Taking penalties is a big responsibilty in a football match. It has the power to determine a result. If you score, you'll be a hero. If you miss, you'll become a villian and most likely be hated for a long time. It's for this reason that teams always have a designated taker. One who almost always scores their penalties.
While this may be true in most cases, there might be a designated taker who has a terrible record.
It was after their elimination in the Champions League against Club Brugge, that Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, claimed that Ademola Lookman was the worst penalty taker ever. Gasperini said Lookman was not supposed to take the penalty but had taken the ball off his team-mates, describing him as one of the worst takers he had ever seen.
Lookman has now responded in a post to his social media channels, saying: "Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans."
"In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here – the majority of which I have never spoken about because in my opinion the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful. Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night's result."
"During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so. Life is about challenges and turning pain into power, which I'll continue to do."
Lookman has scored four of his six penalties in all competitions during his career in Europe's top five leagues, also missing against West Ham as a Fulham player in 2020. Gasperini had said Lookman "has a terrible record even in training", adding that Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere were better options to take the spot-kick.
Lookman was Atalanta's hero last season when they won the Europa League, netting a hat-trick in the final when they beat Bayer Leverkusen, who had been undefeated all season.
The Italian side lost 3-1 to Club Brugge in the play-offs for a place in the Champions League last 16. The Bergamo side crashed out of the competition 5-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg in Belgium, 2-1.
It's unfair to give the title to Lookman. After all, his % stands at 66. There are far worse takers.
Majeed Waris, the Ghanaian forward who has played for clubs like Lorient, Valenciennes, and currently Anorthosis Famagusta in the Cyprus League, is known for his dynamic style of play. However, when it comes to penalties, Waris hasn’t been as effective. With 4 missed penalties out of 11 attempts, Waris has a disappointing success rate of just 36%.
This statistic places him among the worst penalty-takers, showing that even the most talented players can struggle under pressure from the spot. Despite his fast-paced and agile playstyle, his lack of accuracy from the penalty spot has often let him down in crucial moments.
Aleksandr Kolarov, the experienced Serbian left-back known for his powerful left foot, has had his penalty struggles over the years. Kolarov, who has played for clubs like Manchester City and AS Roma, has missed 5 out of 13 penalty attempts, giving him a miss rate of 38%, as per Transfermarket. Despite his expertise in free kicks, which often leave goalkeepers with little chance, Kolarov hasn’t been as reliable when stepping up to take a penalty.
Adem Ljajić, another Serbian player, has faced similar issues with penalties. Having played for clubs like AS Roma, Torino and Fenerbahçe, Ljajić has missed 6 out of 16 penalty attempts, which gives him a miss rate of 38%. Despite his skill and creativity on the ball, the Serbian playmaker has found penalties to be a challenge, with his attempts often lacking the accuracy or confidence needed to find the back of the net, as per Fiorentina. For a player with such technical talent, it’s surprising to see these struggles in such a crucial aspect of the game.
Senegalese forward, M’Biaye Nian, who has played for clubs like Sampdoria and Bologna in Serie A, is another player whose penalty-taking abilities have been called into question. Nian has missed 6 out of 15 penalties, which gives him a miss rate of 40%.
While he has proven to be a consistent goal scorer during his career, his inability to convert penalties at a reliable rate has been a significant flaw. This places him among the ranks of players who've failed to find consistency from the spot, despite their overall talent.
Fernando Llorente, the towering Spanish striker who has played for clubs like Juventus, Swansea, and Tottenham Hotspur, is another player who has struggled from the penalty spot. Llorente has missed 7 out of 17 penalty attempts, which amounts to a 41% miss rate. Despite his success in the air and his clinical finishing skills, Llorente hasn’t been as reliable from the spot.
His struggles with penalties have overshadowed his otherwise solid goal-scoring record. As a player who’s made a career out of scoring goals in different leagues, Llorente’s issues from the spot remain a surprising and notable part of his career.
Topping the list of the worst penalty-takers is Edin Dzeko, the Bosnian striker who has played for top European clubs like Manchester City and Roma. Despite his remarkable career and prolific goal-scoring record, Džeko has missed 9 out of 20 penalty attempts, giving him a miss rate of 45%. For a player of his calibre, these numbers are disappointing, especially considering his experience and finishing ability in other areas of the pitch. Dzeko's struggles from the penalty spot highlight that even elite players are not immune to faltering under the pressure of a spot-kick.
It takes bravery and courage to take a penalty. As shown above, there are those who can't handle the pressure. I believe that not all are blessed with this ability. I would probably freak out and freeze upon realisation of having to take one. Footballers should be aware if they are able to take one or not. If not, they should pass the opportunity to someone else.