During Leeds United’s pre-season tour of Germany last year, the club discovered an unexpected asset in Anton Stach, the 6ft 4in defensive midfielder signed from Hoffenheim for £17.4 million. Although Stach had not scored any free-kicks during his four years in the Bundesliga, his performances in training competitions revealed a remarkable proficiency with set-pieces. What initially seemed unlikely — the towering midfielder becoming a free-kick specialist — has since translated into a notable impact in the Premier League.

Since joining Leeds, Stach has scored four league goals from free-kicks, including a stoppage-time winner against Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend of the current campaign. Only Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai matches his tally in the same period, but with a stark contrast in efficiency: Stach has converted four goals from just ten attempts, while Szoboszlai required 27 shots to achieve the same number. This puts Stach among the most efficient free-kick takers in Premier League history, with a success rate around 40 percent, compared to other specialists such as James Ward-Prowse who has about a 12 percent conversion rate from 141 attempts.

Stach’s range and technique have drawn praise from experts. His first free-kick goal came from a central position against Wolves, bending the ball over the wall into the top corner. His subsequent goals were all delivered from wide on the left, including a precise curling effort against Crystal Palace, a long-range strike against Aston Villa that deceived goalkeeper Emi Martinez, and the decisive finish at Nottingham Forest. Ball-striking coach Bartek Sylwestrzak highlighted Stach’s clean contact with the ball and the use of topspin, which adds forward rotation beneficial for controlling the trajectory and speed of the shot. This technical approach is reminiscent of legendary free-kick takers like Juninho Pernambucano, known for combining power and spin.

Stach’s dedication extends beyond training sessions, often practicing free-kicks alone or with assistant coach Edmund Riemer, refining Leeds’ set-piece routines. His emergence comes at a time when direct free-kick goals are on the decline in the Premier League. Recent seasons have seen fewer direct free-kick goals, dropping from nearly 40 in 2013-14 to under 20 in the past two campaigns. A top-flight club’s performance director noted that modern tactics sometimes prioritize higher-percentage plays over direct shots from set-pieces, contrasting with the traditional emphasis on free-kick specialists like David Beckham.

Despite this trend, Stach’s effectiveness challenges the notion that direct free-kicks are becoming obsolete. Sylwestrzak emphasized that well-prepared players can still capitalize on these opportunities, making the case for renewed attention to this skill. Leeds manager Daniel Farke acknowledged Stach’s impact by comparing him to the great free-kick takers of the past, noting that while Stach’s style may not be as visually spectacular as Juninho’s, it is nonetheless highly efficient and valuable to the team’s attacking arsenal.