Igor Thiago: Brentford’s New Brazilian Number 9 by David Bendlin
22 year-old Brazilian striker Igor Thiago leaves Club Brugge and heads to Brentford in the Premier
League.
The Rise of Igor Thiago: From hardship in Brazil to being listed amongst the world’s top goal-scorers.
This article includes:
1. 5 Things to Know About Igor Thiago
2. Thiago’s Role in Club Brugge’s System
3. Image Gallery
4. Statistical Comparison to other U23 Belgian Pro League Strikers
5. Thoughts on Player and the Future
How will Igor Thiago fit into Brentford’s system as a replacement for Ivan Toney? Will he be able to continue his success in the Premier League? Will he emerge in the Brazil national team alongside young talented strikers like Richarlison, Endrick, Vitor Roque, among others?
“We are ahead of the curve. We have signed a key player for a key position. Thiago is a very exciting striker who fits the role in our team. “There is big potential and we are looking forward to seeing him in a red and white shirt”
– Thomas Frank
6 Things to Know About Igor Thiago:
1. After scoring 20 goals and adding 11 assists last season with Ludogorets Razgrad, Thiago broke the transfer record for a Bulgarian club after his move to Belgium.
2. Thiago is currently scoring a goal every 101’ across all competitions in 23/24. 3. At time of writing, Thiago is tied for 3rd in goals scored in all competitions with 26 goals in 2023/2024 with Luuk de Jong, behind Harry Kane (29) and Kylian Mbappé (27).
4. Thiago has scored in 15 of his last 16 games, with 16 goals in his last 10 games across all competitions.
5. Thiago has been voted Club Brugge’s Player of the Month twice in the 2023-2024 season.
6. Thiago has agreed to a move to Brentford for €33 million in February 2024.
Player Profile:
Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues was born in Gama, Federal District, Brazil and played his youth football at the Cruzeiro academy. Thiago made his professional debut for Cruzeiro against Boa Esporte Clube in the Campeonato Mineiro in January 2020.
In March 2022, Thiago moved to Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad. He debuted on October 10, 2022 for the first team against CSKA Sofia as a substitute.
In June 2023, Thiago signed Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League for €7.9 million, a record transfer fee for a Bulgarian club. Thiago signed a four-year contract under new coach Ronny Deila.
In February 2024, Thiago agreed to a move to Brentford for €33 million.
23/24 Pro League Season (as of 2/6/24):
24 Matches
1,666 Minutes
16 Goals, 2 Assists
Full Name: Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues
Country: Brazil, Bulgaria
Date of Birth: June 26, 2001 (22)
Height: 191cm
Youth Career: Cruzeiro
Current Club: Club Brugge
Position: Center-Forward
Preferred Foot: Right
Market Value: €6m (Transfermarkt)
Similar Type of Player: Dominic Solanke, Armando Broja, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Club Brugge’s System and Thiago’s Role:
“I can also play behind the striker, but I am strongest at the top of the attack. I think my best qualities are physical strength, excellent technique and speed.” (ludogorets.com)
– Igor Thiago
Under new coach Ronny Deila, Igor Thiago plays the center-forward position in Club Brugge’s 4-2-3-1 system. Thiago is a regular in Club’s lineup, appearing in each of the 40 matches across all competitions, starting in 33 of the 40 games. Club Brugge currently sits 3rd in the Belgian Pro League, in the Championship round places with 10 matches to play.
⚫️What is Thiago’s role in the attack?
Thiago is a physical #9 with plus size and strength. He has mixed qualities of a classic target man and the goal-sniffing prowess of a poacher. Thiago plays centrally and receives quality services from wide players (Zinkernackel, Skov Olsen, Nusa, De Cuyper) and attacking mids (Vanaken). Club’s wide players look to benefit from Thiago’s aerial presence in the box as a target for early crosses, square balls, and cut back passes. Thiago demands attention from opposing defenders, frequently occupying both center backs in the final third. He is more versatile than a traditional power forward and is willing to drift wide and combine then make late runs into gaps in the box. Thiago’s leaping ability, strength, and heading accuracy makes Club dangerous on set pieces. When his side is in possession, he uses his strength to hold up play. He receives the ball with his back to goal and distributes to wide players, then makes late runs into the box to arrive in weak points in the opposition defense. Off the ball, his work rate puts him in situations to pickpocket opposing midfielders and set the ball to advancing midfielders before making runs into gaps in the defenses.
