Ozan Kabak Scout Report
In this scout report, we take an intriguing look at TSG Hoffenheim's center back, Ozan Kabak. Strikingly young for a player already establishing dominance in the Bundesliga, the 24-year-old Turkish international has carved out an interesting niche in his style of play. A real opportunist, Kabak shines in chance creation and incredibly goal efficiency - he sits in the top 10% across the league in both areas. In fact, despite his defensive position, he is producing attacking numbers that would be envied by seasoned forwards, boasting near 95th percentile rates for both goals and assists per 90 minutes.
However, the complex tapestry of his playing style does have patches of weakness too. While exhibiting higher than average ball recovery, Kabak's ball retention sits timidly around the median, suggesting a tendency towards risk in his game, which can be detrimental, especially while operating in the heart of defense. Additionally, his percentage for fouls committed and yellow cards is alarmingly high, hinting at a potential disciplinary issue and a vulnerability to being penalised, something that can cost his team dearly.
Despite these flaws, the impressive defensive statistic to note is his interception rate, which floats around the remarkable 90th percentile. So despite being more often in possession in the midfield third, Kabak exhibits a proactive approach to his defending. His relatively low touch percentile is a bit misleading, as it appears he chooses quality over quantity, as shown in his efficient attacking contributions.
In summary, Kabak is something of an enigma - a central defender with the attacking prowess of a striker and the ball recovery of a midfielder, yet a risky player with a relatively high foul rate. One thing is certain, he is a player to keep on the radar in the future, and his stats speak for themselves.