so when I was 10 years old I absolutely loved football and more than that I
loved football and more than that I
loved football and more than that I loved Liverpool Football Club this is a
loved Liverpool Football Club this is a
loved Liverpool Football Club this is a picture of me when I was 10
picture of me when I was 10
picture of me when I was 10 I’m the one with a Liverpool shirt on
I’m the one with a Liverpool shirt on
I’m the one with a Liverpool shirt on the cute one with the Scotland strip
the cute one with the Scotland strip
the cute one with the Scotland strip that’s my little brother Colin now while
that’s my little brother Colin now while
that’s my little brother Colin now while I loved football I wasn’t any good you
I loved football I wasn’t any good you
I loved football I wasn’t any good you know that thing where you’re in the
know that thing where you’re in the
know that thing where you’re in the school playground and two people have to
school playground and two people have to
school playground and two people have to pick teams to play against each other
pick teams to play against each other
pick teams to play against each other well I was always the one who was picked
well I was always the one who was picked
well I was always the one who was picked last but there were other things that I
last but there were other things that I
last but there were other things that I loved when I was 10 years old I really
loved when I was 10 years old I really
loved when I was 10 years old I really liked math and I totally loved computers
liked math and I totally loved computers
liked math and I totally loved computers and those other two passions they took
and those other two passions they took
and those other two passions they took me on a wonderful adventure I studied
me on a wonderful adventure I studied
me on a wonderful adventure I studied the mathematics of ant trails showing
the mathematics of ant trails showing
the mathematics of ant trails showing how these small animals can build
how these small animals can build
how these small animals can build massive transport networks I looked at
massive transport networks I looked at
massive transport networks I looked at the algorithms behind how they organized
the algorithms behind how they organized
the algorithms behind how they organized their traffic and how they collect food
their traffic and how they collect food
their traffic and how they collect food I studied the mathematics of fish
I studied the mathematics of fish
I studied the mathematics of fish schools showing how they can escape as
schools showing how they can escape as
schools showing how they can escape as one from a predator despite just
one from a predator despite just
one from a predator despite just interacting with a few nearby neighbors
interacting with a few nearby neighbors
interacting with a few nearby neighbors I studied the mathematics of bird
I studied the mathematics of bird
I studied the mathematics of bird navigation how they interact with each
navigation how they interact with each
navigation how they interact with each other follow each other how they produce
other follow each other how they produce
other follow each other how they produce consensus decisions decide where they’re
consensus decisions decide where they’re
consensus decisions decide where they’re going to fly together
going to fly together
going to fly together I studied our social behavior I looked
I studied our social behavior I looked
I studied our social behavior I looked at how clapping was a contagion how when
at how clapping was a contagion how when
at how clapping was a contagion how when we coordinate our applause after a
we coordinate our applause after a
we coordinate our applause after a seminar or after a TED seminar like this
seminar or after a TED seminar like this
seminar or after a TED seminar like this we can move together and coordinate in a
we can move together and coordinate in a
we can move together and coordinate in a in a very coordinated manner and this
in a very coordinated manner and this
in a very coordinated manner and this mathematical journey I took has led me
mathematical journey I took has led me
mathematical journey I took has led me all around the world to collaborate with
all around the world to collaborate with
all around the world to collaborate with lots of different researchers at
lots of different researchers at
lots of different researchers at different prestigious universities I
different prestigious universities I
different prestigious universities I have the most amazing
have the most amazing
have the most amazing job I get to talk to people about
job I get to talk to people about
job I get to talk to people about different systems and then I get to
different systems and then I get to
different systems and then I get to build mathematical models which help
build mathematical models which help
build mathematical models which help them understand these systems better but
them understand these systems better but
them understand these systems better but the football though I never I never
the football though I never I never
the football though I never I never completely gave up on the football I
completely gave up on the football I
completely gave up on the football I still played with friends still badly I
still played with friends still badly I
