Coufal: Former West Ham Right-Back Fuels Hoffenheim’s Top-Four Ambitions

Vladimír Coufal has become a constant presence for Hoffenheim this season. He has started every league game and leads the club’s outfield minutes with 2,418.

Season standing and role

Hoffenheim have been as high as third in the league this campaign. The club currently sit among the division’s European contenders and have moved within reach of the top four.

Consistency and availability

Coufal and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann are the only two players to start every league match. Manager Christian Ilzer has praised Coufal’s decision-making and positional play.

Manager comments

Ilzer has highlighted Coufal’s work on both the defensive last line and the attacking first line. He described the player as an important asset for Hoffenheim at both ends.

Key statistics

After 27 rounds, Coufal has one goal and six assists in the final third. That total is the most goal involvements by any full-back in the division.

He leads Hoffenheim’s outfield players for touches with 1,907. He also tops the team for distance covered at 201.3 miles, or about 324 kilometres.

Chance creation and attacking output

Coufal is tied for the league lead in crosses into the opposition penalty box from open play. Four of those crosses have resulted directly in goals.

He produced a team-best 47 passes that led to a shot. The numbers underline his role in Hoffenheim’s ball progression and chance creation.

Background and transfer context

West Ham United released Coufal last summer. After the move, he said the London club wanted to go in a different direction.

Implications for the run-in

With several games remaining, Hoffenheim trail rivals by small margins for the top four. Coufal’s minutes and contributions remain central to the club’s challenge.

Reporting for Filmogaz.com.