“Throw-ins are underestimated – by coaches, players, commentators, fans – as something you should just do and see what happens,” said Thomas Gronnemark, who was appointed Liverpool’s first throw-in coach in 2018 and worked with the club until 2023.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had not even heard of a throw-in coach when the Dane, who holds the world record for the longest throw-in at 51.33m, joined the club’s backroom staff.
But the Reds’ possession stats from throw-ins improved from 45.4% to 68.4% under Gronnemark’s tutorship, moving from 18th to first in the league on that metric.
Premier League clubs are trying to harness the power of the long throw, with throws at of least 20 metres which end in the opposition box increasing from 0.9 per game in 2020-21 to 1.5 in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, long throws that led to goals increased from 0.03% in 2020-21 to 0.38% in 2024-25.
Gronnemark now works with Brentford – so it is no surprise the Bees have excelled in that area. Last season they scored five goals from throw-ins, generating 48 chances with an xG of 7.2.
And now their former manager Thomas Frank – following his summer move to north London – is employing similar tactics with Tottenham.
Spurs only made six long throws into the opposition’s penalty area last season – they have made eight already this term.