still played with friends still badly I watched on television I went to matches
watched on television I went to matches
watched on television I went to matches but I never really saw any connection
but I never really saw any connection
but I never really saw any connection between my interest in football and my
between my interest in football and my
between my interest in football and my interest in research the friends I had
interest in research the friends I had
interest in research the friends I had who were interested in football where
who were interested in football where
who were interested in football where they didn’t really care about ants and
they didn’t really care about ants and
they didn’t really care about ants and fish and all the mathematical models I
fish and all the mathematical models I
fish and all the mathematical models I did so there was no real connection
did so there was no real connection
did so there was no real connection there but then a remarkable thing
there but then a remarkable thing
there but then a remarkable thing happened this this is my son Henry when
happened this this is my son Henry when
happened this this is my son Henry when he was 9 years old he’s playing this is
he was 9 years old he’s playing this is
he was 9 years old he’s playing this is a picture taken from the local newspaper
a picture taken from the local newspaper
a picture taken from the local newspaper he’s playing against boys twice his size
he’s playing against boys twice his size
he’s playing against boys twice his size it turned out that Henry had the talent
it turned out that Henry had the talent
it turned out that Henry had the talent which I lacked so did lots of his
which I lacked so did lots of his
which I lacked so did lots of his friends and I ended up with a bunch of
friends and I ended up with a bunch of
friends and I ended up with a bunch of other enthusiastic dad’s coaching
other enthusiastic dad’s coaching
other enthusiastic dad’s coaching Henry’s team uppsala EF and it was
Henry’s team uppsala EF and it was
Henry’s team uppsala EF and it was really then that I started to think
really then that I started to think
really then that I started to think again about was there a coupling between
again about was there a coupling between
again about was there a coupling between mathematics and football when I was
mathematics and football when I was
mathematics and football when I was training these players I was trying to
training these players I was trying to
training these players I was trying to see if there was mathematics behind it
see if there was mathematics behind it
see if there was mathematics behind it and I found a lot of mathematics in
and I found a lot of mathematics in
and I found a lot of mathematics in football I started with randomness and
football I started with randomness and
football I started with randomness and last-minute changes of fortune I worked
last-minute changes of fortune I worked
last-minute changes of fortune I worked out that about two-thirds of a football
out that about two-thirds of a football
out that about two-thirds of a football match comes down to randomness I looked
match comes down to randomness I looked
match comes down to randomness I looked at vector fields of passing of players
at vector fields of passing of players
at vector fields of passing of players and I could make player forecasts just
and I could make player forecasts just
and I could make player forecasts just like we can make weather forecasts
like we can make weather forecasts
like we can make weather forecasts I talked to Premier League Scouts about
I talked to Premier League Scouts about
I talked to Premier League Scouts about how they could use these forecasts to
how they could use these forecasts to
how they could use these forecasts to pick the players who were best fit into
pick the players who were best fit into
pick the players who were best fit into their team
their team
their team I studied passing and positioning I
I studied passing and positioning I
I studied passing and positioning I found out the best places to take a shot
found out the best places to take a shot
found out the best places to take a shot from and how to make a passing
from and how to make a passing
from and how to make a passing combination
combination
combination I studied shots and goals in terms of
I studied shots and goals in terms of
I studied shots and goals in terms of statistics and probability and worked
statistics and probability and worked
statistics and probability and worked out who was the best
out who was the best
out who was the best Riker in the world I looked at passing
Riker in the world I looked at passing
Riker in the world I looked at passing networks how teams are connected
networks how teams are connected
networks how teams are connected together and managers use these passing
together and managers use these passing
together and managers use these passing networks to scout out the opposition
networks to scout out the opposition
networks to scout out the opposition find which connections are most used and
find which connections are most used and
find which connections are most used and try and break them down and I studied
try and break them down and I studied
try and break them down and I studied the geometry of the game I worked out
