In 2024, one name that will continue to reverberate as a beacon of promise is Hugo Larsson. The 19-year-old central midfielder has not only caught the eye of enthusiasts but has also left a lasting impression on the tactical landscape.
Hailing from the rich tradition of Scandinavian football, Larsson’s emergence adds another chapter to the illustrious legacy of talent development in Sweden. As Scandinavian leagues have long been recognised for cultivating players for top European teams, Larsson’s journey is a testament to the region’s commitment to nurturing footballing excellence.
In this tactical analysis and scout report, we delve into the nuances of Larsson’s game, dissecting his contributions in various phases of play and tactics and exploring why he stands as one of the most promising players to watch out for in 2024.
Career Pathway
Hugo Larsson‘s football journey began in 2016 when he joined the Malmö FF youth academy, transitioning from SoGK Charlo. Despite a trial opportunity with Chelsea in 2021, Larsson opted to stay in Sweden, committing to his development with MFF, as he said:
”It’s clear that it was a great experience to go and play with Chelsea. I trained with the team and also got to go to a tournament in Belgium. I also scored a goal there. The move was a little too early. For me, it was better to continue my development at home, at Malmö.“
His professional debut occurred on February 20, 2022, during a Swedish Cup match against GAIS, followed by his league debut a month later in a 1–1 draw with Elfsborg.
In the summer of 2023, Larsson embarked on a new chapter, transferring from Malmö to the German Bundesliga. Eintracht Frankfurt facilitated the move with a transfer fee of €9m. Notably, Larsson’s market value experienced a substantial growth from €9m in July to €28m by mid-December, as reported by Transfermarkt. This trajectory underlines the promising ascent of the young football talent.
Player Profile
Hugo Larsson, representing Eintracht Frankfurt and hailing from Sweden, is a versatile player with a preferred right foot. Standing at 187cm, the 19-year-old talent was born on June 27, 2004.
Larsson exhibits adaptability by seamlessly transitioning between various positions and roles in midfield as required by the team’s strategy. Often deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, he serves as the pivotal first passing option in front of the defence. This role involves precise passing within both defensive and offensive thirds, contributing significantly to possession build-up.
However, Larsson’s versatility extends beyond defensive responsibilities. He also excels as a box-to-box midfielder, showcasing commendable playmaking skills. In this role, he engages in numerous pressing actions in the opponent’s half, avoids frequent dribbling, and contributes moderately to chance creation through passing. Defensively, Larsson actively participates in recoveries and pressing in high areas, demonstrating a well-rounded skill set.
His notable strengths lie in stamina, ball-carrying ability, long-passing accuracy, and composure under pressure. While excelling in these aspects, areas for further development include enhancing attacking output in terms of goals, assists, and physical strength. As a rising talent with a diverse skill set, Larsson embodies the modern midfielder, contributing dynamically both in defensive solidity and attacking creativity.
Build-up Play
Hugo Larsson’s prowess in the build-up play is characterised by his preference for short passes, a tactical acumen that infuses dynamism into the team’s progression.
His innate verticality, coupled with keen vision and passing accuracy across various distances, adds a layer of sophistication to the team’s build-up process.
An active participant in the play, Larsson consistently positions himself as an additional passing option, showcasing intelligence and a strong positional sense to exploit spaces between the lines. His adept first touch and high-speed execution shine in one-two combinations with teammates, contributing to the team’s fluid attacking movements.
Larsson’s strengths, anchored in passing precision, a comprehensive understanding of the game, and an aversion to long balls, are evident in his commitment to creative solutions. He maintains a patient yet courageous approach, consistently delivering an impressive 73% of his passes to the final third—a testament to his ability to instigate offensive moves. Remarkably, he boasts a 100% success rate in through passes.
Under pressure, Larsson remains a resilient figure, unfazed by defensive challenges. His ability to find teammates under duress, coupled with his pace and technical finesse, enables him to navigate tight spaces and elude opponents, ensuring the team’s build-up retains a composed and controlled character.
Attacking Phase
Hugo Larsson is a formidable force in the attacking phase, characterised by a combination of strength, technical prowess, and exceptional ball control, making him incredibly difficult to dispossess. His ability to shield the ball and above-average footwork and dribbling skills allow him to navigate and create in tight spaces.
