Last updated: August 22, 2026

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🌍 Who Are the Greatest Throw-In Specialists in Football History?

A throw-in may look like one of football’s simplest restarts.

The ball crosses the touchline.

A player picks it up.

Play resumes.

But the greatest throw-in specialists have transformed this ordinary restart into a genuine attacking weapon.

A great throw-in can become:

• a corner kick from the touchline
• a 30–40 metre aerial delivery
• the beginning of a counter-attack
• a way to escape high pressure
• a rehearsed set piece
• a direct chance creator
• a weapon for winning second balls
• a way of creating overloads
• a method of forcing opponents deeper

Rory Delap made the long throw famous at Stoke City.

Aron Gunnarsson turned it into one of Iceland’s weapons at Euro 2016.

Megan Campbell became a Guinness World Record holder.

Michael Kayode has helped bring the long throw back into modern Premier League football.

And Danish specialist Thomas Grønnemark has helped transform throw-ins into an entire coaching discipline.

For international readers, start with Finter’s English football homepage:

👉 Explore Finter’s English Football Universe

You can also discover how intelligent players process restart situations:

👉 The Complete Guide to Football Intelligence

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🎥 START HERE – Premier League Long-Throw Chaos

👉 Throw-Ins That Sparked Utter Chaos In The Box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8mIR3B4xQs

This is an ideal introduction to the subject because it shows exactly why a throw-in can become much more than a simple restart.

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🏆 Finter’s Top 50 Greatest Throw-In Masters

There is one major problem when trying to create an all-time global ranking:

football does not have one historical database measuring throw-in distance, accuracy, assists, shots created and goals created across every league and every era.

Modern Premier League players benefit from advanced tracking.

MLS has published useful historical event data.

Older footballers were rarely measured at all.

Therefore this is a Finter editorial ranking, combining:

• match impact
• throwing distance
• accuracy
• chances created
• goals created
• longevity
• historical importance
• tactical influence
• level of competition
• available documentation

