In Poland, among the many high-performing young players, Antoni Kozubal’s contributions are particularly noteworthy. Although he operates in a role that is far from the most spectacular, he provides extraordinary value for league leaders Lech Poznań. Statistics clearly show that the team would not be as successful without him.

Polish football, thanks to its financial opportunities and local regulations, provides an excellent “breeding ground” for the development of young talents. Clubs are compelled to give playing time to prospects, whom they can later sell, generating the revenue needed for their sustainability. KKS Lech Poznań is one of the strongest teams in the Ekstraklasa, and it maintains this status largely thanks to its homegrown players. Among them, one of the most promising is the 20-year-old Antoni Kozubal.

The midfielder, born in Krosno, a city in southeastern Poland in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, began his career at the local club. At the age of 13, he left Beniaminek Krosno to join the Poznań academy. From there, his path to youth national teams was straightforward, and he became a regular member of various age groups. His development progressed steadily, and Lech’s management knew exactly when and where to loan him out to gain experience.

He first spent half a season in the second division with relegation-threatened Górnik Polkowice, followed by one and a half years at GKS Katowice, where he contributed to the team’s promotion to the top tier. He returned to Poznań as the second-highest assist provider in the second division and a member of the season’s best XI. Back at his parent club, he quickly became a key player under Niels Frederiksen, who aimed for the league title. The Danish coach introduced a possession-oriented style of play that allowed Lech to dominate games. Alongside this, the team employs a high pressing system, not to force physical duels, but to force errors from opponents.

DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

The defending of the midfield is one of Lech’s strengths, and while physical duels are not emphasized, Kozubal is the team leader in duels contested. This stems from his occasional role as a midfielder who drops back into the defensive line during possession phases. Following turnovers, his disciplined and swift retreats are key to stopping counterattacks. In such situations, he often finds himself one-on-one with attackers, demonstrating excellent body coordination and hip flexibility, allowing him to track changes of direction effectively. He can slow down opponents long enough for teammates to recover.

His speed is also an asset during sideline traps, enabling him to cover larger areas and put pressure on opponents. Lech, boasting the lowest PPDA (passes per defensive action) in the league, focuses on winning the ball back in the middle third rather than in the attacking third, especially in central areas. Kozubal plays a pivotal role in this approach, excelling in pressing and recovering second balls. Considering Lech has the highest possession rate in the league, it’s noteworthy that Kozubal ranks in the top 30% for tackles. He also performs above average in ball recoveries (57th percentile) and interceptions (56th percentile). Notably, he excels in defending set pieces inside his penalty area, often clearing incoming balls near the front post.

ON-BALL PERFORMANCE

Lech’s primary game plan revolves around dominating the midfield and progressing the ball through combinations. As the team with the highest possession rate, frequent ball movement in the opponent’s half is unsurprising. Lech leads the league in Field Tilt (61.55%), ensuring Kozubal is heavily involved.

• Touches (120.43 per 90) – 90th percentile
• Touches in the attacking third (39.78 per 90) – 92nd percentile
• Touches inside the box (4.8 per 90) – 87th percentile

This translates to a relatively high passing frequency. Although he favors his right foot, he confidently uses his left foot for less risky passes.

• Passes (51.74 per 90) – 86th percentile
• Short passes (24.47 per 90) – 98th percentile
• Passes in the attacking third (13.24 per 90) – 84th percentile

While his overall passing numbers are high, his contributions to building attacks and advancing the ball are less impactful. However, he shows promise in creating danger near the goal, with metrics indicating significant potential for further development under higher expectations.

• Progressive passes (7.65 per 90) – 49th percentile
• Passes into the attacking third (5.83 per 90) – 51st percentile
• Passes into the box (5.16 per 90) – 83rd percentile
• Key passes (0.24 per 90) – 59th percentile
• Shot-creating actions (1.46 per 90) – 89th percentile
• Big chances created (0.24 per 90) – 76th percentile

One area for improvement is goal scoring, which, while not a requirement for his defensive midfield role, could add value. Kozubal is in the 83rd percentile for shot volume with 1.7 attempts per 90 minutes, but only 21.4% of his shots are on target. This inefficiency is concerning, especially since he showed better finishing ability in the second division. Additionally, his over-reliance on his right foot makes him predictable, his shot locations limit the quality of his attempts. Addressing this issue is crucial if he transitions into a more offensive role.

SET PIECES

It’s worth noting that Kozubal, despite his age, already takes on some set-piece responsibilities for his team. During his time in Katowice, he frequently took corner kicks, resulting in several assists in the second division. In the top tier, he has only one set-piece assist so far, but his delivery accuracy is notable. From the right side, his inswinging crosses are highly effective, often targeting the six-yard box and leading to high xG headed chances. From the left side, his corners tend to aim for the penalty spot or for players outside the box for long-range efforts, resulting in fewer direct threats on goal.

CONCLUSION

It’s safe to say that Kozubal has matured into a starting role for a top-tier team this season. The possession-dominant approach and aggressive pressing style suit him perfectly. Kozubal could be the next Ekstraklasa player to command a multimillion euro transfer fee to a more prestigious league. His foundational skills make it clear he has the potential to become a top-league footballer in the future.