The Weird Way American Football Tactics Are Invading English Soccer
English football has entered a distinctive tactical evolution, one increasingly shaped by concepts borrowed from American football. Managers are no longer focusing solely on open play; instead, they are treating set pieces as choreographed sequences designed for precision and repeatability. The growing emphasis on structured movement, strategic blocking, and meticulously planned routines is redefining how goals are engineered in the Premier League.
Set-Pieces Now Account for More Goals Than Ever Before
Image via Getty Images/Robin Hoood
Premier League data reveals a clear change in how goals are being scored. This season, 28.4% of all goals have come from routine plays, the highest figure in the last ten years. Corners, free kicks, and throw-ins have become key scoring opportunities. Teams prepare for these situations in advance, using scouting reports and video analysis to develop plays that target opposition weaknesses.
Even throw-ins, usually overlooked, now account for 3.2% of goals—again, the highest rate in a decade. The growing influence of these phases reflects a broader focus on controlled football. Managers see set-pieces as predictable situations they can prepare for in detail, compared to the unpredictability of open play. The rise in these numbers has also coincided with a visible increase in choreographed player runs around the penalty area.
NFL Concepts Like Rub Routes Are Now Visible in Soccer
One of the more distinct American football concepts now appearing in soccer is the rub route, a movement in which a player runs close to a defender to create interference for a teammate. The same principle has become common in Premier League set-pieces.
A clear example came in Crystal Palace’s goal against West Ham. At the far post, Adam Wharton held his position between Marc Guehi and his marker, which gave Guehi a free run into space to score unchallenged. Chelsea have applied similar tactics, with Liam Delap often positioned to limit the goalkeeper’s movement while teammates attack the delivery.
These deliberate movements are designed to block defenders’ access to key areas and disrupt defensive organization. They are now refined in training sessions and embedded in weekly preparation across top clubs.