🌎 The Top 50

Rank	Player	Nation	Club/Team	Why He/She Is Included
🥇 1	Rory Delap	🇮🇪 Ireland	Stoke City	Football’s most iconic long-throw weapon
🥈 2	Michael Kayode	🇮🇹 Italy	Brentford	Modern Premier League specialist
🥉 3	Aron Gunnarsson	🇮🇸 Iceland	Iceland/Cardiff	International tournament weapon
4	Megan Campbell	🇮🇪 Ireland	Ireland	Women’s Guinness world record
5	Dave Challinor	🏴 England	Tranmere	Former distance record holder
6	Andy Legg	🏴 Wales	Swansea/Cardiff	Historic record holder
7	Ben Tozer	🏴 England	Wrexham/Cheltenham	Famous EFL long-throw specialist
8	Mads Bech Sørensen	🇩🇰 Denmark	Brentford/FC Midtjylland	Around 40 metres after specialist coaching
9	Sheanon Williams	🇺🇸 USA	Philadelphia Union	High-volume MLS specialist
10	Matt Besler	🇺🇸 USA	Sporting Kansas City	Strong chance creation from throws
11	Mathias Jensen	🇩🇰 Denmark	Brentford	Danish Premier League specialist
12	Chris Richards	🇺🇸 USA	Crystal Palace	Strong modern Premier League efficiency
13	Nordi Mukiele	🇫🇷 France	Sunderland	High volume
14	Antoine Semenyo	🇬🇭 Ghana	Bournemouth	Throws creating shots
15	Lucas Bergvall	🇸🇪 Sweden	Tottenham	Nordic modern specialist
16	Ethan Ampadu	🏴 Wales	Leeds	Long attacking deliveries
17	Diogo Dalot	🇵🇹 Portugal	Manchester United	Among the longest tracked PL throws
18	Kevin Schade	🇩🇪 Germany	Brentford	Alternative Brentford long thrower
19	Tino Livramento	🏴 England	Newcastle	Strong recorded completion rate
20	Riccardo Calafiori	🇮🇹 Italy	Arsenal	Long-throw option
21	Nico O’Reilly	🏴 England	Manchester City	37m+ tracking
22	Kevin Danso	🇦🇹 Austria	Tottenham	Modern long-throw threat
23	John Arne Riise	🇳🇴 Norway	Liverpool/Norway	Power and range
24	Niklas Gunnarsson	🇳🇴 Norway	Norway	Recognised long-throw specialist
25	Mikkel Qvist	🇩🇰 Denmark	AC Horsens	Danish specialist
26	Andreas Poulsen	🇩🇰 Denmark	FC Midtjylland	Huge improvement through coaching
27	Kian Hansen	🇩🇰 Denmark	FC Midtjylland	Part of FCM’s throw-in system
28	Andy Robertson	🏴 Scotland	Liverpool	Major improvement under Grønnemark
29	Joe Gomez	🏴 England	Liverpool	Long throw after specialist work
30	Seth Sinovic	🇺🇸 USA	Sporting Kansas City	Excellent MLS accuracy
31	Zach Loyd	🇺🇸 USA	FC Dallas	Excellent MLS accuracy
32	Ryan Richter	🇺🇸 USA	Toronto	High throw volume
33	Chris Korb	🇺🇸 USA	DC United	MLS specialist
34	Steven Beitashour	🇺🇸/🇮🇷	San Jose	Accurate long throws
35	Todd Dunivant	🇺🇸 USA	LA Galaxy	High completion rate
36	Michele Weissenhofer	🇺🇸 USA	Notre Dame	Famous flip throw
37	Ryan Guy	🇺🇸 USA	MLS	Flip-throw specialist
38	Uwe Reinders	🇩🇪 Germany	Werder Bremen	Historic throw-in story
39	Verena Aschauer	🇦🇹 Austria	Austria	Long throw in women’s international football
40	Viktor Claesson	🇸🇪 Sweden	Sweden	International threat
41	Raju Gaikwad	🇮🇳 India	East Bengal	Indian specialist
42	Mashoor Shereef	🇮🇳 India	NorthEast United	Exceptional range
43	Tondonba Singh	🇮🇳 India	NorthEast United	ISL specialist
44	Dhanachandra Singh	🇮🇳 India	Chennaiyin	Long-term weapon
45	Anirudh Thapa	🇮🇳 India	Chennaiyin	Throw-ins creating attacks
46	Bikash Yumnam	🇮🇳 India	India	Notable throwing distance
47	Nader Mohammadi	🇮🇷 Iran	Iran	Spectacular somersault throw
48	Mohammed Ali Faramarzi	🇮🇷 Iran	Iran	International long-throw threat
49	Woke Efefairoro	🇳🇬 Nigeria	Warri Wolves	Nigerian specialist
50	Jalil Ramli	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Sarawak	Malaysian long-throw specialist

The important word here is editorial.

This is not pretending that a player from the 1970s was measured using the same technology as Michael Kayode in 2026.

That would be impossible.

For another major Finter ranking:

👉 Top 50 Greatest Assists in Football History

And for football’s biggest scorers:

👉 Most Goals Ever – Denmark, the Nordic Countries, Europe and the World

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🥇 Rory Delap – The King of the Match Throw-In

If the ranking is based on real match impact, Rory Delap remains the obvious number one.

Opponents knew exactly what Stoke City were going to do.

They still struggled to stop it.

Delap’s delivery had several exceptional characteristics:

• distance
• low trajectory
• speed
• accuracy
• repeatability
• difficult flight for goalkeepers
• perfect delivery for flick-ons
• enormous second-ball potential

That is the difference between:

“I can throw the ball a long way.”

and:

“My throw-in is a set piece.”

🎥 VIDEO – Rory Delap Long Throws

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8awv4bWDIw

🎥 VIDEO – Premier League Long-Throw Compilation

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8mIR3B4xQs

🎥 VIDEO – Rory Delap Set-Piece Training

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLB4I7KmHA0

For more English Premier League content:

👉 Premier League 2026/27 – The Ultimate Season Preview

👉 Premier League Rules 2026/27 – New Rules, VAR, Time-Wasting, Injuries and Substitutions

The latter is especially relevant because the 2026/27 laws include stronger measures against deliberately delaying throw-ins.

