Substitutions in Professional Elite Soccer Increase Distance and High-Intensity Actions

Carpels, T, Kelly, S, and Kemi, OJ. Substitutions in professional elite soccer increase distance and high-intensity actions. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-Physical performance in intense domains including distance covered and high-intensity actions are central for success in soccer. During a match, players need to appropriately distribute their capacity for intense match-play to last the full match. Substitutions may mitigate performance losses. Here, we investigated physical performance by global positioning system-tracked total distance, repeated high-intensity efforts and peak metabolic power, and result score impact, of substitutions in top division male professional elite soccer players (n = 48) in 95 competitive matches over 3 seasons, featuring 253 substitutions. We found that full match-players showed 4% higher maximal oxygen uptake (p < 0.05) versus substitution players. Relative distance covered in match was 50-74% higher (p < 0.01) in players who substituted into the match versus players who played the full match or were replaced during the match. Repeated high-intensity efforts in match was 61-93% higher (p < 0.01) in players who substituted into the match versus those who played the full match or were replaced during the match. These effects occurred in all player positions, and no home and away match differences occurred. Peak metabolic power did not differ between full-match or substitute players. Finally, we found that substitutions were 3-4 times more likely to improve match score than worsen it (p < 0.01), especially substitutions between 60 and 80 minutes of the match. In conclusion, substitutions permit a team to maintain or increase physical performance, including high-intensity actions, during the course of a match.