Once again, Brentford Football Club has made international headlines! As a result, they have appointed Keith Andrews full time as head coach, replacing Thomas Frank on a three-year deal. This move follows the club’s tradition of widely promoting their own internally and an emphasis on set-piece coaching and inventive coaching techniques. Brentford want to extend the remarkable success story of their academy. They are riding high after a surprise ninth-place finish in the Premier League three seasons ago.
Once known for their shrewd football club operations, Brentford has established themselves as a cutting edge community based club in English football. Three seasons back, they focused on a stunning ninth-place end within the Premier League. Their attacking success was complemented by a completely unorthodox back four, the world’s first all left-footed defensive quartet. This creative pick illustrated the organization’s desire to pursue out-of-the-box strategies and to maximize the strengths of their players.
The special breeder championship club has unspooled a great deal of their relative in-play set-piece analytics. Ten years ago, it was the first club in England to employ a specific set-piece coach. This bold decision laid the groundwork for the success that followed. Under the expert guidance of the brilliant Gianni Vio, Brentford’s set-piece game became a weapon. Vio has since continued his work with Leeds United and then Tottenham Hotspur. Today, he’s an assistant coach with the USA national team.
It’s hard to underestimate the contributions of Keith Andrews himself, to Brentford’s set-piece department. Last season he worked with Thomas Gronnemark on functional throw-ins – it’s the kind of area Brentford truly waxed lyrical on. The team scored six goals from long throw-ins alone, vastly outperforming the other 19 Premier League clubs, which managed just two in total. Even that stat only hints at the extent to which Brentford have maximized every conceivable edge with set-pieces, a product of their smart, proactive culture.
Matthew Benham, the owner of Brentford, has had a huge role in this transformation. To do so, he adopted a performance, statistical-based methodology a decade ago. Since then, his winning moves have guided Brentford through the labyrinth of contemporary football. The club’s commitment to analytics and innovation has led to five managerial promotions from within recent years, showcasing their belief in developing talent internally.
Former set-piece analyst Marc Orti Esteban spent two years with the club before joining the New England Revolution. He remarked on Brentford’s pioneering role in set-pieces:
“Brentford were the first club that was really invested in this.” – Marc Orti Esteban
Additionally, Nico Jover’s move to Arsenal and Jack Wilson’s recruitment by Manchester City to lead their set-piece department further exemplify Brentford’s impact in this area.
Esteban noted that Brentford’s set-piece strategies mirror their approach during open play:
“It’s quite similar to what you can see from Brentford from open play, not only set-pieces.” – Marc Orti Esteban
Their efficacy is on display, as they have netted from the game’s opening kick-off in four straight Premier League matches. This degree of detail is unusual and indicative of their long-form tactical genius.
Besides their cool way of doing set-piece plays, Brentford has showed adaptability with their approach to developing players. One instance is their effective conversion of winger Ollie Watkins into a productive striker. This success came on the heels of the resale of Neal Maupay in 2019. This genius at maximizing player potential while staying sharp and competitive has continued to be a hallmark of Brentford’s functional philosophy.
Keith Andrews is learning the ropes as new head coach. He comes with bags of experience and a clear understanding of Brentford’s vision. His promotion reflects the club’s commitment to continuity and growth while looking ahead to future challenges in the Premier League.
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