🤯 When a Goalkeeper Preferred a Corner to a Delap Throw

The reputation of Delap’s throw became so extreme that conceding a corner could sometimes appear preferable to giving Stoke a throw close to the penalty area.

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🎥 VIDEO

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5wvHcsB0tM

That says almost everything about his impact.

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🔥 Michael Kayode – The Modern Long-Throw Star

Michael Kayode represents the modern revival.

The interesting part is not simply that he can throw a ball a very long way.

Brentford build structure around the throw.

They can attack:

• the near-post zone
• central areas
• flick-ons
• second balls
• rebounds
• recycled possession

🎥 VIDEO – Michael Kayode

👉 This Long Throw Is a CHEAT CODE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4EVzP6NFE8

Brentford also have the luxury of multiple players capable of throwing long, including Mathias Jensen and Kevin Schade.

That makes preparation difficult for opponents.

For more analysis of modern English football:

👉 Liverpool 2026/27 RIGHT NOW – Transfers, Tactics, Set Pieces and More

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📊 The Premier League Long-Throw Explosion

Premier League data are especially useful because throw-ins are tracked far more closely than in most historical leagues.

The broad trend is clear:

Season	Long Throws Into the Box per Match
2020/21	0.89
2021/22	1.27
2022/23	1.44
2023/24	1.47
2024/25	1.52
Early 2025/26	3.03
After nine rounds of 2025/26	3.99

The Premier League reported that the early 2025/26 rate represented a huge rise compared with the previous campaign.

The long throw had returned.

But now it was being combined with:

• analytics
• specialist coaching
• set-piece departments
• blocking movements
• second-ball structures
• rest defence

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🏟️ Which Premier League Clubs Used Them Most?

An early 2025/26 snapshot:

Club	Long Throws Into the Box
🥇 Brentford	47
🥈 Crystal Palace	38
🥉 Sunderland	33
Bournemouth	30
Tottenham	27
Burnley	24
Everton	23
Newcastle	23
Arsenal	22

This is important.

Long throws were no longer associated with only one old-school team.

Clubs with very different football identities were using them.

For more tactical thinking:

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Never Panic Under Pressure

👉 Football Scanning Explained – Vision, Awareness, Decisions and Football IQ

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🎯 Longest Does Not Mean Best

Accuracy matters.

An early Premier League sample produced figures such as:

Player	Successful	Attempts	Success Rate
Tino Livramento	5	13	38.5%
Chris Richards	10	29	34.4%
Nordi Mukiele	8	33	24.2%
Antoine Semenyo	6	25	24.0%
Michael Kayode	7	42	16.7%

The lesson is simple:

A 25-metre throw to the right player may be better than a 40-metre throw to nobody.

That is also why scanning matters.

The thrower must know:

• Where is the pressure?
• Who is free?
• Where will the second ball fall?
• Can we play quickly?
• Should we throw backwards?
• Can we create a third-man combination?

👉 The Complete Guide to Football Intelligence

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📏 Some of the Longest Modern Premier League Measurements

Player	Recorded Distance
Mathias Jensen	45.38 m*
Diogo Dalot	38.63 m
Michael Kayode	38.52 m
Lucas Bergvall	38.22 m
Ethan Ampadu	37.82 m
Nico O’Reilly	37.05 m
Riccardo Calafiori	37.04 m
Kevin Schade	36.49 m

*Tracking context matters. Measurements involving bounces or the point of the next recorded action cannot automatically be compared with a controlled Guinness attempt.

That distinction is crucial.

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🌍 The Official World Record

The recognised Guinness men’s record has been listed at:

🏆 59.817 metres

Michael Lewis – USA

For women:

🏆 37.55 metres

Megan Campbell – Ireland

Record	Player	Nation	Distance
Guinness men	Michael Lewis	🇺🇸 USA	59.817 m
Guinness women	Megan Campbell	🇮🇪 Ireland	37.55 m
Former major record	Thomas Grønnemark	🇩🇰 Denmark	51.33 m
Former record	Dave Challinor	🏴 England	46.34 m
Former record	Andy Legg	🏴 Wales	approx. 44.5 m

A world-record competition and a match tracking measurement are not the same thing.

