Marko Pjaca is a 21-year-old Croatian winger with excellent dribbling skills and consistency in goals and assists over the past two seasons. He prefers playing on the left wing but can also play as an attacking midfielder or right winger. Pjaca is a combination-minded player who looks to create chances for his teammates through passing in the final third and making runs into the box. While his strongest skill is dribbling the ball, he also shows good finishing ability, shooting accuracy, and playmaking skills. The report notes some defensive weaknesses in his game but overall views Pjaca as an offensive player with potential to succeed on leading teams that employ an attacking style of play.

1. `
Scouting report
Marko Pjaca (Croatia)
Aug 2016

2. 2
Main position: Left winger
Second position: attacking midfielder / right winger
Age: 21 (6th May 1995)
Height: 186
Nationality: Croatia
Foot: right
Market value: 18 mill, € (300% YOY increase)
National team player - from 15/16 season
Key performance indicators
• Consistency in goals+assists in last 2 seasons (in Dinamo Zagreb):
2015/16: 52 games, 13 goals + 7 assists 2014/15: 48 games, 14 goals + 6 assists
• High efficiency of dribbles – 62% (5 successful per game)
• Good shot accuracy – 43% (2 shots per game)
• Excellent pass accuracy in final third – 77%
• 2 key passes per game
Marko Pjaca - information
Which one is your favourite position on
the pitch?
“I mostly play behind strikers, as offensive
midfielder, or winger. I’ve also played as
striker but it is not a decision that I have
to take”

3. 3
Marko is physically developed and fast (especially with high acceleration) winger with excellent dribbling
skills. He is primarily right-footed and usually plays on the left, preferring cutting in. But he can also use
his left foot to good effect in take-ons.
He plays confidently in final third and fast in making decisions (dribble in most cases or one-touch pass).
In addition to dribbling obsession the player shows high passing accuracy in final third (2 key passes per
game, 80% assists were done from central zone above the box) and combination-minded player.
He is consistent goalscorer (12-13 per season) - shows good shooting accuracy (43%) and prefers one-
touch shot getting the ball in the penalty box. Also he is efficient at collecting ball bounces in the box (16%
of goals).
The player fits mostly the team with attacking mentality. He possesses the ability to play across the front
of the pitch give some flexibility in setting up team. Marko will be more successful playing with forwards
who are able to combine and ready to makes runs into the box behinds defenders. Due to dribbling skills
he will be valuable asset for the leading teams who often face defensive-minded opponent.
He has playing experience in international level (Euro-16, CL). Self-confident and industrious person.
Shortage of tactical competence in defensive actions can not be considered as restriction so the player is
able to learn (high grades in school, know foreign languages). The latter is also pros for fast adaptation in
team.
Summary

4. 4
During offensive organization Marko mainly looking for free zones in the final third – he rarely drops
down for getting the ball in the center of the field.
When partner with the ball he takes nearest free spaces for short pass in forward.
He prefers receiving low pass as he is not consistent on receiving high balls from technical sides.
Marko Pjaca: without the ball in team’s offense
Despite playing on the flank he likes to cut in,
taking the position of offensive midfielder -
getting free space behind defensive midfielder of
an opponent (mostly in semi-flanks).
Overall he is combination-minded player - after
giving the ball to a nearby partner he sprints
forward to open space to receive a pass in
return. He is very good at “1-2” combination.
Marko is inclined to play 1-2 combination

5. 5
The strongest skill is dribbling. He is excellent on the ball. His dribbling based on fast change of
directions thanks to using both foots. In most cases Marko run into dribbling after receiving the ball.
Marko Pjaca: with the ball
• Receiving the ball on the flank - he
narrows the angle and prefer plays 1-2
combination above the box.
If the opponent blocks diagonal direction - he
prefers coming into the box via sideline of the
box and then plays targeted pass.
• Getting the ball on own field in transition
from defense - he usually makes solo run
delivering the ball into the opponent’s half
from where he plays forward pass.

6. 6
In spite of dribbling obsession he may chooses pass when he gets the ball in the position of offensive
midfielder or finish his run with pass.
He shows high passing accuracy and 80% of assists were done from the central zone above the box (2-3
key passes per game).
He also fast in making decisions and may play one touch pass when receive the ball near the opponent’s
box or in the box.
Mostly he plays through diagonal balls - on the run of the partner into the box.
Marko Pjaca: playmaking skills
patterns

7. 7
Marko Pjaca: finishing skills
Marko scored most goals from one-touch shot and from the box.
There are 3 types of goals with approx. equal share:
1) after coming into the box using dribbling
2) shot after collecting ball bounce
3) getting pass from the partner in the box
(good exploitation of free spaces and after playing
1-2 combination)
Zone for development - heading skills.
In spite of high height he rarely shot with head. Overall he has average performance in heading
challenges (win 40% challenges). But he may be profitable in air challenges versus fullbacks on far
post (the zone in which fullbacks often is vulnerable).
Also he has good curled shot with right foot
from distance (mostly shot from angle of the
penalty box after dribbling).

8. 8
He is disciplined in team counter-pressing actions and in retreating into defensive position in team’s
transition to defense (usually plays wide midfielder in 4-4-2 in team’s defense).
The weakness of the player is tactical decisions in defense.
Marko Pjaca: in defensive actions
Marko is mostly ball-orientated in taking
position in defense, not depending on partners.
In addition to it he sometimes loses
concentration in defensive actions.
As a result he often takes wrong position ->
loses surges of opponent’s fullback down the
flank or leaves gaps in zones between central
and wide midfielder.
In set-pieces, he also loses opponents in personal marking.
Finally, he is not good at defensive technique. But it’s not key element for a forward.
example

9. 9
His main asset is fast acceleration.
He starts fast and it can be used in transition to attack - Marko can run into free zone quickly for getting
the ball and be used as focal point in fast attack development. Also he can be used as support of forward
who gets the first forward pass in transition to attack.
His high initial speed allows him to win second balls (3 - good results per game for attacking players).
In particular he can be useful when team uses long balls towards central forward in offensive actions.
In addition to it Marko is rather athletic person contrary to typical fast winger. It gives him the
advantage in shielding the ball in challenges with defenders (51% won challenges in offense per game).
He has possess good coordination. It proves his bicycle shots and sault in goal celebration.
As for character he is silent person with strong character and composed person (main penalty-taker in
the team in spite of age).
Marko is also industrious and capable of learning, especially in foreign languages.
Marko Pjaca: physical qualities and personality