the geometry of the game I worked out
the geometry of the game I worked out that Barcelona’s team of 2010/11 created
that Barcelona’s team of 2010/11 created
that Barcelona’s team of 2010/11 created the most beautiful geometry ever seen on
the most beautiful geometry ever seen on
the most beautiful geometry ever seen on a football pitch and I looked at
a football pitch and I looked at
a football pitch and I looked at strategy and game theory and how they
strategy and game theory and how they
strategy and game theory and how they could be used to explain the evolution
could be used to explain the evolution
could be used to explain the evolution the constant changing evolution of
the constant changing evolution of
the constant changing evolution of football strategies and I even studied
football strategies and I even studied
football strategies and I even studied the mathematics behind Latin Ibrahimovic
the mathematics behind Latin Ibrahimovic
the mathematics behind Latin Ibrahimovic is incredible bicycle kick against
is incredible bicycle kick against
is incredible bicycle kick against England there is so much mathematics in
England there is so much mathematics in
England there is so much mathematics in football since I did all of these
football since I did all of these
football since I did all of these analysis I’ve had this amazing
analysis I’ve had this amazing
analysis I’ve had this amazing opportunity to talk to Premier League
opportunity to talk to Premier League
opportunity to talk to Premier League scouts and analysts about how the game
scouts and analysts about how the game
scouts and analysts about how the game should be played most teams now have
should be played most teams now have
should be played most teams now have some form of mathematician who works for
some form of mathematician who works for
some form of mathematician who works for them and tries to work out how the team
them and tries to work out how the team
them and tries to work out how the team can play better together one thing
can play better together one thing
can play better together one thing though I haven’t yet been signed for
though I haven’t yet been signed for
though I haven’t yet been signed for Liverpool and I thought I’d take this
Liverpool and I thought I’d take this
Liverpool and I thought I’d take this opportunity Jurgen Klopp if you’re
opportunity Jurgen Klopp if you’re
opportunity Jurgen Klopp if you’re watching just give me a call I’m
watching just give me a call I’m
watching just give me a call I’m available this is my daughter Elise I
available this is my daughter Elise I
available this is my daughter Elise I finally when I was going to give a TED
finally when I was going to give a TED
finally when I was going to give a TED talk I finally got her to sit down and
talk I finally got her to sit down and
talk I finally got her to sit down and actually have a look at the book that
actually have a look at the book that
actually have a look at the book that I’ve written about mathematics and
I’ve written about mathematics and
I’ve written about mathematics and football at least is 13 years old and
football at least is 13 years old and
football at least is 13 years old and she thinks a lot about how the world
she thinks a lot about how the world
she thinks a lot about how the world works just like I did when I was that
works just like I did when I was that
works just like I did when I was that age and when I was writing soccer Mattox
age and when I was writing soccer Mattox
age and when I was writing soccer Mattox when I was studying how mathematics and
when I was studying how mathematics and
when I was studying how mathematics and football were connected together I’d
football were connected together I’d
football were connected together I’d often think about what I could
often think about what I could
often think about what I could communicate to her at least isn’t
communicate to her at least isn’t
communicate to her at least isn’t interested in Barcelona’s geometry or
interested in Barcelona’s geometry or
interested in Barcelona’s geometry or Ronaldo shot statistics what is it I can
Ronaldo shot statistics what is it I can
Ronaldo shot statistics what is it I can tell
tell
tell about the the coupling between
about the the coupling between
about the the coupling between mathematics and football the thing that
mathematics and football the thing that
mathematics and football the thing that I would like to say to release and to
I would like to say to release and to
I would like to say to release and to Henry and to all of you is that
Henry and to all of you is that
Henry and to all of you is that mathematics is not for some detached
mathematics is not for some detached
mathematics is not for some detached geniuses it’s not about picking you you
geniuses it’s not about picking you you
geniuses it’s not about picking you you you you’re going to be in the best team
you you’re going to be in the best team
you you’re going to be in the best team and other people aren’t in the team
and other people aren’t in the team
and other people aren’t in the team mathematics is like a kickabout with
mathematics is like a kickabout with
mathematics is like a kickabout with friends it’s about getting stuck in it’s
friends it’s about getting stuck in it’s
friends it’s about getting stuck in it’s about getting dirty and enjoying
