At the ripe age of 32, Willian José has firmly established himself as a reliable striker for Real Betis in the La Liga. His performance this season has been impressive with a Goal Efficiency placing him at the top five percentile of all players. This indicates a remarkably clinical striker, likely capitalizing greatly on the quality opportunities he's been provided.
His possession metrics further enhance his profile as a striker, ranking highly in ball retention with an 89th percentile rating. This illustrates his strength in maintaining control and safeguarding the ball under pressure - a much sought-after trait in a forward.
His Progressive Carrying and Chance Creation abilities, however, indicate certain areas of weakness. Ranked low in these categories, José is more of an old-school forward, heavily reliant on the delivery of his teammates rather than crafting opportunities for himself or progressing play forward.
In terms of his defensive contribution, José shows surprising efficiency for a striker, ranking high in One vs One Defending and Penalty Area Defending. This defensive commitment might come at a cost, preventing him from having a higher percentage of touches in the attacking third where he could maximize his lethal goal efficiency.
In this epoch of strikers expected to contribute more than goals, José's skill set may seem limited. However, as a reliable finisher and a sturdy wall in possession, he ensures a direct simplicity to Real Betis's final third dynamics, proving himself invaluable. His golden touch in front of goal is indeed a rare and valuable commodity. Despite the modern game's shift towards all-rounded forwards, players like Willian José demonstrate that a classic striker's role is far from extinct.
Willian José Key stats
Willian José Career Trend
Willian José Shot Maps
Willian José Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Willian José took 48 shots, scoring 10 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 5.67, averaging 0.12 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 5 goals from 28 shots. A 17.86% conversion rate. 0.1 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 4 goals from 9 shots. A 44.44% conversion rate. 0.2 xG per shot.
Headers: 1 goals from 11 headed attempts. A 9.09% conversion rate. 0.08 xG per shot.
