Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have reached a new level of play this season, having been developing for three years since Arteta took over as manager. The overhaul has been profound, and while this progress hasn’t yet been quantified by UEFA Champions League football or a top-end Premier League finish, this season...
"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." — Albert Einstein Erik ten Hag is widely regarded as an elite coach. He is capable of deploying various tactics and using players in different ways to optimise his team's performance by using his players' strengths in innovative and unconventional ways....
Le Havre have not been in Ligue 1 since 2009, meaning that Les Ciel et Marine have not seen the top flight of French football in 14 years. This club has been busy during that period, making a name for themselves for producing some excellent players such as Riyad Mahrez...
Mark van Bommel was hired as Wolfsburg's new manager at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, but his spell in charge there did not last long. Now, van Bommel manages in Belgium, having been hired by Royal Antwerp before the start of the 2022/23 season. The early results are promising....
Following his appointment in July 2021, Patrick Vieira has been swift in implementing his style of football at Crystal Palace. His appointment came as a refreshing change following the departure of Roy Hodgson. Vieira's possession-based play led his side to an FA Cup semi-final, which unfortunately ended in defeat to Chelsea. This...
The highly anticipated UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 final saw two of the best teams in the world go up against each other. In the end, Real Madrid gained the edge in a very tight battle, winning their 14th Champions League title. The former AC Milan and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti...
Throughout history, European coaches have helped revolutionise the beautiful game as we know it. From Rinus Michels to Johan Cruyff, from Pep Guardiola to Jose Mourinho, from Sir Alex Ferguson to Arsene Wenger, the sport has been moulded like metal by some of the greatest locksmiths Europe has had to...
Aston Villa is known for their European Cup triumphs in the early 80s, in addition to their loyal fanbase and iconic stadium. While their history serves them well, some of Villa's modern-day activities have not placed them within the best light. In 2012, they suffered a £ 53.9 million loss...
Any football club with Red Bull connections commonly connotes the power of youth in the sport. Whether young players or up-and-coming managers, they are ready to display their reinvention and youthful outlook on the footballing landscape. RB Leipzig in Germany is at the top of the Red Bull hierarchy, but...
One of the most highly-rated young talents in England and the entire footballing world is Liverpool’s Curtis Jones. The 19-year-old has been with the champions for the last decade, learning the craft in their academy before making his debut for the first team in an FA Cup fixture against Wolves almost two years ago....
The use of the 4-2-3-1 out-of-possession has gained popularity in recent years, with various teams using different systems within this shape. Within any pressing shape, variations can be gained by adjusting the roles of players within the press and the intentions of their movements while pressing. Having previously written about...
When analysing attacking play, many talk about the width and depth provided. However, it is also important to position players between the opposition lines, especially between midfield and defence, as this has a direct impact on the defensive behaviour of the opposition defenders. And the overall aim when building an...
Teams with a defensive identity succeed far more than a side that does not employ well-thought-out tactics to win the ball back and prevent a goal from being scored. Defending is an often difficult area of the match that teams will not train as much because, in order to win,...
Ralf Rangnick is one of the most famous head coaches in German top-flight football. His work as a manager is seen as revolutionary, as Rangnick was one of the first coaches to adopt a back four system in the Bundesliga. Our tactical analysis will primarily focus on his roles at TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, as...
Perhaps you were watching a Premier League or UEFA Champions League game this past season and heard the commentator say, "What an excellent training ground move from…" Or perhaps you were reading a tactical analysis, and the writer emphasised a particular passing and movement sequence by the team in possession...
Martin Ødegaard is currently going through a real Cinderella story. Of course, he immediately started as a ‘superstar in the making’, and soon after European giants discovered his talents, he was snapped up by Real Madrid. But things really did not go as planned. Shortly after joining Real Madrid Castilla,...
The 2018/19 campaign was one to forget for Real Madrid. With a La Liga title race almost over by October and humiliation bringing their European dominance to an end, sights have been set on this campaign by most even before Christmas. Embarking on a new season in 2019/20, there were...
