Welcome back to the third instalment of my series of articles, which takes a data-driven approach to player ID and recruitment in football.
In the first two, I have looked at centre-backs, taking a close look at the roles of ‘Dominant Defender‘ and ‘Ball-Playing Defender‘.
This time around, it is time to turn our attention to full-backs.
Full-back is still a somewhat hybrid position.
I am old enough to remember when right-backs were purely functional players who were there for their defensive work and ability to organise.
Left-backs may have been more forward-thinking, but neither typically had the same kind of impact that we see in the modern game.
Now, full-backs are attacking weapons.
We may see a profile on either side that supports the attack through runs and dribbles through the thirds, or they may be more progressive in their attacking approach, favouring line-breaking passes to line-breaking runs.
Of course, the very best candidates for this role will thrive in both environments.
Despite the intensity of the game, full-back is still the position that can receive the ball in the most space and with the most time.
This means that a good attacking full-back can be worth their weight in gold for top teams.
So, what are we looking for in the ‘Attacking Full-back’ profile?
Well, the answer is simple.
We are seeking players who can make significant contributions to the game’s attacking phase.
This can be achieved through carries or progressive passes, but it must include an impact in the final third, where the value of their actions can create chances for their team.
The structure of this scouting report and player analysis will follow the same pattern as the other two that have already been posted.
First, I will identify a prototype profile in the top five European Leagues.
Then, I will identify two players in the following strongest leagues with interesting profiles who are ready to move to a top-five league.
Finally, I will identify a player in a league with less exposure who is showing promise.
Nuno Mendes Scout Report At PSG
In the recent UEFA Champions League match between PSG and Liverpool, it is fair to say that the 22-year-old Portuguese international left-back Nuno Mendes was nothing short of sensational.
He was excellent out of possession, routinely winning his duels and keeping Mohamed Salah quiet.
In possession, he showed moments of real quality as the French side dominated the game.
Nuno Mendes is one of those holy grail full-backs that I referenced above.
He is equally effective in both the attacking and defensive phases of the game and can break opposition attacks or open up games with impunity.
Nuno Mendes Radar Chart
Figure One
Mendes’ data, as you can see from his pizza chart, speaks for itself when compared to other left-backs in the top 5 European Leagues.
The 22-year-old Portuguese international is in the 81st percentile for goal contributions and the 84th percentile for expected goal contributions.
Nuno Mendes is also in the 91st percentile for dribbles per 90 and the 94th percentile for touches in the opposition area.
As you can see, his passing and ball progression are also very good.
He is in the 82nd percentile for dangerous passes and the 91st percentile for progressive passes.
Nuno Mendes Penetrating Carries Map
Figure two
It can be instructive to examine the attacking full-back profile closely to see how they penetrate the final third of the pitch with their runs and carries.
As you can see, Nuno Mendes is very strong in this regard, with a high volume of output in both the wide areas and in the half-space on the left side of the pitch.
So this gives us an idea of the kind of player and profile we are interested in.
Now, let’s look at the first of the three players that I have identified using my models.
Maxim De Cuyper Scout Report At Club Brugge
I have identified the first player outside the top-five leagues: left-back Maxim De Cuyper of Club Brugge.
The 24-year-old Belgian international is a product of the Brugge youth academy, but arguably, a loan spell in Westerlo really kick-started his development.
Now, we have seen De Cuyper impressing at the highest level with his performances this season in the Champions League, especially against the Italian side Atalanta.
Maxim is a very modern player.
He can help his side build the attack from deeper areas, but he is also effective when it comes to breaking into the final third and finding ways to penetrate the opposition’s penalty area.
At 24 years old, he is well-prepared for a move to a top league.
Maxim De Cuyper Radar Chart
Figure three
As you can see, his pizza chart is impressive, although it is fair to say his direct output does not match his expected numbers.
Maxim De Cuyper is in the 68th percentile for goal contributions but in the 92nd percentile for expected goal contributions.