about getting dirty and enjoying
about getting dirty and enjoying yourself it’s about using your
yourself it’s about using your
yourself it’s about using your imagination it’s about using is building
imagination it’s about using is building
imagination it’s about using is building up analogies between different parts of
up analogies between different parts of
up analogies between different parts of the world
the world
the world mathematics is something that all of us
mathematics is something that all of us
mathematics is something that all of us can and should be doing now often it
can and should be doing now often it
can and should be doing now often it talks like this you see someone like me
talks like this you see someone like me
talks like this you see someone like me waving their hands about saying
waving their hands about saying
waving their hands about saying mathematics is in everything
mathematics is in everything
mathematics is in everything mathematics is everywhere away and I
mathematics is everywhere away and I
mathematics is everywhere away and I have just done that and it is something
have just done that and it is something
have just done that and it is something I agree with there is a lot of
I agree with there is a lot of
I agree with there is a lot of mathematics in the world
mathematics in the world
mathematics in the world I showed a lot of mathematics in
I showed a lot of mathematics in
I showed a lot of mathematics in football but while there is mathematics
football but while there is mathematics
football but while there is mathematics in everything it doesn’t mean that
in everything it doesn’t mean that
in everything it doesn’t mean that mathematics is the answer to the meaning
mathematics is the answer to the meaning
mathematics is the answer to the meaning of life the universe and everything the
of life the universe and everything the
of life the universe and everything the answer isn’t 42 it isn’t any other
answer isn’t 42 it isn’t any other
answer isn’t 42 it isn’t any other number it isn’t some complicated
number it isn’t some complicated
number it isn’t some complicated equation that nobody else understands
equation that nobody else understands
equation that nobody else understands what I learnt from thinking about maths
what I learnt from thinking about maths
what I learnt from thinking about maths and football was a lot more modesty
and football was a lot more modesty
and football was a lot more modesty about my subject so I can study Newton’s
about my subject so I can study Newton’s
about my subject so I can study Newton’s equations as much as I want but I’ll
equations as much as I want but I’ll
equations as much as I want but I’ll never be able to do a lot on ibrahimovic
never be able to do a lot on ibrahimovic
never be able to do a lot on ibrahimovic bicycle cake I can study the geometry of
bicycle cake I can study the geometry of
bicycle cake I can study the geometry of Barcelona but I’ll never be able to pass
Barcelona but I’ll never be able to pass
Barcelona but I’ll never be able to pass in the way those players can I can study
in the way those players can I can study
in the way those players can I can study game theory and strategy but I’ll never
game theory and strategy but I’ll never
game theory and strategy but I’ll never be able to manage a team like Peirce and
be able to manage a team like Peirce and
be able to manage a team like Peirce and Hagen or Pep Guardiola I can study as
Hagen or Pep Guardiola I can study as
Hagen or Pep Guardiola I can study as many fancy calculations make lots of
many fancy calculations make lots of
many fancy calculations make lots of fancy calculations but in the end I’ll
fancy calculations but in the end I’ll
fancy calculations but in the end I’ll still be that boy ten years old in the
still be that boy ten years old in the
still be that boy ten years old in the Liverpool strip who can’t play football
Liverpool strip who can’t play football
Liverpool strip who can’t play football and only has a small insight into this
and only has a small insight into this
and only has a small insight into this incredible complex and complicated world
incredible complex and complicated world
incredible complex and complicated world we live in
we live in
we live in mas can’t allow us to understand
mas can’t allow us to understand
mas can’t allow us to understand everything not even close
everything not even close
everything not even close there’s lots of things in the world that
there’s lots of things in the world that
there’s lots of things in the world that we’ll never understand but what
we’ll never understand but what
we’ll never understand but what mathematics does give us it gives us
mathematics does give us it gives us
mathematics does give us it gives us this edge it gives us that little extra
this edge it gives us that little extra
this edge it gives us that little extra bit of understanding it us to win just a
bit of understanding it us to win just a
bit of understanding it us to win just a few more matches than we lose and that
few more matches than we lose and that
few more matches than we lose and that is why mathematics is important to me to
is why mathematics is important to me to
is why mathematics is important to me to you and every one of us thank you
”
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