Always check the methodology before declaring a new world record.

Love records?

👉 Fastest Hat-Tricks in Football History – Top 25 Records, Stories and Videos

👉 The 50 Football Moments That Changed the World Forever

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👩 Megan Campbell – Queen of the Long Throw

Megan Campbell deserves much more than a footnote.

She is one of football’s outstanding long-throw specialists.

Her technique combines:

• approach speed
• shoulder mobility
• trunk power
• timing
• release angle
• low trajectory
• accuracy

🎥 VIDEO – Megan Campbell Long Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl0y8Wcme1k

🎥 VIDEO – Ireland vs England

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAy8aAQ4yxQ

Women’s football is therefore an essential part of any serious global throw-in ranking.

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🇮🇸 Aron Gunnarsson – Iceland’s Tournament Weapon

Iceland’s 2016 European Championship campaign produced one of the greatest underdog stories in modern football.

And Aron Gunnarsson’s throw was a genuine tactical weapon.

Against England, a long Gunnarsson delivery helped begin the move for Iceland’s equaliser.

The structure was classic long-throw football:

throw → first aerial duel → flick-on → finish

But Iceland also prepared for:

• the second ball
• rebounds
• defensive transitions
• loose clearances

That turned a simple throw into a complete attacking situation.

For more global football history:

👉 The Ultimate FIFA World Cup Guide

👉 FIFA World Cup 2026 – The Ultimate Guide to the Teams Ready to Shock the World

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🇺🇸 North America – MLS Was an Early Long-Throw Laboratory

MLS has produced some fascinating throw-in statistics.

A historic Opta/MLS dataset included:

Player	Long Throws	Accuracy
Sheanon Williams	88	40.9%
Ryan Richter	83	33.7%
Zach Loyd	81	61.7%
Seth Sinovic	55	63.6%
Chris Korb	50	54.0%
Steven Beitashour	49	55.1%
Todd Dunivant	48	64.6%

Matt Besler was particularly interesting because his value was demonstrated through key throw-ins – throws leading directly to shots.

That may be more useful than simply counting distance.

The best statistical question is not:

Who throws furthest?

It is:

Who creates the most value?

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🤸 The Flip Throw

A flip throw uses an acrobatic movement to generate momentum before the ball is released.

It looks spectacular.

But if executed within the Laws of the Game, it can also be effective.

🎥 VIDEO – Ryan Guy Flip Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1RvY0jYoQs

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🇮🇷 Nader Mohammadi – Football’s Wildest Throw?

Nader Mohammadi became famous for spectacular somersault throw-ins.

🎥 VIDEO – Somersault Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHLf3o-X5F8

It may not be the solution for every team.

But it is unquestionably one of football’s most memorable throw-in techniques.

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🇮🇳 India – An Underrated Long-Throw Nation

India deserves its own section.

Players associated with the country’s long-throw tradition include:

• Raju Gaikwad
• Mashoor Shereef
• Tondonba Singh
• Dhanachandra Singh
• Anirudh Thapa
• Bikash Yumnam

This highlights a major weakness in global football statistics.

European leagues receive enormous statistical coverage.

Other competitions do not.

A lack of Opta data does not mean a lack of quality.

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🌍 Africa

The same problem affects many African domestic competitions.

Historical event data are limited.

Yet long-throw specialists certainly exist.

Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has provided a modern example at Premier League level, while specialist throwers have also been highlighted in Nigerian football.

A truly global list must therefore acknowledge the difference between:

lack of ability

and

lack of available data.

