• Enric Clos, Ricard Pruna, Matilda Lundblad, Rosa Artells, and Nicola Maffulli.
• Girona FC Medical Services, Girona, Spain, enri2604@gmail.com.
• Med Princ Pract. 2021 Jan 1; 30 (1): 929792-97.

IntroductionFootball is characterised by intermittent high-intensity efforts varying according to the field position of a player. We aimed to ascertain whether polymorphisms in the ACTN3 gene are associated with different playing positions in elite professional football players.Subjects And MethodsGenotyping of the ACTN3 gene was conducted in 43 elite professional football players of a single team. Playing position was recorded based on the player's most frequent position.ResultsThe genotype distribution was not significant between positions (p = 0.057), while the allele distribution differed significantly (p = 0.035). Goalkeepers (p = 0.04, p = 0.03), central defenders (p = 0.03, p = 0.01), and central midfielders (p = 0.01, p = 0.00) had a significantly different allele distribution compared with wide midfielders and forward players.ConclusionsGenetic biomarkers may be important when analysing performance capability in elite professional football. Identifying the genetic characteristics of a player to adapt his playing position may lead to orientation of positions based on physical capabilities and tissue quality in young football players, and also to performance enhancement in those who are already playing in professional teams.© 2020 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

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