The top 10 chance creators in Europe in 2023-24: Surprise No.1 beats Fernandes, Odegaard, Gundogan…
There are few more impressive roles in football than that of a creative wizard, a player with the intelligence and technical ability to play passes that break through the opposition defences.
Taking a look through the number of chances created is usually illustrative of the best playmakers around, and this season is no different with star names from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal featuring near the top.
Here are the top 10 players across Europe’s top five leagues (the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga and Serie A) for key passes – the final pass before a team-mate takes a shot at goal. We’re counting them in order of their total key passes.
10. Iago Aspas – 89
An absolute legend at his boyhood club Celta Vigo, it’s not difficult to understand why when you look at his attacking output.
The 36-year-old former Spain international continues to deliver for Celta, who have otherwise struggled this season. They might well have suffered relegation were it not for Aspas continuing to roll back the years and continually put it on a plate for his team-mates.
9. Romain Del Castillo – 89
Alongside the likes of Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen, Brest were one of Europe’s great surprise packages in 2023-24.
They ended up third in the Ligue 1 table and have qualified for the Champions League at the expense of clubs like Nice, Lyon and Marseille.
A huge part of their strong season was the form of right winger Del Castillo, who notched eight goals, eight assists and 89 key passes from 33 appearances in the French top flight in 2023-24.
8. Franck Honorat – 89
Borussia Monchengladbach’s French winger had a superb campaign the Bundesliga.
He notched three goals and nine assists for a side that otherwise struggled, sitting underwhelmingly in the German top flight’s lower reaches.
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TRY A QUIZ: Can you name the 20 players with the most assists in Premier League history?
7. Bukayo Saka – 91
Hale End’s finest boasted the most prolific season of his career to date and his underlying numbers were just as impressive.
Saka to Odegaard – and vice versa – was one of the most dangerous final-third passing combinations in the Premier League in 2023-24. No wonder they both feature near the top of this list – Arsenal are the only club that possess more than one player in the top 10.
6. Teji Savanier – 91
A relatively lesser-known name from Ligue 1, 31-year-old Savanier enjoyed the season of his life for hometown club Montpellier.
Montpellier didn’t enjoy a particularly brilliant campaign, a 12th place finish and just 10 wins all season. But star man Savanier found himself regularly scoring and assisting, while his total tally of key passes is only bettered by five players in all of Europe’s five major leagues.
5. Ilkay Gundogan – 95
Gundogan probably didn’t envisage himself trophyless and going into La Liga’s final weekend 12 points off Real Madrid when he left treble-winners Manchester City for La Liga champions Barcelona last summer.
But the experienced Germany international has quietly been an underrated creative spark for Xavi’s side. He’ll be an important player if they’re to get back to competing with Los Blancos next season.
And he’s certainly one to watch as Germany host Euro 2024 this summer. With him and Toni Kroos, Die Mannschaft possess two of the classiest operators in European football.
4. Martin Odegaard – 102
Arsenal – and by extension their playmaker captain – were often criticised in the first half of the season for not looking at their free-flowing best.
That all changed since the turn of the year, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners absolutely rampant as they pushed champions Manchester City all the way in a relentless title race.
Odegaard is only 25 and just seems to get better and better. With him and Saka, don’t bet against Arsenal going one better next year.
QUIZ: Can you name the 20 players with the most assists in Premier League history?
3. Pascal Gross – 103
Signed by Brighton for a £3million fee following their promotion in 2017, Gross has consistently been among the Seagulls’ performers throughout their time in the Premier League.
Ageing like a fine wine, Gross just seems to get better and better. He received his first Germany cap at the age of 32 earlier this season and has made it into their provisional Euro 2024 squad after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most creative players.
2. Bruno Fernandes – 114
It would be an understatement to say that Manchester United’s form was up and down in 2023-24 but Fernandes’ creative class remains a constant.
The Portuguese playmaker was often at the heart of everything good that the Red Devils have managed going forward and was badly missed in their late-season defeats to Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
He’s expressed his desire to stay at Old Trafford amid reports that he could be on the move this summer. Having just finished eighth, United surely can’t afford to lose their best player.
1. Kevin Stoger – 127
The Austrian midfielder had a hell of a season for minnows Bochum, who finished in the Bundesliga’s relegation play-off spot and face a double-header against Dusseldorf to maintain their top-flight status.
Back in February, he caught the eye with an excellent display in Bochum’s surprise 3-2 victory over Bayern, notching a goal and an assist, eventually taking his tally to seven and nine.
With a player of such quality, you’d back Bochum to get the job done against Dusseldorf. And if not, he’ll surely have no shortage of suitors.