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🇪🇺 Europe’s Top 20 Throw-In Specialists

Rank	Player	Nation
1	Rory Delap	🇮🇪 Ireland
2	Michael Kayode	🇮🇹 Italy
3	Aron Gunnarsson	🇮🇸 Iceland
4	Megan Campbell	🇮🇪 Ireland
5	Dave Challinor	🏴 England
6	Andy Legg	🏴 Wales
7	Ben Tozer	🏴 England
8	Mads Bech Sørensen	🇩🇰 Denmark
9	Mathias Jensen	🇩🇰 Denmark
10	Nordi Mukiele	🇫🇷 France
11	Ethan Ampadu	🏴 Wales
12	Lucas Bergvall	🇸🇪 Sweden
13	Diogo Dalot	🇵🇹 Portugal
14	Kevin Schade	🇩🇪 Germany
15	Kevin Danso	🇦🇹 Austria
16	Andy Robertson	🏴 Scotland
17	Joe Gomez	🏴 England
18	Mikkel Qvist	🇩🇰 Denmark
19	Andreas Poulsen	🇩🇰 Denmark
20	Kian Hansen	🇩🇰 Denmark

For more European stars and analysis:

👉 Jude Bellingham – The Ultimate Guide to England’s Midfield Superstar

👉 World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26 – Completed Dribbles, Attempts, Success Rate and Per 90

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🇩🇰🇸🇪🇳🇴🇮🇸 Nordic Top 15

The Nordic countries have had a remarkable influence on modern throw-in football.

Rank	Player/Specialist	Country	Strength
1	Aron Gunnarsson	🇮🇸 Iceland	International match impact
2	Mads Bech Sørensen	🇩🇰 Denmark	Extreme range
3	Mathias Jensen	🇩🇰 Denmark	Premier League
4	Lucas Bergvall	🇸🇪 Sweden	Tottenham
5	Mikkel Qvist	🇩🇰 Denmark	Long-throw specialist
6	Niklas Gunnarsson	🇳🇴 Norway	Trademark long throw
7	Andreas Poulsen	🇩🇰 Denmark	Huge technical improvement
8	John Arne Riise	🇳🇴 Norway	Power and range
9	Kian Hansen	🇩🇰 Denmark	FC Midtjylland
10	Viktor Claesson	🇸🇪 Sweden	International level
11	Mads Døhr	🇩🇰 Denmark	Specialist development
12	Alexander Aas	🇳🇴 Norway	Norwegian specialist
13	Thomas Grønnemark*	🇩🇰 Denmark	Coach/former record holder
14	Other specialist-trained Danish players	🇩🇰 Denmark	Technical development
15	Nordic academy specialists	Nordic	Growing tactical focus

*Grønnemark is included as an innovator and former distance-record figure rather than an elite first-team player.

For a major Nordic superstar:

👉 Erling Haaland’s World Cup and Norway Show

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🇩🇰 Denmark – The Country That Changed Throw-In Coaching

Denmark’s greatest contribution may not be one superstar thrower.

It may be Thomas Grønnemark.

His approach is often summarised through:

LONG – FAST – CLEVER

LONG

Develop enough range to create a genuine attacking weapon when the situation demands it.

FAST

Restart before opponents can organise.

CLEVER

Use movement, intelligence and combinations to retain possession and break pressure.

The crucial lesson:

Great throw-in football is not the same as throwing long every time.

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🎥 Learn the Technique from Thomas Grønnemark

VIDEO – The Grip

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGhfA8fm5wI

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📏 How Much Can Technique Improve Distance?

Specialist coaching examples have included improvements such as:

Player	Before	After	Improvement
Mads Bech Sørensen	approx. 34m	40.8m	+6.8m
Andreas Poulsen	24.25m	37.90m	+13.65m
Andy Robertson	approx. 19–20m	approx. 27m	+7–8m
Sargon Duran	approx. 25m	approx. 40m	around +15m

These coaching figures highlight a key principle.

Throwing distance is not only about arm strength.

It involves:

• grip
• run-up
• footwork
• hip extension
• trunk movement
• shoulder mobility
• timing
• release angle
• full-body power transfer

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🎥 Long, Fast & Clever

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CovRdNKCyJA

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🔴 Liverpool – The Revolution Was About Possession

Liverpool’s work with Grønnemark is often misunderstood.

Jürgen Klopp did not hire a throw-in specialist simply to turn Liverpool into Stoke City.

