Free kick goals have become an endangered species. There are probably fewer/worse specialists, but teams also take more precautions, such as placing a prone player under the barrier.
Anything goes when it comes to making the pitchers’ work difficult. It is not surprising, therefore, that from the 183 direct free kick goals that, according to ‘Opta’, were scored in 2008-09 in the five major leagues, this has increased to 63 last year. A worrying fact, to say the least.
Free kick goals in the five major leagues
Season 2008-09 –> 183Season 2009-10 –> 168Season 2010-11 –> 148Season 2011-12 –> 131Season 2012-13 –> 158Season 2013-14 –> 172Season 2014-15 –> 146Season 2015-16 –> 137Season 2016-17 –> 146Season 2017-18 –> 124Season 2018-19 –> 124Season 2019-20 –> 117Season 2020-21 –> 78Season 2021-22 –> 87Season 2022-23 –> 88Season 2023-24 –> 63Season 2024-25 –> 26* (in progress)
Europe, however, has discovered a new ‘free kick master’ willing to take over from Pirlo, Messi, Ward-Prowse, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pjanic, Payet, Parejo, Savanier… We are talking about Omar Khaled Mohamed Abd Elsala Marmoush (Cairo, 7-2-1999).
Most foul goals in the major leagues since 2008
Leo Messi –> 39Cristiano Ronaldo –> 20James Ward-Prowse –> 17Andrea Pirlo –> 12Dani Parejo –> 11Miralem Pjanic –> 11Antonio di Natale –> 19Sejad Salihovic –> 10Maximilian Arnold –> 10Francesco Lodi –> 10
The Egyptian attacker from Eintracht Frankfurt, who arrived on a free transfer from Wolfsburg a year ago, has become the revelation of the season: top scorer in the Bundesliga, along with Kane, with 11 goals in 10 games. A figure that, among all competitions, amounts to 14 goals – one in the Cup and two in the Europa League – in 16 games.
“The fittest player in Europe”
To the goals he scores we must add those he generates. Marmoush has already distributed 10 assists so far this season. As if that were not enough, he has taken the ‘point’ from direct free kicks. ‘El Pharaón’ has three games in a row!!! marking a foul. They achieved it in the victories against Bochum (7-2), Slavia (1-0) and Stuttgart (2-3).
Nobody has scored more. In fact, they are followed by Valverde, Saka, Pablo Torre, Kökçü, Çalhanoglu, Griezmann, Maddison, Aleix García, Olise… with one. “You can wake him up at three in the morning and he’s bound to make something up,” jokes his colleague Robin Koch.
“I don’t think there is a better free kick. It was just perfect. There was not even a piece of paper between the ball and the corner,” said Dino Toppmöller about his goal against Slavia. “It’s not a common practice in training, but anyone who has ever played knows how fun it is to take free-kicks,” added the Eintracht Frankfurt coach.
I don’t think there is a better free kick. It was just perfect
Dino Toppmöller
Sebastian Hoeness knew of his prowess: “He is probably the fittest player in the Bundesliga at the moment, even in Europe.” However, Stuttgart could not help but become a new victim of Marmoush: “It was already strong last year and now it has increased its level again. He scores all kinds of goals and takes spectacular free kicks.”
Wanted by Liverpool and Bayern
Marmoush’s season, logically, has not gone unnoticed. In fact, he already sounds like a possible reinforcement for Liverpool and Bayern. What’s more, ‘Bild’ assures that Eintracht would have valued him at 45 million euros.
Markus Krösche, on the other hand, refuses to lose it. “Marmoush is doing well here. He is performing well, he is an important piece and he enjoys it. “We shouldn’t always discuss transfer scenarios,” says the Eintracht sporting director. We’ll see what happens. For the moment, Europe is enjoying its new ‘free kick master’.
