It's ironic so much emphasis has been placed on set-plays, long throws, and the less glamorous aspects of the Premier League this season while one player who truly embodies this style is out on loan in Germany.
Luka Vuskovic began his journey at Hajduk Split in Croatia, making his debut at just 15 years old and became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer five days after his 16th birthday. It was merely a sign of what was to come.
The 6ft 4in central defender, currently under contract with Tottenham, comes from a family steeped in football, including his grandfather Mario, father Danijel and his brother, also named Mario.
Spurs Loanee Luka Vuskovic is a Monster in the Air
Luka, nevertheless, promises to exceed the accomplishments of his predecessors, a potential that became evident early on. At 16, shortly after establishing himself in the Hajduk Split squad, Vuskovic signing a pre-contract agreement with Spurs, with a reported transfer fee of £11 million agreed upon.
He subsequently spent time on loan in Poland's top league, followed by a stint in Belgium during the 2024/25 season, where he impressively finished as KVC Westerlo’s second-top scorer with seven goals—all as a centre-back.
Currently, Vuskovic is with newly-promoted Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, where he is competing regularly and making a strong impression.
As of this season, he has contested 90 aerial duels, winning an impressive 74, giving him an 82% success rate, as detailed by data specialists Opta. In the Premier League, the only player coming close to matching Vuskovic’s aerial prowess is Virgil van Dijk, who has won 77% of his duels.
Few players globally can rival the Croatian’s volume of aerial duels contested, and even fewer can boast such an astounding success rate at just 18 years old.
This ability makes him a significant threat during attacking set-pieces, having consistently scored wherever he plays. With set-piece coach Andreas Georgson joining Spurs along with Thomas Frank at the start of this season, he must be eager to work with Vuskovic in the near future.
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Moreover, to describe Vuskovic solely as a towering Balkan defender would underestimate his skills in other areas. He may lack the finesse of others, yet he remains composed under pressure, capable of passing and carrying the ball out of dangerous areas. While his style isn't the smoothest, good luck trying to regain possession from him.
Vuskovic is proving himself as an elite box defender and a scoring threat from set-pieces. Is he coming to a league near you? Definitely.
DID YOU KNOW? Vuskovic's older brother Mario is banned from all football activities until November 2026 after testing positive for EPO while playing for Hamburg.
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