As Harry Kane's career has progressed, the 33-year-old has taken an increasingly complete role, popping up to collect the ball as deep as his own box. Many wonder why a talisman tasked with scoring doesn't spend more time closer to goal, but last season the England and Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals - the highest tally of his career - while playing deeper than he ever has done. When I mention this paradox, a grin spreads across his face.
"Until you really understand football and understand what we've been talking about, it's so easy to say 'stay high, you're going to score' but it doesn't work like that," Kane says. I sat down to speak to Kane about the finer details of his game, shedding light on his unique role. Watching Kane train, his professionalism is palpable.
England's record goalscorer is one of the first out on the pitch. The younger players indulge in playful kick-ups as he watches, engaged in conversation with a member of staff. From a distance, that makes it easy to confuse him with a coach but, given his role on the pitch, it is a fitting mistake.
Kane's style of play reflects who he is as a person, with those who know him saying he is well-rounded and humble on and off the pitch. The season is in its infancy but Kane isn't basking in the success of the past 12 months. With only five days of pre-season training under his belt, the England captain completed 90 minutes of Bayern's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund to lift the German Super Cup.
As demanding as his roaming role is, he has taken the physical demands of it in his stride. Across the past six seasons, STATSports - a sports technology company Kane has invested in - found his distance covered, high-speed running and accelerations were up 8%, 22% and 42% respectively. And given how the tactical landscape has changed over that time, it is particularly impressive Kane has been able to not only keep up, but stay ahead.
"Over the last five or six years, man-to-man pressure has become bigger," Kane says. "European football is physical and top teams are trying to win the ball back high, trusting their defenders and midfielders to defend man for man to win their battles." Given that change, the best teams have recruited physical athletes and brilliant dribblers who can beat their man when the game becomes a series of one-against-ones. Kane, not known for his dribbling - and by his own admission "not the fastest", has thrived on his own terms.
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