Teun Koopmeiners - Scout Report
Written in February 2023
Player Analysis: Teun Koopmeiners
POS: Centre-Mid
Preferred Foot: Left
Club: Atalanta BC
League Goals (G | xG): 6 | 5.7
League Assists (A | xA): 3 | 3.0
Standing at 6'0", Teun Koopmeiners is deceivingly skillful for someone of his height and build. Dangerous around the box, good in transition, and solid defensively - he is having an impressively consistent season.
Best Attributes:
Teun has a great first touch and good close control. When picking up a second ball, this allows him to get past oncoming defenders in one touch. This lets him get his head up and progress the ball when further back on the pitch, but also drive forward into space.
Koopmeiners is also an excellent scanner - this lets him calculate his next move before receiving. This is a trait of any top midfielder. It allows him to release the ball quickly / drive into the space he has scanned. This awareness is what helps him take good first touches into space.
Atalanta set up in a 3 at the back formation, with Koop employed as a 10 or an 8 in a double pivot. Atalanta play vertical football, trying to create overloads/triangles on the wings to progress down the side or long balls over the top/to feet of their CFs with runners on the side.
Tactical:
Playing as an 8:
Defensively:
Koopmeiners’ awareness allows him to track runners trying to get a run in behind him. This, and his great tackling ability (uses long legs and upper body well to win the ball back), make him a solid defender in the middle of the pitch.
Atalanta are a pressing side. When they press high, their CM is instructed to press the ball-side fullback: a job that Teun performs well. His long strides allow him to cover ground and close down opponents well, forcing errors and high turnovers consistently.
Offensively:
In a deeper role, Koop is the heart of Atalanta's play. He is tasked with occasionally starting build-up, and he does this by dropping deep beside CB to receive. Scalvini pushes up, and they now have 4v3 on the left side.
Once the ball has been advanced, he makes his trademark run down the channels. This run can be used as a decoy, as he creates space for a CF to check in and receive the ball. If he does receive, he is able to succeed in these wide areas due to his close control and delivery.
Playing as a 10:
Defensively:
Obviously, as a 10, Koop has less defensive responsibility. His pressing role also changes, as he is asked to press high on the opponent's #6. Again, he does this effectively, putting pressure on central areas and forcing mistakes from the opponent.
Offensively:
As a 10, Teun still makes his runs down the channel, dragging opposing midfielders away from central areas. He also plays more in the half-space, so that Atalanta are still able to create overloads on the ball-side wing.
Technical:
Good progressive passer, very secure on the ball.
Could be more of a risk taker
Mid-range pass completion % largely down to team style rather than ability
Good carrier into space, good first touches allow him to make smart turns into space and drive effectively.
Great set-piece taker: takes corners and free kicks for Atalanta, is also a threat from long range, having scored from outside the box multiple times this season.
Koopmeiners is a fantastic all around midfielder, someone that can be profiled as a playmaking 8. He is a smart passer, consistently finding teammates in advantageous positions. He can run well with the ball, using his body and close control well to ensure he stays in possession.
I can see a big move for him in the future, and I think he would be an excellent Xhaka replacement for Arsenal.
has experience in a pressing system
roles are very similar, Xhaka consistently finds himself out wide
less of a defensive liability, more athletic than Xhaka
