The present article analyzes the factors that influence the performance of soccer players and the contextual factors related to their performance. In this study the following people were interviewed: 2 former-athletes, 2 players that are still active, 2 coaches and 2 physical trainers, all experienced and renowned. The article aims at verifying which are the factors considered important for the performance of soccer players. Content analysis was performed on the data of the interviews. Results show that many factors are related to the context that influences the performance. These can be divided in categories involving psychological, physical, technical and tactical factors; there were also factors that involve the social background offered to the player. From the categories raised, the basis for the development of a questionnaire involving the main subjects of the interviews was elaborated and will be used in a following study.
Performance; soccer; sport psychology
