The proof Lisandro Martinez is better in the air than Harry Maguire!
FT Desk
- Updated: 27 Jul 2022 14:13 CDT
- 3 min read
Harry Maguire has become world-renowned over recent years for being one of the best aerial players in the world.
Nicknamed ‘Slabhead’, Maguire is able to head the ball further than some players can kick so hard can he connect with it with his forehead.
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The 28-year-old is not only formidable in the air when it comes to defending his box or going up for challenges from goal kicks and direct high balls.
Maguire also strikes fear into the opposition whenever he goes up for a corner or an attacking free-kick.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Maguire has been a constant attacking threat throughout his career – scoring a very respectable 35 goals, most of them from headers.
Maguire’s position at Man Utd has come under threat this coming season following a dismal 2021-22 campaign when he put in a string of bad performances.
Man Utd’s big-money signing of Lisandro Martinez from Ajax has added to the pressure on Maguire, with many feeling he could lose his place in the starting XI.
However, one argument used in Maguire’s favour over Martinez has been the difference in size and aerial ability.
Is Martinez too small?
Martinez stands at only 5ft 9in, a massive seven inches less than Maguire.
Players so short are very rarely trusted to play at centre back, unless they have a fantastic leap such as Fabio Cannavaro or Ivan Cordoba earlier this millennium.
But, incredibly, Martinez won more aerial duels during the 2021-22 season than Maguire did.
Martinez won 3.9 aerials per 90 compared to Maguire’s 3.8.
This should go some way to calming the fears of many Man Utd fans over Martinez’s height, although it should be noted that there is a big difference defending aerially in the Eredivisie compared to the Premier League.