The focus was also on retaining the ball when opponents pressed tightly around the touchline.

That required:

• scanning
• movement
• support angles
• third-man combinations
• quick decisions
• communication
• intelligent positioning

This is why throw-in training belongs within broader tactical development.

👉 Top 20: The Most-Watched Liverpool Videos on YouTube

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Never Panic Under Pressure

🎥 VIDEO – Grønnemark and Liverpool

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0atJaLasf4

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🐺 FC Midtjylland – Denmark’s Throw-In Laboratory

FC Midtjylland became known for searching for competitive advantages in areas other teams overlooked.

That included:

• corners
• free kicks
• throw-ins
• second balls
• positioning
• analytics
• set-piece routines

🎥 VIDEO – FC Midtjylland Long-Throw Goal

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arEDqDRZ4H8

🎥 VIDEO – Kian Hansen Long Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFgIUVwfXA

These videos are valuable because they show the difference between theory and application.

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🌍 Top 25 Throw-In Teams and Clubs

This is another Finter editorial ranking because no global database allows direct comparisons between every team and every era.

Rank	Club/National Team	Country	Why
1	Stoke City	🏴 England	Rory Delap + Tony Pulis
2	FC Midtjylland	🇩🇰 Denmark	Systematic specialist coaching
3	Brentford	🏴 England	Kayode/Jensen/Schade
4	Liverpool	🏴 England	Fast & Clever throw-ins
5	Iceland	🇮🇸 Iceland	Aron Gunnarsson
6	Sporting Kansas City	🇺🇸 USA	Besler/Sinovic
7	Philadelphia Union	🇺🇸 USA	Sheanon Williams
8	Wrexham	🏴 Wales	Ben Tozer
9	Tranmere Rovers	🏴 England	Dave Challinor
10	AC Horsens	🇩🇰 Denmark	Danish specialist work
11	Crystal Palace	🏴 England	Chris Richards
12	Sunderland	🏴 England	Mukiele
13	Bournemouth	🏴 England	Semenyo
14	Tottenham	🏴 England	Bergvall/Danso
15	Newcastle	🏴 England	Livramento
16	Leeds	🏴 England	Ampadu
17	Arsenal	🏴 England	Modern set-piece focus
18	FC Dallas	🇺🇸 USA	Zach Loyd
19	LA Galaxy	🇺🇸 USA	Dunivant
20	Toronto FC	🇨🇦 Canada	Richter
21	East Bengal	🇮🇳 India	Gaikwad
22	NorthEast United	🇮🇳 India	Multiple specialists
23	Chennaiyin	🇮🇳 India	Thapa/Dhanachandra
24	Notre Dame Women	🇺🇸 USA	Flip throws
25	Florida State Women	🇺🇸 USA	Megan Campbell

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🧠 Why Are Long Throws Dangerous?

1. No Offside Directly From a Throw-In

This is one of the most important tactical rules.

An attacker cannot be penalised for being in an offside position directly from the throw.

That creates possibilities that do not exist from an ordinary pass.

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2. Accuracy

A specialist may be able to reproduce an aerial delivery from his or her hands very accurately.

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3. First Contact

The first target does not always try to score.

Sometimes the objective is simply:

win the first duel and redirect the ball.

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4. Second Balls

Many dangerous sequences look like:

throw → header → loose ball → shot

The thrower may never receive an official assist.

Yet the throw created the entire attack.

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5. Chaos

Defenders have to:

• watch the ball
• track runners
• protect the goalkeeper
• win the first header
• react to flick-ons
• prepare for second balls

That creates uncertainty.

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👀 Scanning Before Throwing

The best thrower should scan before receiving the ball.

Questions include:

• Is a teammate already free?
• Is the opponent reorganised?
• Can we attack quickly?
• Is there space down the line?
• Can we play backwards and switch?
• Is the long throw genuinely on?

This is why throw-in training and football intelligence are closely connected.

👉 Football Scanning Explained

👉 The Complete Guide to Football Intelligence

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⚖️ Throw-In Rules

The fundamental Laws require the thrower to execute the restart correctly.

