Set-piece coaches are the new arms race
From the Eredivisie to the Premier League, dedicated set-piece staff are quietly turning corners into the most analyzed phase of play.
Villageside Press · · 5 min read
Eight of the twelve UEFA qualifiers now travel with a dedicated set-piece coach. England's Andrew Brassell, France's hire from Brentford, and Brazil's Ricardo Junior have all spent the buildup analyzing tendencies in opposing defensive structures. Expect the average xG-per-set-piece in the group stage to hit a tournament high. Don't sleep on near-post flick-on combinations — they're the meta of 2026.
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