Is Hakan Calhanoglu the new dead ball specialist? Anxiety fills the air, thousands of fans inside a stadium hold their breath and millions around the world wait in apprehension. Time has stood still as the player takes a few steps back, scanning for gaps in the wall contemplating the right angle – the right amount of force! The deafening roar of joy or the hushed cry of disappointment is imminent.Fans often experience an emotional override during the moments preceding and succeeding a free-kick. There is nothing quite like a well-executed set-piece that jumps over a wall, wrong foots a goalkeeper before squeezing through the top corner. Then again, few disappointments match the grim sight of your favourite player appearing exasperated after hitting a wayward free-kick.Perfecting the art of free-kick requires intelligence and a good deal of intuition. From Giuseppe Meazza in the 1930’s to Rivelino in the 70’s to Juninho Pernambucano in the 21st century, fans have bore witness to some of the greatest minds the game has ever seen.Today, we take a look at the five best young free kick specialists who have the potential to be counted among the aforementioned greats in the future.
#5 James Ward-Prowse
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James Ward-Prowse is another in the long line of talents unearthed by Southampton in their illustrious history of producing and developing fine young players.
The 20-year-old has already drawn comparisons with England legend David Beckham, who is not a bad free-kick taker himself. Ward-Prowse has confessed that he is a big fan of Beckham and has watched videos of each and every one of the former England captain’s freekicks.
The Southampton youngster has represented England in all youth levels from the U17s to the U21s and his performances for both club and country are gradually quelling the distorted perception that English football cannot produce technically sound footballers.
He scored his first goal for the England U21’s against Lithuania back in 2013 and followed it up with another free-kick two days later against San Marino.
Ward-Prowse’s incredible ability stands out from the centre of the midfield and his greatest strength lies in his ability from free-kicks. Dynamic and equipped with a varied range of passes, the 20-year-old is one to look out for in the future and if he keeps on delivering the way he is under Mauricio Pochettino, a call up from Roy Hodgson for 2016’s European Championships would not be that surprising.
#4 Manolo Gabbiadini
Manolo Gabbiadini is a product of Atalantas acclaimed youth system. The 23-year-old striker made his Serie-A debut in the 2009-10 season at the age of 18.
A successful loan spell with A.S. Cittadella saw Juventus swooping in and signing Gabbiadini in a co-ownership deal. He was soon loaned out to Bologna where he scored 7 goals in 31 games before making a permanent switch to Sampdoria.
The Italian internationals strongest asset is his ability from set-pieces, evident from his seven goals for Sampdoria in Serie-A last season out of which three were fro dead ball situations.
The arrival of Serbian free-kick legend Sinisa Mihajlovic at Sampdoria played a huge role in the aggrandisement of the 23-year-olds lethal ability with the ball.
Mihajlovics influence on the left-footed forward was obvious as Gabbiadini helped Sampdoria mount a serious challenge for a top three finish in the Serie-A before he joined Napoli in the winter transfer window of 2015.
Gabbiadini might not be a household name yet but now at Napoli and under the watchful eyes of Maurizio Sarri, the former Atalanta man has the right platform to reach the dizzying heights expected of him.
Mino Favini, one of Europes finest scouts has compared Gabbiadini to Luigi Riva-all-time top scorer of the Italian national team. Comparing him to one of the games finest ever strikers might sound a bit of a stretch but the talent is undeniable.
#3 David Alaba
Bayern Munich’s David Alaba is often described as four players rolled into one. His versatility is inconceivable having played as full back, as centre back and on either wings, and even popping in quality free-kicks every now and then.
Alaba has taken over from Arjen Robben as Bayern’s chief left-sided free-kick specialist. "His efforts are just madness," Franck Ribery told Bild. "You cannot take them any better than he does."
With a better strike rate than Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years, Alaba’s ability to find the tiniest of gaps, the most acute of angles and the right amount of force and exertion has surprised many.
The Austrian’s sensational strike in the DFB Pokal victory against Eintracht Braunschweig last season is quite possibly his finest free-kick till date. That goal came only days after he opened the scoring against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga in Bayern’s 2-0 away win.
Explosive and bombarding when played as left back, calm, calculated and composed as a midfielder, the 23-year-old remains one of Bayern’s key men as they look to conquer Europe once again.
#2 Memphis Depay
Despite not being an out an out striker, Memphis Depay scored 28 goals in all competitions for PSV Eindhoven last season, firing them to their 22nd Eredivisie title – the club’s first league championship win since 2008.
Depay scored seven goals from free-kicks last season, making him statistically the best free-kick taker in the top six leagues in Europe.
His exploits in the Netherlands soon prompted Manchester United to make a move and without much hassle, the Dutch international signed a four-year contract with United. The 21-year old was handed the hallowed No.7 jersey at Old Trafford making him join the ranks of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and George Best among others.
Tipped to become as good as Cristiano Ronaldo one day, Depay has had a rapid growth in physique, technique and maturity since making his debut for PSV.
Ed van Steijn, the man who scouted Ronaldo for Manchester United believes Depay is already better than what Ronaldo was at the age of 21.
“If I compare him with a young Cristiano Ronaldo at the time, then Depay has more strings to his bow. I like him better,” van Steijn told Dutch paper Algemeen Dagblad.
“Ronaldo did the same things wrong at Manchester United as he did when he was 17.”
No pressure, son.
#1 Hakan Calhanoglu
Bayer Leverkusen’s Hakan Calhanoglu is the Bundesliga’s best free-kick specialist. The Turkish international first received global attention when he scored an outrageous free-kick 41 yards out for Hamburg against Borussia Dortmund back in the 2013-14 season.
A €14 million move to Leverkusen was soon completed and the 5'10" attacking midfielder, dubbed the ‘new Ozil’, has since then established himself as one of the most potent attacking threats in the Bundesliga. Playing in the No.10 role or as a right attacking midfielder, the former Hamburg player loves spraying passes all around the pitch and possesses the aptitude for a killer through ball.
Calhanoglu’s vision and his ability to see gaps in lines make him a coveted commodity in Roger Schmidt’s side. A potentially world-class player in the making, the 21-year-old scored ten goals and registered eight assists in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League last season.
Still just 21, If he continues scoring from free-kicks the way he has been in the last two seasons, he might as well go down as the best free-kick taker the game has ever seen.
