Here we focus on the flowing skills of midfield maestro Martin Ødegaard.
Observing this video compilation of his skills, he is a wonderful player. He reminds me of the worlds best midfield players over the years, who have a Jedi like sense of awareness, combined with pitch perfect physical balance and feel on the ball. Below we have a look at his youth journey to Captain of Arsenal and Norway. Also I’ll highlight some of the wonderful techniques he displays consistently. What an enjoyable player to study and learn from as a young player.
Early Life and Beginnings
Martin Ødegaard was born in 1998, in Drammen, Norway. His father Hans Erik, was a former footballer. From a young age, it was clear that Martin had a natural talent for football. Growing up, he played in the youth system of his hometown club, Strømsgodset IF, where he stood out due to his technical ability, vision, and maturity on the ball. By the age of 13, he was already training with the senior team at Strømsgodset, and it was clear to everyone that he was an amazing talent.
Breakthrough at Strømsgodset
In 2014, at just 15 years old, Ødegaard made his professional debut for Strømsgodset in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, becoming the youngest player in league history. That year, he scored 5 goals and provided several assists, showcasing his exceptional dribbling, composure, and passing. His performances quickly gained attention from major European clubs, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool.
In January 2015, Ødegaard signed with Real Madrid at the age of 16. The move made global headlines, as he was regarded as one of the brightest prospects in world football. He trained with the first team under then-manager Carlo Ancelotti and regularly played for Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team. However, breaking into a star-studded Madrid lineup proved challenging.
Loan Spells to Gain Experience
To gain more experience, Ødegaard was loaned out across Europe:
1. SC Heerenveen (2017-2018): In the Dutch Eredivisie, he gained valuable first-team minutes and developed physical resilience.
2. Vitesse (2018-2019): At Vitesse, Ødegaard scored 11 goals, and registered 12 assists in 39 appearances. His performances attracted the attention of top clubs again.
3. Real Sociedad (2019-2020): Playing in La Liga, he starred as an attacking midfielder, helping Real Sociedad reach the 2020 Copa del Rey final and finishing the season as one of the league’s standout players.
Arsenal Career
In January 2021, Ødegaard joined Arsenal on a loan deal, where he quickly became a fan favourite due to his creativity, work rate, and leadership on the pitch. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his professionalism and tactical intelligence, leading the club to make the move permanent in August 2021 for a reported fee of £30 million.
At Arsenal, Ødegaard was handed the captain’s armband in 2022, making him one of the youngest captains in the Premier League. His playmaking ability, combined with his vision and knack for scoring important goals, solidified his place as one of the league’s best midfielders.
International Career
Martin Ødegaard made his debut for the Norwegian national team at just 15 years and 253 days, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in a European Championship qualifying match. As Norway’s captain, he has become the heartbeat of the team, leading them in their quest to qualify for major tournaments.
Pat Nevin, Former Chelsea Winger and Football Analyst:
“His combination with Bukayo Saka is described as almost psychic, enhancing the team’s offensive capabilities.”
Martin Keown, Former Arsenal Defender:
“Martin Ødegaard is considered Arsenal’s most crucial player, comparable to Cole Palmer’s significance at Chelsea.”
Skills:
1st touch deception:
Watch how he keeps his opponents guessing on where his 1st touch is going to take the ball. You will learn at Pro clubs to take the ball across your body eg left foot across into space to play with your right foot, or to the same side as at the controlling foot to pass. Letting the ball come to your back foot as you turn with the ball literally stuck on your foot (open out) is another must have skill. Watch how he leaves his touch to the very last split second, whilst also moving his body deceivingly to make the opponent think he’s going the opposite way. In this video you literally see defenders falling over, so deceptive and quick is his movement.
Outside of the foot punch passing:
He is an outstanding passer of the ball with his side foot, measuring weight and accuracy beautifully. Another perfected skill he has is the short sharp punch of the ball off on an angle to his left (as he is left footed) with his toes pointed down and heel raised. This technique once again has massive disguise as there is minimal movement of the legs/feet foR the defenders to see.
Back heel:
His awareness of movement around him is exceptional. You will see as he is running with the ball, how he’ll back heel the ball even into the space of where someone like Saka is running.
Spin passes.
Chipping the ball with back spin is a very hard skill to master. It’s the ability to punch under the ball so it lifts up fast and over the opponent and drops quickly; a short pass with height.
Martin also uses inside and outside foot spins to bend the ball into his team mates path as they are running. These are toe down close to the grass punches through the side of the ball and incredible effective.
Shoulder drops:
Watch the early clip at the beginning, 20 seconds in, against Man utd where with his back to the defender Amrobat he shifts his weight to his right foot moving his shoulder to go to his right before taking the ball on the outside of his left foot and bursting forward at pace. Watch where Amrobat ends up. Wow!
In Summary and Practice:
Enjoy the video and watch for these elements. They are all easy to practice on your own with a ball and a wall for the passing and touch skills, and free movement on the shoulder drop disguise.
One2Pro:
The use of video with a coach review is fantastic for honing skill and performance. In our One2Pro online coaching app, 'techniques of the stars' are broken down step-by-step for our players to follow and practice.
Download and subscribe to work with your One2Pro coach on all 92 skills.
Be the One!
Aaron Tighe
Founder, One2Pro
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