canada were among the most productive countries, while Clemente FM, Nobari H, and Bishop C emerged as the most prolific researchers. Keyword clustering revealed a concentration on current performance parameters such as “training load”, “injury prevention”, and “aerobic capacity”. Overlay analysis showed that these themes have become more prominent in recent years. Collaboration networks among authors, institutions, and countries indicated that scientific development in women’s football has gained an international and interdisciplinary character. The bibliographic coupling map revealed that journals such as the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research played a central role in the field. Conclusion: This study maps the thematic structure of performance-focused scientific publications in women’s football and provides a guiding framework for future research.