Developing a Multicriteria Decision-Making Model Based on a Three-Layer Virtual Internet of Things Algorithm Model to Rank Players' Value

This paper proposes a multicriteria decision-making model based on a three-layer virtual internet of things (IoT) algorithm to automatically track and evaluate professional football players’ performance over the Internet. The three layers were respectively related to (1) automated data reading, (2) the players’ comprehensive grey relational degree calculation, and (3) the players’ classification. The methodology was applied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate the performance of the top 10 defenders (according to The Sun, an internationally renowned sports website) in the European leagues, participating in the knockout phase of the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League. The results indicate that Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC was the best defender, followed by Harry Maguire of Manchester United, and Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid in the second and third positions, respectively. However, this ranking contradicted that of The Sun’s, which ranked these defenders in the seventh, tenth, and eighth positions, respectively. These results can help club management, coaches, and teams negotiate price positioning and future contract renewals or player transfers.