Among the key principles:

• use both hands
• deliver the ball from behind and over the head
• face the field
• comply with the foot-position requirements at the touchline
• opponents must respect the required distance
• a goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in

There is also no offside offence directly from a throw-in.

The 2026/27 Premier League rules also give referees stronger tools against deliberate restart delays.

👉 Premier League Rules 2026/27 – Complete English Guide

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🏋️ How to Train a Better Throw-In

Drill 1 – Technique Before Power

Perform 10 controlled throws.

Focus on:

• grip
• bringing the ball properly behind the head
• hip movement
• trunk tension
• weight transfer
• smooth release

Do not chase maximum distance immediately.

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📏 Drill 2 – Distance Zones

Place markers at:

• 15m
• 20m
• 25m
• 30m
• 35m

Take five attempts.

Record your best distance.

Repeat after several weeks of technical practice.

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🎯 Drill 3 – Accuracy

Use three target zones.

The receiver changes position.

The thrower must:

1. scan
2. identify the target
3. select the correct throw
4. execute accurately

The exercise becomes about decision-making rather than bodybuilding.

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Never Panic Under Pressure

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⚡ Drill 4 – Fast Throw-In

The ball leaves the pitch.

The thrower has three seconds.

Teammates must immediately:

• move
• communicate
• create angles
• attack space

The aim is to exploit an opponent who has not reorganised.

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🧩 Drill 5 – Long, Fast or Clever?

Give the thrower three options.

LONG

Can the long throw create a genuine scoring situation?

FAST

Can we restart before the opposition is organised?

CLEVER

Can movement and combination play create a better solution?

Do not tell the player which answer to choose.

Make the player read the game.

That is real football intelligence.

👉 What Do Football Scouts Really Look For? – The 10 Things Talent Scouts Notice

Scouts are not only evaluating technique. They also notice decision-making, awareness and how players solve game situations.

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💪 Drill 6 – Athletic Development

Throwing uses the whole body.

Useful qualities include:

• coordination
• mobility
• trunk power
• balance
• acceleration
• rhythm

Young players should still develop as complete athletes rather than specialising too early.

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Play Multiple Sports as Kids

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🎬 15 THROW-IN VIDEOS

1. Premier League Long-Throw Chaos

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8mIR3B4xQs

2. Rory Delap Long-Throw Technique

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8awv4bWDIw

3. Rory Delap Set-Piece Training

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLB4I7KmHA0

4. Goalkeeper Prefers Corner to Delap Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5wvHcsB0tM

5. Michael Kayode – Cheat Code

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4EVzP6NFE8

6. Megan Campbell Long Throws

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl0y8Wcme1k

7. Megan Campbell – Ireland

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAy8aAQ4yxQ

8. Ryan Guy Flip Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1RvY0jYoQs

9. Nader Mohammadi Somersault Throw

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHLf3o-X5F8

10. Thomas Grønnemark – The Grip

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGhfA8fm5wI

11. Long, Fast & Clever

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CovRdNKCyJA

12. Thomas Grønnemark and Liverpool

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0atJaLasf4

13. FC Midtjylland Long-Throw Goal

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arEDqDRZ4H8

14. Kian Hansen Long-Throw Goal

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFgIUVwfXA

15. Long Throw Training

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OHzZzfSZRU

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⚽ A Throw-In Does Not End When the Ball Leaves Your Hands

Receiving the throw is just as important.

A teammate may need to:

• scan
• control the ball
• protect possession
• turn
• play one-touch
• beat pressure
• dribble
• bounce the ball back
• find the third player

Throw-ins therefore connect directly with technical development.

👉 World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26

👉 Football Scanning Explained

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🔥 Throw-In → Assist

A throw-in may create a goal without producing an official assist.

Examples:

throw → return pass → overlap → cross → goal

or:

long throw → flick-on → goal

or:

long throw → clearance → second ball → shot → goal

This is why evaluating throw-ins only through official assists understates their importance.

For football’s greatest final passes:

👉 Top 50 Greatest Assists in Football History

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🌐 25+ ENGLISH FINTER.DK LINKS

Here is the English internal-link network I recommend using throughout this article.

