The Resurgence of Long Throws in Premier League Football
The long throw is making a comeback in football.
This tactical maneuver was famously employed by Rory Delap to great effect in the Premier League after Stoke City's promotion in 2008, as he wreaked havoc by launching the ball into the penalty area.
Now, it seems this strategy is gaining traction once again, with Brentford emerging as the leading practitioners. In their recent match against Chelsea, Fabio Carvalho netted a late equalizer following a long throw from Kevin Schade, resulting in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
This was just one of several long throws executed during the game by both Michael Kayode and Schade. Earlier, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had even tipped a long throw from Schade over the bar, despite no one appearing to touch it on its way through.
Since the beginning of last season, Brentford has scored seven goals from long throws, significantly more than any other team in the Premier League.
While it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing tactic, its effectiveness cannot be denied. Brentford manager Keith Andrews noted, “There’s a bit of snobbery in the game regarding tactics like this; if the big teams do it, it seems to be accepted.”
In response to how to prevent conceding from long throws, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca advised, “First of all, try not to concede the throw-in. They have Kayode, Jensen, Schade, and even Pinnock who are strong in executing throw-ins.”
Former Wales captain and BBC Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams remarked, “Defending long throws is surprisingly difficult. Teams usually practice defending corners and free-kicks, but not long throws. The different angle creates chaos, and it’s something teams should focus on more.”
Shay Given, a former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, added, “It’s refreshing. Sometimes a bit of old-school ‘throw it into the mixer’ can create chaos.”
Why is Brentford Excelling in This Tactic?
Before taking on the head coach role, Andrews served as Brentford's set-piece coach. As a defensive midfielder during his playing career, he faced Delap's long throws numerous times, describing the experience as “not pleasant.”
This background may have influenced his approach as a coach. Last season, long throws became a staple tactic, resulting in five goals and creating 48 chances with an expected goals value of 7.2.
Andrews even indicated that their acquisition of Italian right-back Kayode from Fiorentina in January was partly influenced by his proficiency in executing long throws. “This tactic has been part of our strategy for years. It was particularly effective in the last eight to ten games of last season, including key Champions League matches,” he explained.
He further remarked, “We are always looking for ways to secure results. It’s advantageous to have multiple players capable of executing long throws. I believe it’s a valuable tool; any coach should seek advantages in the game, which ultimately revolves around scoring and preventing goals.”
Long Throws Regaining Popularity Amid Defensive Challenges
Earlier this month, England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed that the long throw is back in fashion, a statement likely welcomed by those who recall Dave Challinor's powerful throws and Stoke City's tactics that once unsettled Premier League defenses.
While Brentford has mastered the long throw, they are not alone; even Premier League champions Liverpool have recognized their significance. In 2018, Liverpool hired Thomas Gronnemark as a specialist throw-in coach. In the opening match of the current season, 11 out of 20 teams utilized at least one long throw into the opponent's box.
Prior to this weekend, the average number of long throws into the penalty area per Premier League match had doubled compared to the previous two seasons, now standing at three.
“Throw-ins are often underestimated by coaches, players, commentators, and fans, treated as something to simply execute without strategy,” Gronnemark stated.
Under Gronnemark’s guidance, Liverpool saw their possession stats from throw-ins improve from 45.4% to 68.4%, rising from 18th to 1st in the league for this metric.
Premier League clubs are increasingly harnessing the potential of long throws, with the average number of throws of at least 20 meters that end in the opposition box rising from 0.9 per game in 2020-21 to 1.5 in 2024-25. Additionally, the percentage of long throws resulting in goals increased from 0.03% to 0.38% in the same period.