⚫️ What type of attacking movements lead to Thiago’s goal-scoring opportunities?
Thiago show versatility in his attacking moves. Thiago uses his position in between the opposing center backs and defensive midfielders as the base for his moves. He patiently stalks behind center-backs and uses his movements to manipulate their defensive shape to give space to wide players and advancing midfielders. He is comfortable making runs in behind, dropping into the midfield between the lines, and moving into wide areas to hold up play. In the buildup, Thiago tends to drop in behind opposing midfielders and plays the ball back to advancing midfielders. From this position, he follows the play and then makes timely runs to arrive in the box behind the retreating defensive line. He moves into wider positions to link up play with wingers and arriving midfielders. Thiago is adept at anticipating crosses and through balls. He waits in blind spots behind opposing center-backs then makes late runs off the backs of defenders. When receiving in and around the 18-yard-box, Thiago uses a variety of 1v1 moves to change angles or make space to create his own shot.
⚫️Where do Thiago’s goals come from?
Thiago’s goals are often scored in and around the 6-yard-box. 11 out of his 16 non-penalty goals came from inside six-yard box. 8 of his 16 non-penalty goals has come from inside the 6-yard-box, just outside of the goal frame. Thiago tends to arrive just outside the far post, using the inside of his far foot to slot the ball passe the keeper. 6 goals have also come from in-between the posts inside the 6-yard-box.
⚫️ How does Thiago score his goals?
Thiago is a well-rounded goal scorer, converting many different types of goals. Of his 26 goals scored (as of 2/6/24), 7 have come from his preferred right foot, 5 from his weaker left, 5 from headers, and 9 penalty goals. 8 of his 26 goals have been game-winning goals. 12 of his goals have been scored in the first half, with 14 coming in the second half of the match. Thiago scores from using his physicality to overpower defenders in the box and through his intelligent attacking moves to anticipate the play and arrive around the six-yard-box.
Figure 1 – 37’ goal vs. Westerlo 1/20/24 – Thiago shows his ability to process space and time. Here is a well-timed run off the back of the center-back in his blind spot to the back post as he provides a left foot finish off square ball from Zinckernagel.
Figure 2 – 9’ goal vs. RWDM 12/22/23 – Thiago displays his knack for sniffing out goal-scoring opportunities and beating defenders to the spot. Here, he arrives from the right channel to the 6-yard-box from a left foot cross from Zinckernagel that leads to a power header across the goalkeeper to the near post.
Figure 3 – 3’ goal vs. vs. Standard Liege 12/3/23 – Thiago scores one of his five goals from headers. Here is a jumping header from Zinckernagel that displays his size, strength, and athleticism as his leaping ability carries him over three defenders.
Figure 4 – 27’ goal vs. Charleloi 9/16/23 – Thiago displays his quality runs and off-ball movement as he runs across the face of the opposing center-back to the right channel where he receives a slip pass from Skov Olsen and hits first time with a right foot finish to the far post.
Figure 5 – 52’ goal vs. RWDM 8/20/23 – Thiago’s out-of-possession work rate leads to him winning the ball back in the midfield Here, his late movement splits the center-backs as he arrives at the top of the 6- yard-box with a left foot finish off square ball from Sabbe.
Figure 6 – 36’ goal vs. Westerlo 8/6/23 – Thiago uses his 1v1 technical ability to change angles and create his own shot. Here, he runs in behind the right sided center-back and receives a through ball just inside 18 from Vanaken, then rolls over ball to left foot and chips over a sliding center-back and goalkeeper.
⚫️ How does Thiago’s breakout season compare to past strikers from the Belgian Pro League?
