The determinants of football performance in Europe

Football (soccer) performance is commonly believed to be based on player talent and franchise finances. However, there may be factors exogenous to football influencing football performance. The aim of this study is to show that on-field performance is influenced not only by the usual factors such as player talent and franchise finances, but also by factors such as the wealth of the nation, the size of the population, the degree to which football is part of the culture, and taxation policies. Using regression analysis as the main method to substantiate my claim, this study will focus on the performance of leagues in comparison to their counterparts in other nations. I will limit the scope of the study to leagues affiliated with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).