Waldemar Anton: The German Defender Primed for a Big Move
At 27 years old, Waldemar Anton has become one of the most consistent defenders in German football. Anton became the new captain of VfB Stuttgart in August 2023, when Waturu Endo joined Liverpool FC. His commanding performances and leadership has contributed to an excellent 2nd place finish in the Bundesliga in 2023-24. In March 2024, Julian Naglesmann rewarded him with a national debut against France and a place on the plane at the European Championship.
Position and Versatility
Anton is a solid and technical centre-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 centre-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 good. Anton averages 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. Julian Nagelsmann seems to appreciate Anton’s ball playing and defensive stability, in both central and wide areas. While he may not start ahead of Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah, Anton is an excellent tactical option.
Anton represents a good mix of technical skill, tactical nuance, and leadership. As the football world turns its eyes towards the Euros, Anton’s role could prove important. His journey from a reliable club leader to an international defender is well deserved, and at 27, he could very well be set to depart Stuttgart for one of the biggest clubs in Europe this summer.
By: @gillikas
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images
Data from FBREF and Opta