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The left-footed player is one of the most dynamic phenomenons in football. With only a fraction of their kind in supply – only 20% of footballers are left footed – the left sided player is a must-have in most squads. Left footers are truly one-footed, with all their footballing ability in their left and the right side generally used for balance.
The dynamic of favouring the left side adds an extra layer of unpredictability and creativity which causes defences to adjust to the left-footed player’s movement, thus, most managers prefer to have a couple of left footers on the pitch.
Football Castle brings you the best left-footed gems in the most-watched league in the world. The Premier League.
Marcos Alonso
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| Chelsea’s attacking ace in the sleeve, Marcos Alonso |
Marcos Alonso
Chelsea fans have a lot to thank for Alonso’s left boot, with enough important derby goals secured via the 29-year-old’s left foot. Marcos Alonso possesses a sweet left foot that becomes a deadly weapon in the box, the left wing-back is a third-generation Spanish international and attributes his precise finishing ability to being a striker in his youth.
Added to that scoring ability is a supreme talent from free-kicks that makes him a lethal threat from dead balls across the edge of the box. Alonso’s unique prowess has seen him net 19 goals in four seasons making him the most prolific Premier League defender in that time. He has won a trophy in every season in blue and his performances in the 2017/18 season earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the year.
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| Manchester City’s Leroy Sane. (Getty Images) |
Leroy Sané
German wonderkid Sané has been living up to potential so far since his £37 million move to Manchester City, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2018. The star winger offers the specialty of his arrow of a left foot to cause damage across the left-wing for Pep Guardiola; scoring 25 and assisting 28 times in 89 Premier League appearances.
He uses his zipping pace, balance and control to get past bewildered opponents on the byline and whip pinpoint crosses across the box. Sané also provides a deadly threat to the keeper’s near-post by virtue of the accuracy in his kicking. Although working his way back from long term injury when the season was halted, the 24-year-old has been subject to big-money interest from Bayern Munich and can easily become one of the best wingers in the world.
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| Juan Mata is an iconic Premier League attacking midfielder. (Getty Contributor) |
Juan Mata
Juan Mata can do it all with his left foot. The World Cup winner oozes incredible vision, technique, control and passing as well as being a set-piece specialist. His left boot has been responsible for several finishes and glorious curled free kicks, having also assisted Didier Drogba’s famous equalizer in the 2012 Champions League final from a corner.
After lifting Europe’s two major club competitions and the FA Cup whilst winning Chelsea’s Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons, thanks in no small part to his assists and goals, Mata moved to Manchester United in 2014 where he has added more domestic and continental cups. Now 32, he remains one of United’s most respected players.
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| David Silva surprised many to marvel Premier League viewers for 10 years. (Getty Images) |
David Silva
The Spanish midfield schemer also known as El Mago by City fans leaves the Premier League champions at the end of this season after 10 wonderful years of magic created by his wand of a left foot.
His touch, outstanding technical ability, vision, close control and ability to slice defences with a pass off his left foot has well earned him a place as one of the greatest Premier League midfielders, where he has received two PFA Team of the Year inclusions and City’s Player of the Season award.
With 90 Premier League assists to his name, Silva was undoubtedly a key player behind four league titles, two FA Cups and five league cups. The winning era that laid the foundations of success which City now enjoy, he is the last true City legend following the earlier departures of Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.
Aymeric Laporte
The Frenchman joined City from Athletic Bilbao just over two years ago and has since proved Guardiola right as the best left central defender in the world. Moreso this season, Laporte’s balance, leadership and quality in possession has been sorely missed during the defender’s long spell out injured as the Mancunians have surrendered 25 points to would-be Champions Liverpool before the season was suspended.
Laporte has been rewarded for his contributions at City, with a PFA Team of the Year inclusion last season, two premier league titles, two league cups and one FA Cup medal.
Riyad Mahrez
Another one of Guardiola’s band of left-footed aces. Mahrez has been proving his worth as Africa’s most expensive player, with nine goals and 14 assists this season. His trickery, balance, turn of pace and control has produced an attacker with excellent technique and a good set-piece ability.
Having had a whole season to settle in and a summer winning continental silverware with Algeria. Mahrez’s performances have reminded everyone of the quality that saw him win multiple Player of the Year awards following Leicester’s improbable title win in 2016.
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| Messi who? The Premier League has Salah’s left foot! (Getty Images) |
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian has evolved from playmaker to goalscorer since returning to the Premier League with Liverpool in 2017. Salah scored the most goals in a 38-game Premier League season (32) in his first year as well as the most left-footed goals (25) that campaign. He then finished as the league’s joint-top scorer last season, alongside Sadio Mané and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Inverted Wingers: A Modern-day evolution
Inverted Wingers: A Modern-day evolution
Combining excellent close control, dribbling, a deft first touch and clinical finishing. Salah’s left foot has provided several marvelous finishes a la Messi and continues to prove himself as one of the Premier League’s best players, as Liverpool swathed City in the title race. With 91 goals in 144 total appearances for Liverpool, Salah’s left boot is as lethal as they come. He has won several Player of the Year awards after that spectacular first season and finished third on The Best FIFA men’s award podium.
Xherdan Shaqiri
The Swiss attacker possesses one of the most lethal left boots in world football, looking close to Arjen Robben in terms of execution. Shaqiri joined Liverpool from relegated Stoke City after proving a deadly threat particularly cutting infield from the right-wing throughout his career. Although currently having a rough patch with injuries before the pandemic, Shaqiri’s quality has never been in question, having put in important contributions in key moments in his Liverpool career. The “Alpine Messi” might leave Merseyside due to a lack of game time or yet stay, his left foot would always produce magic on the pitch.
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| Assist-king Mesut Ozil. (Getty Images) |
Mesut Özil
Traditionally one of the most creative midfielders in Europe, the regularly misunderstood German has tailed off in recent years at Arsenal. Where he has previously smashed assist statistics and records alike.
On his day, Ozil is a playmaking genius bursting with technical ability, his vision and finesse to unlock defences with decisive passes is a joy to watch, particularly off his left boot.
Coupled with a threat from set-pieces, Ozil’s unique shooting technique has produced a trademark shot into the turf that bounces in front of the goalkeeper.
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| Ederson possesses the sweeping pass of a Libero. (LightRocket via Getty Images) |
Ederson
The Manchester City goalkeeper’s left foot is as good as anyone’s in world football. Asides being a model modern-day goalkeeper with the ball at his feet, the Brazilian possesses a spectacular long kick, providing two assists for Pep Guardiola’s men last season. Ederson is admittedly the best penalty taker in the City squad, however, he is yet to get the green light from Pep to take a penalty kick in a competitive game.
If or when he does, expect to see a cool finish from the calm shot-stopper who thrives under pressure.
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| Benjamin Mendy bombing up the left wing for City. (Getty Images) |
Benjamin Mendy
Frenchman Benjamin Mendy has had his fair share of injury worries in recent years but the Man City left-back remains a solid performer when fully fit. Pertinently, he got his first big injury at City trying to tackle with his right foot (for the very first time in his career, according to Pep) and ruptured the ACL in his right knee.
The best Premier League games of the season so far
The best Premier League games of the season so far
The big man’s hammer of a left foot is another one in Pep’s vast Arsenal, he maintains the width from the left channel with a constant supply of missile crosses into the box. Eight assists in only 31 League appearances show a slight into how important Mendy is in Guardiola’s setup should he stay fit.
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