Waldemar Anton: What Can He Provide BVB’s Defense?
It has been an eye-catching rise for Waldemar Anton. Born in Uzbekistan to Russian German parents, Anton moved to Germany at an early age and developed his skillset at Hannover 96 before eventually departing his boyhood club after 13 years and joining newly promoted Stuttgart in 2020. Three years later, Anton was named the club’s new captain and rewarded the trust with a stellar individual campaign, leading them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and earning the attention of Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, who gave him his international debut as well as a call-up to the summer’s Euros.
Position and Versatility
Anton is a solid and technical center-back, who can also play as a right back. He has formed a strong defensive partnership with Hiroki Ito, which has been the foundation of Stuttgart’s defensive solidity. Waldemar Anton – Solid and Technical Defender 2024ᴴᴰ (youtube.com)
Statistical Highlights
Anton is very front-footed. This aligns with the modern expectations of a good center-back in a possession-based system. He impresses with an average of 5.36 progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 12% of defenders across Europe’s five top leagues.
His ability to maintain possession under pressure is shown by his 5.08 passes into the final third per game and an average of 92.84 touches per game, which ranks him in the top 5% of central defenders. Anton has been entrusted with on-ball responsibilities which support final third actions. He receives an average of 92.84 touches per game, ranking him in the top 5% of central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues.
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Anton sizes up attacking players to make a timely tackle or recovers well to limit their space. His defensive metrics are impressive, averaging 4.68 clearances per game and a successful aerial duel rate of 65.3%. His pivotal role in Stuttgart’s possession-oriented framework is essential, with the team maintaining an average possession of 59.3% and a high pass rate of 16.2 passes per minute of possession.
National Team
The recent exclusion of Mats Hummels from the national team has paved the way for Anton’s inclusion in Germany’s Euros squad. Julian Nagelsmann seems to appreciate Anton’s ball playing and defensive stability, in both central and wide areas, and whilst Anton was second-choice to Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck, he did rack up two appearances in the Euros, coming on for the final minutes of their 2-0 win vs. Denmark before playing the entirety of extra time in their heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the quarterfinals.
Anton represents a formidable mix of technical skill, tactical nuance, and leadership, and his journey from a reliable club leader to an international defender will see him continue his progression in the UEFA Champions League next season. It won’t be with Stuttgart, however, but with Borussia Dortmund.
BVB are undergoing a major rebuild following their defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League Final, with veterans Mats Hummels and Marco Reus departing on free transfers, whilst manager Edin Terzić has been replaced by Nuri Şahin. Dortmund triggered Anton’s €22.5 million release clause and tied him down to a contract through June 2028.
At 27 years of age, Anton has honed his skills and cemented his status as one of the top defenders in the Bundesliga, and today, he is tasked with filling the lofty shoes of Hummels and emerged as Borussia Dortmund’s new leader in central defense.
By: @gillikas
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images
Data from FBREF and Opta