Larsson’s attacking contribution extends to his creativity and precise passing skills, enabling him to deliver crucial through passes and killer balls, particularly in the vicinity or even inside the opponents’ 18-yard box. Notably, his decision-making prowess exceeds expectations for a player of his age, showcasing maturity in choosing the right moments to unlock defences.
In the following picture, Larsson plays a precise through ball, dissecting the resilient defence of Helsinki. While the statistics might merely categorise it as a second assist, passes of this type are essential to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Larsson’s ability to deliver incisive through balls becomes paramount in the intricate system employed by Eintracht Frankfurt, where fullbacks frequently embark on overlapping runs to add width and dynamism to the attack. These passes lay the groundwork for the primary assists and subsequent goals. Larsson’s vision and technical finesse allow him to thread the ball through the last line of defence, unlocking spaces that are otherwise hard to breach. These ‘second assists’ are the catalysts that set the stage for the marauding fullbacks, enabling them to exploit the gaps created in the opposition’s defensive structure.
While Larsson excels in various facets of the attacking game, there’s room for enhancement in certain areas. Despite frequently playing passes into the final third, he tends to be more of a penultimate pass provider than the player delivering the final ball. He rarely positions himself in advanced offensive roles, resulting in a limited goal threat. However, this characteristic is inherent to his current role and position.
Larsson could benefit from honing his mid-range and long-range shooting skills to further elevate his attacking profile, adding an extra dimension to his already multifaceted attacking prowess.
Transitions
Hugo Larsson exhibits promising qualities in transition phases, showcasing his dynamic capabilities and efficiency in covering ground both with and without the ball. His running strength and close control of the ball enable him to traverse significant distances while maintaining possession.
Larsson’s transition play is characterised by high energy and mobility, allowing him to press opponents effectively and initiate attacks after winning back possession. His exceptional stamina and energy levels contribute to his ability to embark on lung-bursting runs through the middle of the park, making him a formidable force in transition situations.
One of Larsson’s notable strengths lies in his capacity to execute powerful and dangerous runs upfield during counterattacks. This skill adds a valuable dimension to his transitional play, as he can exploit open spaces and create goalscoring opportunities for his team. Overall, Larsson’s prowess in transition phases underlines his versatility and effectiveness in various aspects of the game.
Defensive Phase
In the defensive phase, Hugo Larsson distinguishes himself with astute positioning. His ability to read the game allows him to position himself effectively, contributing to sound defensive performances.
Larsson exhibits a remarkable proficiency in his defensive positional play, showcasing an innate ability to intercept passes and disrupt the flow of the opposition’s build-up. His anticipation and footballing intelligence come to the forefront as he consistently positions himself adeptly to read the game. While he typically navigates direct defensive duels without resorting to fouls, there is room for improvement in terms of his aggression.
However, one aspect that could enhance his defensive effectiveness is a more assertive approach in one-on-one defensive challenges. The statistics reveal that he often emerges on the less favourable side in defensive duels. One contributing factor to this pattern is his relatively slender physique, which, while affording him agility and speed, may not yet provide the robustness required for the physical battles characteristic of one of the premier football leagues in the world.
At this stage of his career, Larsson is navigating the transition to the demanding physicality of the Bundesliga. Adapting to this level of intensity is a developmental step for any young player. Larsson’s current body type might put him at a disadvantage in these more physically demanding situations.
Although he manages situations fairly and showcases a good footballing sense, a more proactive defensive style could further elevate his overall defensive contributions.
Conclusion
Hugo Larsson emerges as a promising talent with a multifaceted skill set that extends across various phases of the game. His adeptness in build-up play, demonstrated by his short-passing prowess and strategic understanding, is complemented by a strong defensive presence due to his positional acumen and physical attributes.
Larsson’s potential shines exceptionally bright in transition phases, where his energy, mobility, and ability to cover considerable ground offer significant contributions. While defensively sound, there’s room for improvement in his aggressiveness in one-on-one challenges.
Looking ahead, Larsson’s qualities position him as an ideal candidate for a double-pivot partnership, especially alongside a robust defensive midfielder. However, envisioning his future role as an advanced box-to-box midfielder akin to the likes of İlkay Gündoğan or Jude Bellingham appears promising. This transformation would involve refining his finishing and increasing his shot volume, aspects that present developmental opportunities for Eintracht Frankfurt, given his age of 19.
