Samson Baidoo - The future of Austrian football by Vishwa

Samson Baidoo – The future of Austrian football by Vishwa

Samson Baidoo, a central defender, began his youth career at the age of eight in 2012 for a local Austrian club Post SV Graz, where he spent a year before moving to Grazer AK in the Austrian Bundesliga, where he spent five years before joining Leifering in 2018. Shortly after signing for Leifering, Baidoo was loaned out to the Red Bull Salzburg youth set up for three seasons until the end of the 2021 season. Baidoo went on to make his professional debut with Austrian Bundesliga team Leifering in the 2021-2022 season at the age of 17. Samson became one of Leifering’s important players during the season and was sold to Red Bull Salzburg at the end of the 2022 season for 600,000 Euros. Samson Baidoo was not used in his first season, only playing four games, but his decision to work and fight for his place has paid off for Austrian, as he has become one of the club’s regular starters this season.

Baidoo, born in Austria to Ghanian parents, chose to represent the Austrian international team over the respective international teams. Samson has represented the country at the U15, U16, U17, and U18 levels before making his debut for the Austrian international squad in 2023.

After a disappointing first season with the Austrian squad, Samson Baidoo has been a dominant force for The Red Bulls this season. With 10 starts in 13 games, he has gained confidence and has emerged as a key figure for Gerhard Struber. The Austrian’s ability to hold the ball at his feet and look for passes in tight circumstances has been important in his rise to the top level of football. The player’s quickness to cover angles and spaces to recover the ball during the opponent’s buildup, and he maintains solid stance and attitude to be a step ahead in winning duels and reading passes to intercept. The 19-year-old is a physically imposing player who takes full advantage of it by making himself huge and strong when entering duels and challenges, and his height, combined with his position, makes it difficult for opponents to engage in aerial challenges.

The data used in the above contribution metrices haven been taken from the 2023-2024 Champions League. Baidoo is a blend of intelligence and composure, with a good football IQ for winning duels, retrieving balls, and making plays from the back. Despite being a full back, he has exceptional ball control. When given the space and time, he is not hesitant to carry the ball forward, and he tries to finish the run by making a line-breaking pass, switching sides, squaring it to a teammate, or even making a negative pass to the keeper in order to widen the area of play and create space for himself. Samson has been a rock in aerial duels and has the same influence on set pieces., all of the goals he has scored this season has come from set pieces (corners and free kicks). Samson is a constant threat in the build-up play, providing alternatives for his teammates by locating himself in open space, trying to receive progressive passes and perform Shot Creating Actions.

Samson is an extra number in the midfield when in possession since he is open to receiving balls in tight situations to relieve pressure during the build-up. He bursts forward when given little space to run into the final third. Baidoo is constantly looking for his team mates on the sides to try and release them with long balls and kicks to start an attack from nothing, and his ability to adjust areas of play based on the scenario makes him an exceptional ball playing defender. He is a raw talent, and there aren’t many defenders with the qualities of a number 8 in modern football. The Austrian must improve his awareness when he moves forward, as there have been instances where he or his teammates lose possession and a counterattack begins. This puts extra strain on the defensive line, which is outnumbered in rapid counters and covering spaces in order to diminish the threat of the opposition.

Samson’s ability to manoeuvre away from his opponent and into wide space to attack while remaining on his side is remarkable. For example, in this image, when the ball is played from a set piece, Baidoo starts from the final line of attack and reaches out first to meet the ball and head it in first. This demonstrates class, alertness, acceleration, excellent agility, precision, and the willingness to fight for the cause by providing for his team at all times. He demonstrates the qualities of a proper finisher in the air with proper positioning and awareness in knowing where the goal is, for him to find and align his body in order to make himself set before he finds the ball.

So far, the Austrian international’s impact and threat-creating skills have been intriguing and interesting. When in the final third, Baidoo considers all of his alternatives before making a pass. He has the IQ and technical ability to look for high-profile passes and line-breaking passes with the proper ball speed to reach the desired region. In this image, Samson is left free in the att-3rd and is not under pressure; he uses it to perfection by making a pass to break the opponent’s defensive line and release his striker on the edge of the box. He possesses one of the highest Shot Creating Actions (SCA) in world football, which is due to his fully utilizing his knowledge and presence on the pitch. His ability to steer himself away from players by adjusting his momentum and heading to the safer side is a standout trait of The Red Bulls’ defender.

The image above shows how the player works through his instincts. The opposing player sees an opportunity between the pivot and the full back and attempts to dribble into it, but Baidoo analyses his movement and charges in for the challenge, which he successfully wins. He uses his physicality not only for challenges and recoveries, but also to prevent players from passing him. He makes himself big and strong, making it difficult for the dribbler to change direction or go past him; he compensates for his lack of speed by acting with strength. Samson lacks the speed to recover from defeat or a broken defensive line, therefore he has improved his positioning, timing, and IQ as he strives to establish himself big and strong at the start of each match.

Samson has preserved four clean sheets in ten starts this season, which is extremely impressive for a guy in his debut season with adequate game time. He keeps his position and waits for the proper moment to sneak in for challenges and win them; he has been a straight-up man in terms of winning and holding possession of the ball most of the time. He uses his instincts to close in on dibblers that are racing towards him. He is quite physical and maintains a position to force the attacker into his comfort zone before making the challenge to recover the ball or put his team in safe place. He has a record of 1.2 interceptions per 90, 1.6 tackles per 90, and 4.0 clearances per 90, but the most remarkable statistic is his 7.3 ball recoveries per 90, which is higher than all three preceding records combined. This demonstrates the mentality and understanding of when and how to challenge for the ball back while maintaining control. His aerial talent is unquestionable, as he uses both his physicality and his position to work. His ability to fill spaces and leave no gaps for opponents to go through is outstanding. He also has the ability to read passes and intercept them at the proper time, which demonstrates the Austrian international’s IQ level despite his lack of experience in top notch football.

Samson needs to improve his decision-making skills when within the mid-third before making a pass or switch to avoid losing possession. He is a very raw talent, and the Red Bull Salzburg setup will be ideal for him to learn, grow, and develop, as he still does not comprehend the importance of how clearances and challenges function under pressure or in tight matches. His tendency to try to recover the ball in close calls may be detrimental to the game’s circumstances. Football is about expressing, enjoying, and living each moment. Aside from data and methodical play, with proper nurturing and development and playing time, he will be one of the game’s finest defenders along with his number 8 role in build-up play. This is something the game has not seen in quite some time.