Albin Paul Chilla Tenga

Associate Professor Department of Sport and Social Sciences

Email: aptenga@nih.no
Phone: +47 23 26 24 32
Mobile phone: +47 99 78 75 54

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Background and experience

Albin Tenga is as assistent professor at the Department og Sport and Social Science. He holds a doctorate and a postdoc in sports performance analysis, specialized in soccer, from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He defended his doctorate in 2010 with his dissertation: Reliability and Validity of Match Performance Analysis in Soccer: A Multidimensional Qualitative Evaluation of Opponent Interaction.

In his research, Tenga has been most concerned with issues related to the 'game' itself. He has published research work on several different topics; from theoretical and methodological development perspectives in game structure and functionality, to applied research on performance effectiveness in match tactics, playing skills and training methods as well as research on injury risk and mechanism. Tenga has primarily used practice-relevant contextual analysis approaches with increased potential to produce results with significant applied relevance. Much of this research work has been published in collaboration with colleagues from Norway, Spain and England.

Tenga possesses a rare combination of professional expertise including practical experience in soccer coaching, theoretical understanding of the game, and research experience. He is authorized as a performance analyst of highest scientific level (5) by the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport (ISPAS).

Teaching

Teaching research methods for sports performance analysis (invasion games), test methodology and statistics, coaching and soccer.

Research

Soccer, tactical and technical effectiveness, theoretical and methodological development of sports performance analysis (invasion games).

Tenga, Albin; Mortensholm, Anders Eidem & O'Donoghue, Peter (2017). Opposition interaction in creating penetration during match play in elite soccer: evidence from UEFA champions league matches. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 17(5), p. 802–812. doi: 10.1080/24748668.2017.1399326. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The aim of this study is to compare how penetrations were created between the Finalists and Non-finalists by assessing opposition interaction in elite soccer. Sample included data from 12 matches played from the round of 16 to the final of the UEFA Champions League season 2010/2011. Differences in creating dangerous penetrations were found only after controlling for the effects of opponent’s defensive balance. Three way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the interaction of team status and opponent’s defensive balance had a meaningful effect on the percentage of penetrative ball actions into dangerous spaces (F2,20 = 2.9, p = 0.076, partial η2 = 0.227). Finalists performed a higher percentage of dangerous penetrative ball actions per match than Non-finalists when playing against an imbalanced defence (89.2 ± 14.0 vs. 77.6 ± 13.6), while Non-finalists performed a higher percentage when playing against balanced (25.8 ± 10.7 vs. 16.1 ± 12.5) and beginning imbalanced (32.8 ± 10.9 vs. 29.1 ± 9.2) defences. Results suggest that effective exploitation of spaces within and behind the last line of opponent’s defence is an important determinant of successful offensive performance in soccer. The assessment of opposition interaction is of critical importance when analysing elite soccer performance.
Tenga, Albin; Zubillaga, Asier; Caro, Óscar & Fradua, Luis (2015). Explorative study on patterns of game structure in male and female matches from elite Spanish soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 15(1), p. 411–423. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The aim of this study was to explore emergent patterns of game structure in male and female matches from elite soccer by using playing distances measured according to the ball location. Archive data based on carefully selected four male and four female matches from elite Spanish soccer seasons 2002-3, 2003-4 and 2004-5 were collected by help of AMISCO PRO® system. Differences across six ball locations were found in mean playing length (χ2 5=328.1 and 520.9, P<0.001) and playing width (χ2 5=39.6 and 26.9, P<0.001) from male and female matches, respectively. Both sexes displayed similar movements in playing length that vary with stretch-contraction-stretch patterns and in playing width that vary with opposite patterns of contraction-stretch-contraction, but these patterns varied to a significantly greater extent in male matches. For example, male matches (mean=44.93±8.34 m) produced significantly (U=128564.0, z=-8.2, P<0.001) longer playing width during transition phase in midfield compared with female matches (mean=41.80±8.00 m). Results suggest that female matches produced less favourable patterns of game structure with fewer penetration opportunities than male matches. Specific suggestions for coaching intervention were given. This study demonstrates the potential of analysing playing distances according to the ball location for studying patterns of game structure in real soccer matches.
Tenga, Albin (2014). First goal and home advantage at different levels of play in professional soccer. In Peters, Derek Melville & O'Donoghue, Peter (Ed.), Performance Analysis of Sport IX. Routledge. ISSN 9780415643399. p. 45–56. Full text in Research Archive
Fradua, Luis; Zubillaga, Asier; Caro, Óscar; Fernández-García, Ángel Iván; Ruiz-Ruiz, Carlos & Tenga, Albin (2013). Designing small-sided games for training tactical aspects in soccer: Extrapolating pitch sizes from full-size professional matches. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 31(6), p. 573–581. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2012.746722. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The aims of this study were to examine the 1) individual playing area, 2) length and width of the rectangle encompassing the individual playing area and 3) distance between the goalkeepers and their nearest team-mates during professional soccer matches and compare these to previously reported pitch sizes for small-sided games (SSGs). Data were collected from four Spanish La Liga matches of the 2002–03 season, and notated post-event using the Amisco® system. The pitch sizes obtained from real matches were smaller and different from those used previously for SSGs. In addition, the current pitch sizes show significant (P < 0.001) effect of ball location in all variables examined. For example, overall individual playing area (F [5, 2562] = 19.99, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.04) varied significantly across six different zones of the pitch. Based on these empirical results, pitch sizes with individual playing areas ranging from 65 m2 to 110 m2 and length to width ratio of 1:1 and 1:1.3 are generally recommended for training tactical aspects according to different phases of play. It is possible to design SSGs with a more valid representation of the tactical conditions experienced in full-size matches and their use may improve the training effect of tactical aspects of match performance in soccer.
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Sigmundstad, Einar (2013). Effects of sex, game format, and skill type on ball possession in Norwegian youth soccer. In Nunome, Hiroyuki; Drust, Barry & Dawson, Brian (Ed.), Science and football VII : the proceedings of the seventh World Congress on Science and Football. Routledge. ISSN 9780415689915. p. 305–310. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2013). Soccer. In McGarry, Tim; O'Donohue, Peter & Sampaio, Jaime (Ed.), Routledge handbook of sports performance analysis. Routledge. ISSN 9780415673617. p. 323–337. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2013). Measuring effectiveness of zone-oriented defence on preventing goal scoring in professional soccer matches. In Nunome, Hiroyuki; Drust, Barry & Dawson, Brian (Ed.), Science and football VII : the proceedings of the seventh World Congress on Science and Football. Routledge. ISSN 9780415689915. p. 205–209. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2011). Characteristics of goal-scoring possessions in open play : Comparing the top, in-between and bottom teams from professional soccer league. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 11(3), p. 545–552. doi: 10.1080/24748668.2011.11868572. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this study was to compare how goals were scored from open play possessions between teams from the top three, in-between and bottom three positions of the final league-table in professional soccer. A sample of 997 goals scored from open play in the Norwegian top professional league during 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons was analysed. Match performance analysis was performed on 10 variables based on four possession characteristics: type, number of passes, duration and starting zone. Results show that goals scored from counter attacks (P=0.001), possessions with 0-4 passes (P=0.005), possessions varied for 12 seconds or more (P=0.001 and P=0.012) and from possessions started in the midfield (P=0.002 and P=0.004) distinguished the bottom three teams. Only goals from possessions started in the midfield (P=0.013) managed to distinguish between the top three and in-between teams. The bottom three teams should consider more counter attacks with 0-4 passes and possessions of 12 seconds or more especially starting from the midfield zone in order to improve their goal scoring ability from open play possessions. And, in-between teams should consider more possessions starting from the midfield zone to raise their goal-scoring efficiency to the level of the top three teams.
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Measuring the effectiveness of offensive match-play in professional soccer. European Journal of Sport Science (EJSS). ISSN 1746-1391. 10(4), p. 269–277. doi: 10.1080/17461390903515170. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The broader measures of offensive effectiveness, such as scoring opportunities and shots at goal, are commonly used as an alternative to goals scored due to the naturally low probability of scoring (about 1%) in soccer match-play. These measures may enable soccer practitioners to objectively see behind single match results, which are often influenced by chance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. We analysed data from videotapes of 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed very similar results when comparing the effectiveness of different offensive tactics, regardless of which outcome was used. For example, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks in producing goals (odds ratio OR=2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 3.05), scoring opportunities (OR=2.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.28 to 4.15), and score box possessions (OR=2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 3.25). The receiver-operating characteristic function statistical procedure was used to examine the association between each of the three measures of offensive effectiveness: scoring opportunities, score box possessions, and goals scored. No significant difference was observed between the area under the curve (AUC) for the broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. The 95% confidence interval of the AUC for both scoring opportunities (0.74-0.84) and score box possessions (0.68-0.76) includes the AUC for goals scored (0.74). Thus, the results are very similar regardless of which outcome measure for offensive effectiveness is used. This indicates that scoring opportunities and score box possessions (shooting opportunities) can be used as a proxy for goals scored when comparing the effectiveness of different playing tactics in soccer. Compared with goals scored, using scoring opportunities or score box possessions requires smaller match samples for meaningful analyses, and may therefore be more feasible alternatives.
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effects of match location on playing tactics for goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sport Behavior. ISSN 0162-7341. 33(1), p. 89–108. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the effect of match location on soccer playing tactics by assessing opponent interaction. The sample included 203 goals and 1688 random team possessions ("controls"). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant differences in the odds ratio for goal scoring in the interaction between playing tactics and match locations. For the variable "team possession type" (?²=5. 05, P=0.025), counter attack (24.5%) and elaborate attack (21.8%) produced goals in higher percentages of attempts at home than away (19.8% and 20.5%,), with counter attack being more effective than elaborate attack when playing against an imbalanced defence at home, but not away. Assessment of opponent interaction is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of playing tactics on the probability for scoring goals according to match location
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effect of playing tactics on achieving score-box possessions in a random series of team possessions from Norwegian professional soccer matches. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 28(3), p. 245–255. doi: 10.1080/02640410903502766. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Methods of analysis that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid means of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on achieving score-box possession by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer matches. We analysed a random series of 1703 team possessions from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the professional men's league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from ten ordered categorical variables were used. Offensive tactics were more effective in producing score-box possessions when playing against an imbalanced defence (28.5%) than against a balanced defence (6.5%) (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression found that, for the main variable "team possession type'', counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (odds ratio: 2.69
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 28(3), p. 237–244. doi: 10.1080/02640410903502774. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Methods that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid analysis of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on goal scoring by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer. The sample included 203 team possessions leading to goals (cases) and 1688 random team possessions (control group) from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data using ten ordered categorical variables were obtained to characterize each team possession. The proportion of goals scored during counterattacks (52%) was higher than during elaborate attacks (48%), while for the control group the proportion using elaborate attacks (59%) was higher than when using counterattacks (41%) (P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, for the main variable ?team possession type?, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (OR = 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 2.61; P = 0.038). Assessment of opponent interactions is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on the probability of scoring goals, and improves the validity of team match-performance analysis in soccer.
Tenga, Albin; Bahr, Roald; Kanstad, Daniel & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Developing a new method for team match performance analysis in professional soccer and testing its reliability. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 9(1), p. 8–25. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this study was to develop a new method for analysis of team match performance in soccer and test its reliability from videotapes. Team match performance analysis, which includes qualitative evaluation of different dimensions of match performance involved in the opponent interaction, was developed by using 22 multidimensional categorical variables. This is thought to provide a more valid assessment of team match performance, since it is considered to be a product of the confrontation between two teams. To test inter- and intra-observer reliability, a random sample of 200 team possessions from videos of 163 out of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian professional league in 2004 was analysed. Kappa coefficients (_k) values of 0.81-1.0 were conidered very good, 0.61-0.80 good, 0.41-0.60 moderate, 0.21-0.40 fair, and <0.21 poor. Kappa values were considerably better for the intra-observer test (16 (73%) very good, (23%) good and 1 (4%) moderate) than the inter-observer test (7 (32%) very good, 5 (23%) good, 7 (32%) moderate, 2 (9%) fair and 1 (4%) poor of 22 variables). A new method, representing a potentially valuable tool for more valid assessment of team match performance, has been developed as a reliable method for most variables used.
Andersen, Thor Einar; Bahr, Roald; Tenga, Albin & Engebretsen, Lars (2004). Video analysis of injuries and incidents in Norwegian professional football. British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674. 38(5), p. 626–631. Full text in Research Archive
Arnason, Arni; Tenga, Albin; Engebretsen, Lars & Bahr, Roald (2004). A prospective video-based analysis of injury situations in elite male football : football incident analysis. American Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0363-5465. 32(6), p. 1459–1465. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Larsen, Øyvind (2003). Testing the validity of match analysis to describe playing styles in football. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 3(2), p. 90–102. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Purpose: To test the validity of match analysis by comparing its results with pre-established findings on playing styles. Methods: Single-match case design and combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative evaluation were used in this study. Kappa measure of agreement (k) was used in reliability testing before the present study. Alpha level of .01 or less was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall results show a difference in attacking styles (p < .0001) and a similarity in defending styles (p = .59) of Norway and Brazil. Further, indirect attacking strategies managed to distinguish the attacking styles of Norway and Brazil (p < .01). No difference was found between the effects of playing with high- versus low-pressure tactic, either in attack (p = .03) or defence (p = .15). Nevertheless, results of single variables registered clear tendencies that indicate agreement with pre-established observations. Interestingly, no difference was found between attacking strategies employed by Norway and Brazil during effective periods of the match, while the difference was found in indirect attacking strategies (p < .01) during less effective periods. Conclusions: Results of match analysis indicate overwhelming agreement with pre-established findings. The introduced method is therefore considered valid for describing playing styles in football.
Tenga, Albin (2003). Beyond movement intensity : a call for a more functional approach to time-motion analysis during soccer match play. ?. 1(2), p. 49–60. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Thor Einar; Bahr, Roald; Larsen, Øyvind; Tenga, Albin & Engebretsen, Lars (2003). Football incident analysis : a new video based method to describe injury mechanisms in professional football. British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674. 37(3), p. 226–232. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (1999). Sovraccarichi per migliorare la prestazione dell´atleta. Teknosport. ISSN 1824-6141. p. 19–26. Full text in Research Archive

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Tenga, Albin (2017). Factors affecting sports performance: Effects of defensive team tactics on match performance in soccer WC 2014. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2016). Increasing scoring certainty in soccer: Evidence from playing skills-related differences. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2016). Defensive team playing styles in soccer WC 2014: Comparative study of multiple cases. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2015). Exploring scoring certainty in soccer: Relative influences of playing level, offensive skills & fatigue. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Zubillaga, Asier & Fradua, Luis (2014). Determining emergent patterns of game structure in male and female matches from elite Spanish soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Jordet, Geir (2014). Forskningsnytt: Smålagsspill for trening taktik. Fotballtreneren. ISSN 0802-0906. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2013). Effects of playing level, passing sequence and fatigue on creating penetration prior to goal scoring in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2012). Fotballforskeren. Josimar : tidsskriftet om fotball. ISSN 1891-4276. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2012). Match analysis research: Challenges and possibilities. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2012). Creating penetration in soccer: Finalists vs. their opponents from UEFA CL season 2010/11. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2012). First goal and home advantage at different levels of play in professional soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2012). First goal as a mechanism of home advantage in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Sigmundstad, Einar (2011). Effects of gender, game format, and skill on ball possession in Norwegian youth soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2011). Zone-oriented defence in professional soccer matches: does it really work? Full text in Research Archive
Sigmundstad, Einar; Marcu, Sébastian & Tenga, Albin (2011). Treningsmetoder i barnefotball : effekten av to ulike treningsmetoder på utviklingen av fotballferdigheten. Fotballtreneren. ISSN 0802-0906. 25(2), p. 20–21. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2011). Spillorganisering i fotball for å stimulere ferdighetsutvikling - Erfaring fra våre forskningsarbeid. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2011). Concept of validity and its application to match performance analysis in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2010). Concept of validity and its application to match analysis in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2009). Beyond match results: Intermediate measures of effectiveness and their relative ability to explain goal scoring in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Kanstad, Daniel; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2008). Developing and testing the reliability of team match performance analysis in professional football. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2006). Developing and testing the reliability of team match performance analysis in professional football. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Engelsk
Tenga, Albin (2003). Time-motion analysis in football: methodological challenges. Full text in Research Archive
Bahr, Roald; Andersen, Thor Einar; Tenga, Albin & Engebretsen, Lars (2003). Rule violation as a cause of injury in male Norwegian soccer : are the referees doing their job? Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Thor Einar; Larsen, Øyvind; Tenga, Albin; Bahr, Roald & Engebretsen, Lars (2003). Football incident analysis in male Norwegian professional soccer : a prospective video analysis. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Thor Einar; Larsen, Øyvind; Tenga, Albin; Engebretsen, Lars & Bahr, Roald (2002). Prospektiv videoanalyse av skader og hendelser i Tippeligaen 2000 - football incident analysis (FIA). Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Thor Einar; Tenga, Albin; Engebretsen, Lars & Bahr, Roald (2002). Regelbrudd som årsak til skader i fotball - gjør dommeren jobben sin? Full text in Research Archive
O'Donoghue, P.G. & Tenga, Albin (2001). The effect of score-line on work rate in elite soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 19(1), p. 25–26. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2000). Match analysis for the study of soccer injuries. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin & Larsen, Øyvind (1998). A new method for a comprehensive analysis of a soccer match-play. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Introducing a new method to study the relationship between teams' mat ch performance and players' movement capasity, consisting of two tech niques combined with identical time code: 1) Match performance analys is 2) Movement-intensity analysis.
Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2015). Pilotstudie av spillformers betydning for spilleres spill-involvering i 9ér og 11ér ungdomsfotball. Forskningssenter for barne- og ungdomsidrett (FOBU), NIH. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2012). Studie av spillformer med og uten frisone i femmer- og sjuerfotball. Forskningssenter for Trening og Prestasjon (FTP), NIH. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2010). Spillorganisering i barne- og ungdomsfotballen: ulike spillformers betydning for barnas involvering. Forskningssenter for Trening og Prestasjon (FTP), NIH. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin (2010). Reliability and validity of match performance analysis in soccer : a multidimensional qualitative evaluation of opponent interaction. Norges idrettshøgskole. ISSN 9788250204423. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Paper IV: Tenga A, Holme I, Ronglan RT, Bahr R. (2010). Effects of match location on playing tactics for goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sport Behavior, 3381), 89-108.

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Published Oct. 17, 2023 1:08 PM - Last modified Mar. 24, 2026 11:32 AM