The research-application gap in high performance football environments: Moving beyond the research-practice divide

While the research-practice gap is a well-used phrase in sport science discourse, particularly in football, it no longer reflects the evolving realities of high-performance environments. Many practitioners in elite clubs are often research-literate: many have completed postgraduate taught and/or research degrees, are embedded in academic networks, and contribute actively to collaborative scholarly work. The persistent challenge, however, lies not in accessing knowledge, but in translating it into timely, context-sensitive action. This narrative review reframes the issue as a research- application gap: a problem rooted in implementation rather than awareness. Drawing on contemporary literature and applied examples, we explore structural, cultural, and interpersonal barriers to application of research in practice, including siloed teams, time pressures, resistance to change, and leadership misalignment. We advocate for systems-based solutions which might include embedding researchers within clubs, co-creating interventions, and recognising application as a skill set requiring investment, support, and strategic oversight. Ultimately, bridging this gap demands rethinking how to positively implement change and growth. Football is uniquely positioned to lead a paradigm shift in how sport science is translated into performance impact, and this paper proposes some possible ways forwards.