Premier League & Liverpool

👉 Premier League 2026/27 – The Ultimate Season Preview

👉 Premier League Rules 2026/27 – The Complete Guide

👉 Liverpool 2026/27 RIGHT NOW

👉 Top 20 Most-Watched Liverpool Videos on YouTube

Records & Statistics

👉 Most Goals Ever – Denmark, Nordic Countries, Europe and the World

👉 Top 50 Greatest Assists in Football History

👉 Fastest Hat-Tricks in Football History – Top 25

👉 The 50 Football Moments That Changed the World Forever

Technique, Intelligence & Development

👉 The Complete Guide to Football Intelligence

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Never Panic Under Pressure

👉 Football Scanning Explained

👉 Why the World’s Best Footballers Play Multiple Sports as Kids

👉 Inside the World’s Greatest Football Academies

👉 What Do Football Scouts Really Look For?

👉 World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26

Players

👉 Jude Bellingham – The Ultimate Guide

👉 Brian Madjo – Aston Villa’s 17-Year-Old Wonderkid

👉 Erling Haaland’s World Cup and Norway Show

👉 Franco Baresi Dies Aged 66 – AC Milan Legend

World Cup & International Football

👉 England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

👉 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Teams Ready to Shock the World

👉 World Cup 2026 – Clubs and Players With the Most Goals and Assists

👉 Messi at the 2026 World Cup – Eight Goals and Historic Records

👉 The 50 Football Moments That Changed the World Forever

Finter

👉 Finter English Front Page

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❓ FAQ

Who is the greatest throw-in specialist ever?

Finter ranks Rory Delap number one because of his extraordinary impact in competitive Premier League matches.

Who is the best modern long-throw specialist?

Michael Kayode is one of the strongest candidates.

What is the official longest football throw-in?

Michael Lewis has held the recognised Guinness men’s record at 59.817 metres.

Who holds the women’s record?

Ireland’s Megan Campbell, with 37.55 metres.

Who is the greatest Nordic throw-in specialist?

Finter gives the number-one Nordic spot to Aron Gunnarsson, largely because of the impact of his throws for Iceland at Euro 2016.

Which Danish players are among the best?

Mads Bech Sørensen, Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Qvist, Andreas Poulsen and Kian Hansen are among the most interesting Danish examples.

Who is the most important Danish throw-in figure?

Thomas Grønnemark.

Which club is most famous for long throws?

Stoke City during the Rory Delap era.

Which modern club stands out?

Brentford.

Which Danish club has pioneered throw-in development?

FC Midtjylland.

Can you score directly from a throw-in?

No.

Can a player be offside directly from a throw-in?

No.

Is a flip throw or somersault throw legal?

It can be, provided the actual delivery complies with the Laws of the Game.

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🏁 Conclusion – Football’s Most Underrated Weapon

Throw-ins have existed for generations.

Yet for decades many professional clubs barely trained them.

That is remarkable.

Rory Delap demonstrated what happens when one player can turn a touchline restart into a genuine set piece.

Aron Gunnarsson demonstrated it on the international stage.

Megan Campbell demonstrated how powerful the weapon can be in women’s football.

Michael Kayode and Brentford have helped return the long throw to the modern Premier League.

MLS showed years ago that throw-in accuracy and chance creation could be measured.

India, Iran, Africa, Asia and North America remind us that specialist throwers exist far beyond England.

FC Midtjylland demonstrated that throw-ins could be systematised.

Liverpool demonstrated that throw-in coaching could also improve possession.

Thomas Grønnemark helped put the entire subject on the coaching map.

And perhaps the most important lesson is this:

The best throw-in is not always the longest throw-in.

LONG

When distance creates a real attacking advantage.

FAST

When the opponent is not organised.

CLEVER

When movement and intelligent combination play provide a better solution.

A throw-in is not simply the moment when football starts again.

It is another opportunity to attack.

👉 Explore More English Football Guides on Finter.dk

👉 Read the Complete Guide to Football Intelligence

👉 See the World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26

👉 Discover the Top 50 Greatest Assists in Football History