Undav 21/22 Union Saint-Gilloise (Age 25):
• 27 Goals, 13 Assists in 41 games in all competitions
• Award Golden Bull for top scorer in the Belgian Pro League (26 goals)
• Awarded Footballer of the Year in Belgium
• Joined Brighton & Hove Albion for €7 million in January transfer window (loaned back to USG for remainder of 21/22 season)
Onuachu 20/21 Genk (Age 26):
• 35 Goals, 5 Assists in 41 games in all competitions
• Award Golden Bull for top scorer in the Belgian Pro League (33 goals)
• Awarded Pro League Player of the Year
• Awarded Belgian Golden Shoe
• Joint Southampton for €18 million in January transfer window
Mitrović 14/15 Anderlecht (Age 20):
• 28 Goals, 5 Assists in 51 games in all competitions
• Award Golden Bull for top scorer in the Belgian Pro League (20 goals)
• Joined Newcastle United in for €13 million in summer transfer window
Statistical Analysis (compared to other U23 Belgian Pro League strikers):
**Takeaways from statistical analysis of other U23 Belgian Pro League strikers including Denkey (Cercle Brugge), Amoura (Union SG), Arokodare (Genk), Ilenikhena (Antwerp), and Luiz Vázquez (Anderlecht):
Positive Characteristics:
Goals plus assists per 90 (G+A/90) – Thiago’s efforts lead to high levels of PRODUCTIVITY that appears in the forms of goal contributions. His 0.98 G+A/90 ranks ahead of Denkey, Ilenikhena, Arokodare, and Vázquez.
Non-penalty expected goals per shot (npxG/Shot) – Thiago EFFICIENCY in front of goal and makes the most of his opportunities in the box. His 0.22 leads the group of Denkey, Ilenikhena, Arokodare, and Vázquez.
Key passes per 90 (KP/90) – Thiago’s key passes provide evidence of his CREATIVITY in his link up play and his combinations when drifting wide or dropping into midfield. His 1.24 tops the bracket of Denkey, Ilenikhena, Arokodare, and Vázquez.
Number of players tackled plus interceptions (Tkl+Int/90) – Thiago’s OFF THE BALL WORK RATE shows up in his tackling and interceptions rate when he is pressing high up the pitch and counter-pressing his side’s loss of possession. His 1.41 leads the group of Denkey, Ilenikhena, Arokodare, and Vázquez.
Negative Characteristcs:
Non-penalty goals (G-Pk/90) – As Club’s PENALTY TAKER, Thiago has several penalty goals added to his account which boosts his goal contributions numbers. His 0.54 is the lowest rate compared to Denkey, Ilenikhena, Arokodare, and Vázquez.
Average Sofascore Rating: 7.17 (Belgian Pro League 23/24 as of 2/6/24)
https://www.sofascore.com/player/igor-thiago/1016907
Plus Attributes:
– Size
– Strength
– Power Header
– Finishing
– Holdup Play
– Attacking Awareness
– Weak Foot
– Off the Ball Work Rate
– Anticipation
– Pressing
Thoughts on Player:
“I’m very happy at this point. The team is working hard to get those results, and I’m happy I can help the team out. We need the goals, and I’m the one providing them. I knew the situation here before I arrived, with Club needing a striker who can score goals. And I know my responsibilities in my position on the pitch.” (clubbrugge.be)
– Igor Thiago
After a slow start, Igor Thiago has managed to emerge as a reliable goal-scoring threat for Club Brugge. Thiago has become a first name on the team sheet player for manager Ronny Deila and has pushed former Barcelona talent Ferran Jutglá to a role coming off the bench.
Thiago has developed into an all-purpose center-forward who has scored a variety of goals across all competitions and proven himself domestically as well as in international competitions including the UEFA Conference League. It is worth noting that he benefits from being Club’s penalty taker with a large amount of penalty goals to inflate his goal-scoring statistics and has room to develop regarding his technical ability, however, his performance this season has earned him the respect as a promising young striker.
Having declined Brazil U23 pre-Olympic squad to remain with Club over the winter, how will Thiago fit into Dorival Júnior’s selection for upcoming call-ups among the likes of young Brazil talents including Vini, Rodrigo, Richarlison, Vitor Roque, Endrick, Evanilson, Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Savio, Marcos Leonardo, among others?
Thiago has followed in the footsteps of other dominant strikers in the Belgian Pro League like Undav, Onuachu, and Mitrović and has made a big money move to the Premier League with Brentford.
Video:
Achievements:
2x Bulgarian Champion – 21/22 & 22/23
1x Bulgarian Cup Winner – 22/23
1x Bulgarian Super Cup Winner – 22/23
2023/2024 Stats (as of 2/6/24):
39 Matches Played (all competitions)
2,634 Minutes
26 Goals
4 Assists
Links: