Anthropometric and Motor-Fitness Signatures of Defensive Efficiency in Professional Football Defenders: A Principal Component and Cluster Analysis

Background Defensive efficiency is a central determinant of success in professional football, yet defenders’ physical and motor profiles are rarely examined in relation to ecological defensive outcomes, particularly in under-researched professional leagues. This study investigated anthropometric and motor-fitness signatures of defensive efficiency among professional football defenders in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) using multivariate profiling methods. Methods An observational ecological study was conducted among 36 professional defenders from Enugu Rangers International FC across three competitive seasons (2021/22–2023/24). Standardised anthropometric and motor-fitness assessments (agility, vertical-jump power, reaction time, balance, and coordination) were obtained during pre-season testing. Team-level defensive performance was quantified using ecological indicators derived from official league statistics, including goals conceded per match, defensive success index, points per goal conceded, and goal-prevention rate. Spearman correlations, non-parametric group comparisons, principal component analysis (PCA), and k-means clustering were applied. Results Defenders displayed substantial inter-individual variability despite operating within the same professional environment. Principal component analysis identified three components explaining 72.5% of total variance: (i) body size and mass/composition, (ii) agility–balance, and (iii) explosiveness versus adiposity. K-means clustering based on these components revealed three defender archetypes—high-mass stoppers, mobile coverage defenders, and balanced hybrids. Agility significantly differentiated archetypes (p < 0.05), with mobile coverage defenders demonstrating superior change-of-direction performance. At the ecological level, team defensive indicators showed stable or improving defensive efficiency across seasons. Conclusion Professional football defenders can be meaningfully profiled using integrated anthropometric and motor-fitness dimensions that align with functional defensive roles. Even in data-constrained environments, ecological team-level defensive indicators combined with multivariate profiling offer a practical framework for talent identification, role assignment, and conditioning. This approach provides applied value for professional clubs operating without access to advanced tracking technologies.