Leeds United discovered an unexpected asset in midfielder Anton Stach during last season's pre-season tour, identifying a talent for dead-ball situations that belied his transfer fee and initial role.
Stach, a 6ft 4in defensive midfielder, was signed by Leeds for approximately £17.4 million from Hoffenheim. His primary role was intended to be strengthening the team's midfield with physicality, duel-winning ability, and breaking up play to secure their place in the Premier League. During his four years in the Bundesliga, Stach did not score a single free-kick and attempted only one shot from a set piece.
However, during internal competitions, Stach demonstrated surprising proficiency in taking free-kicks and corners. Club staff were reportedly impressed by his deliveries, leading to a re-evaluation of his set-piece potential. This skill has since translated into remarkable success in the Premier League.
An Unprecedented Scoring Rate
Stach has emerged as one of the Premier League's most effective free-kick takers. His late winner against Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend of the season marked his fourth league goal from a direct free-kick since joining Leeds. This places him in elite company, with only Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai matching that tally.
What distinguishes Stach is his extraordinary efficiency. He has scored four goals from just ten free-kick attempts, achieving a 40% success rate. This is significantly higher than other notable free-kick specialists. For comparison, Dominik Szoboszlai has taken 27 shots for his four goals. James Ward-Prowse, who holds numerous free-kick records, has a 12% success rate from 141 attempts.
Stach's free-kick goals have varied in execution. His first for Leeds was a well-placed shot over a wall against Wolves. Subsequent goals have often come from wider positions on the left, deceiving goalkeepers with dipping shots that have found the net from considerable distance, as seen against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Technical Skill and Dedicated Practice
Ball-striking specialists note Stach's clean contact with the ball, which contributes to higher ball speed and accuracy, allowing him to attempt shots from longer ranges. His technique involves a combination of inside spin and forward spin, which helps the ball dip effectively. This ability to impart top spin is a key factor in making his shots accurate and difficult for goalkeepers to save, a characteristic shared with legendary free-kick takers like Juninho Pernambucano.
Stach reportedly dedicates significant time to practicing his free-kicks after training sessions, often working on his technique with assistant coach Edmund Riemer or independently.
A Revival of the Direct Free-Kick
Stach's effectiveness comes at a time when direct free-kicks have seen a general decline in the Premier League, partly attributed to the rise of analytics and a strategic shift towards higher-percentage scoring opportunities. The number of direct free-kicks scored per season has decreased significantly over the past decade. However, the current season has shown an early uptick, with Stach's goal and another from Sunderland's Nilson Angulo on the opening weekend. Several teams also registered attempts from free-kicks in their first matches, suggesting a potential resurgence in the art of the direct free-kick.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke has acknowledged Stach's surprising dead-ball skill, noting, "Anton is perhaps not as beautiful on the eye like Juninho's free-kicks, but b****y effective, and I quite like it."