These outputs are further underpinned by his being in the 92nd percentile for shots per 90 and the 96th percentile for touches in the opposition area per 90.
The Belgian international also progresses the ball into dangerous areas, although his pass accuracy is only in the 70th percentile, as he tries more high-risk passes.
This is reflected in his rankings of 72nd percentile for dangerous passes and 77th percentile for progressive passes.
Maxim De Cuyper Penetrating Carries Map
Figure four
De Cuyper is another full-back who contributes a lot in the opposition half of the field and in the half-spaces.
He is very dangerous in these areas, with the ability to generate threats and infiltrate the opposition’s areas.
However, he can still improve the quality of his final action in these positions.
Interestingly, given that he played for Club Brugge as they knocked Atalanta out of the Champions League, he is actually a very interesting potential profile for the Italian side.
El Hadji Malick Diouf Scout Report At Slavia Praha
During the winter transfer window, numerous media reports linked Liverpool with the potential signing of left-back El-Hadji Malick Diouf of Slavia Prague.
It is clear why the much-vaunted Liverpool recruitment department has identified the 20-year-old Senegalese international as one of its key targets to replace the ageing Andy Robertson as the club’s left-back of the future.
Before I dive into the actual data in the pizza chart for Diouf, it is worth recognising that he has seven goals and three assists so far this season.
In terms of his underlying data, things are still very positive.
El Hadji Malick Diouf Radar Chart
Figure five
As you can see, Diouf is in the 76th percentile for goal contributions and the 71st percentile for expected goal contributions.
This attacking data is further supported by his performance in terms of generating shots on goal, as the 20-year-old ranks in the 83rd percentile for shots on target.
His passing and progression numbers are also interesting, and it is clear why Liverpool is interested in bringing the player to Merseyside.
The young Senegal international is in the 84th percentile for dangerous passes and the 86th percentile for progressive passes.
His being in the 95th percentile for received passes also shows his importance to Slavia Praha.
El Hadji Malick Diouf Penetrating Carries Map
Figure six
The volume of Diouf’s penetrating carries in the final third really stands out as being elite.
El-Hadji Malick Diouf creates a significant threat wide, in the half-spaces, and even in the central areas, and it is easy to see why Liverpool see him as a natural replacement for Robertson in their team.
Andrei Borza Scout Report At Rapid Bucharest
In my opinion, the Romanian top flight remains an undervalued market, boasting some truly interesting young players currently competing there.
One of the most interesting is the 19-year-old Romanian U21 international left-back Andrei Borza of Rapid Bucharest.
The young full-back was signed by Rapid in 2023 for a fee of €800k, which is looking like a real bargain.
Now, Borza is being linked to a move to sides in both Serie A and the German Bundesliga, and it feels unlikely that he will still be in Romania come next season.
Andrei Borza Radar Chart
Figure seven
Currently, Andrei Borza’s contribution in front of the goal is still developing, and he ranks in the 53rd percentile for goal contributions and the 36th percentile for expected goal contributions.
However, his underlying data suggests that this should soon change.
The 19-year-old is in the 84th percentile for shots and the 71st percentile for dribbles, showing that he is having an impact in the final third.
His ball progression is also trending in a similar fashion to the other players discussed in this article.
The Romanian U21 international is in the 72nd percentile for dangerous passes and the 69th percentile for progressive passes.
Andrei Borza Penetrating Carries Map
Figure eight
Currently, Borza needs to increase the volume of his actions in the final third.
Once that happens, or once he is playing with better players around him, we should see an explosion in output.
Indeed, if Club Brugge loses Maxim De Cuyper or Slavia Praha loses El Hadji Malick Diouf, then a move for a player with Andrei Borza’s profile would make a lot of sense for them.
That is why building out recruitment processes and pipelines in this manner is an effective way to maintain control of your squad and to ensure strong squad building.
Conclusion
The role of the attacking full-back is one of the most effective and powerful roles in modern football.
Finding a gem in this position and role can supercharge your squad and team building, leading to prolonged on-field success.
