Last November, Óscar García took the reins at Oud-Heverlee Leuven.
The club was placed 13th in the 16-team Jupiler Pro League standings, just inside the relegation group positions just 13 rounds into the season.
By the end of the 2023/24 campaign, García managed to steer his team just about to safety, finishing in 12th place with 29 points and only just avoiding a battle to survive via a superior goal difference over Royal Charleroi, who had the same amount of points but were nine goals worse off.
Leuven then fared decently in the European playoffs that followed for the clubs that finished 7th-12th, with 15 points amassed from 10 games and a fourth-place finish in the six-team group.
It was not enough for Europe, but that was never likely from their starting position going in; it was, however, a platform to build on going into the 2024/25 term.
This tactical analysis will take a closer look at how OH Leuven have evolved over the last nine months under Óscar García tactics & leadership, focusing specifically on his first two games in charge back in November and comparing them to their most recent pair of encounters in the domestic league.
Óscar García Tactics & Attacking Style
As was previewed in a previous analysis after Garcías hire (click the prior link on analysis to read that piece), one of the expectations when the new manager came in last autumn was that he would bring a more direct, vertical approach to Leuvens offensive strategy, as that was what he was renowned for in his previous jobs across Europe.
In his first game away against Genk, García opted to stick with the back five system Leuven had grown accustomed to playing under his predecessor to better assess the players at his disposal and learn more about his new side.
One thing that clearly jumped out that García wasnt fond of was the goalkeeping position.
Having given the opportunity to first-choice Maxence Prévot, the Frenchman struggled to find the confidence to play the ball out from the back.
He sent many a long ball aimlessly forward as Leuven struggled to get a foothold on the game.
Prévot ended up losing his spot in the team after this encounter and never recovered his spot, only registering three appearances at the end of last season during Garcías tenure to date.
At the time, 21-year-old Tobe Leysen immediately showed more desire to take risks and vary his passing out of the back between short and vertical, which is just what García expects out of his goalkeepers as the foundation upon which attacks are built.
Hes been a mainstay in the side ever since.
Goalkeeper wasnt the only position thats overseen a change of personnel over the last nine months, either.
Richie Sagrado and Florian Miguel were the full-backs in the initial version of Garcías Leuven team but have since been moved on to Italy and Spain, respectively.
Óscar Gil and Takahiro Akimoto were picked up as their replacements this summer, both who fit the billing for exactly what García wants out of his full-backs — lets see why below.
Above, we see an example from Garcías first game against Genk.
He opted to use a 5-3-1-1 system, with the wingbacks spreading the pitch and providing width for vertical passing options.
The central midfielders also push higher up here as a ploy to receiv
