Harry Kane can envision playing a different position in the future. The Bayern star explains which role appeals to him and who has had a particularly strong influence on his development.
Harry Kane is one of the best center forwards in the world. However, the FC Bayern striker can also envision taking on a different role later in his career. In an interview with Sport BILD, the Englishman caught everyone’s attention with some thoughts on his athletic future.
When asked whether he might play in a more defensive role or as a playmaker in midfield down the road, Kane replied: “I’d like to try that at some point. Even back in the youth ranks at Tottenham, I played in midfield and in various positions.”
The 33-year-old isn’t announcing an imminent position change. However, his statement shows that, in the long term, he sees himself playing in roles other than center forward. He already regularly demonstrates the skills needed for this: Kane drops deep, controls the ball under pressure, and sets up his teammates with precise passes.
Kane explains Mourinho’s influence on his playing style
Kane credits his initial role as a classic striker at Tottenham to his former coach, Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino saw him as a number nine because of his goals and his runs behind the defense. Under Pochettino’s successor, his role evolved further.
“When José Mourinho arrived, he probably took my game to yet another level because he gave me a lot of freedom,” Kane explains. He says he made a point of utilizing his skills with the ball: “I knew that passing was one of my greatest strengths and that, if I dropped deeper, I could handle the ball well even under pressure.”
At FC Bayern, the Englishman can also play to these strengths. In the interview, he highlights the freedom he has under Vincent Kompany. Players are allowed to leave their positions, drop deeper, and thereby influence the game in different ways.
Just how valuable this is for the Munich team was recently demonstrated by the 2-1 win in Mainz. Although Kane didn’t score himself, he set up both Bayern goals. His importance to the offense thus extends far beyond his goal-scoring rate.
For Kane, playmaking and finishing ability are by no means mutually exclusive: “It’s great for me to know that I can continue to do all of that while still scoring my goals.” As proof, he points to last season, when he scored more frequently than ever before in his career.
Following his contract extension, Kane still sees his future in Munich. Whether he’ll actually play in a different position there at some point remains to be seen. Even now, however, he combines the roles of a goal-scorer with those of a playmaker.