Why Liverpool’s £60m transfer’s secret weapon is his tiny feet – after his dad ‘deliberately stopped them growing’
LIVERPOOL star Dominik Szoboszlai’s secret weapon is his tiny feet – that his dad reportedly tried to stop from growing.
The Hungarian international joined the Reds for £60million from RB Leipzig this summer.
Szoboszlai starred in the Bundesliga, scoring 20 goals and 22 assists in 91 matches as he helped the club win two domestic cups and qualify for the Champions League twice.
His coach as a youngster was his father Zsolt, who played as a professional in Austria and Hungary.
Hungarian footballers idolise Ferenc Puskas.
He scored 84 goals in 85 games for his country while also helping them make the World Cup final in 1954.
Puskas also netted 242 goals in 262 games for Real Madrid and is widely-regarded as one of their best ever players.
The legend, who passed away in 2006 aged 79, stood at 5ft 7in and had a low centre of gravity, powerful things and tiny feet.
Coaches in Hungary often try to model players based on Puskas and Szoboszlai’s father apparently went to extreme lengths to try to shape him into the perfect player.
The Athletic report that Zsolt forced his son to wear boots that were too small in attempt to stop his feet growing.
And it may have worked as Szoboszlai stands at 6ft 1in tall, but supposedly has just UK size seven feet.
The 22-year-old possesses a powerful long-shot and good technical ability suggesting maybe having small feet is the key.
Zsolt implemented other unique ideas to help his son grow into one of the most exciting young talents in football.
The family did not have a garden when growing up and Szoboszlai trained indoors at times.
He was made to slalom dribble between water bottles positioned around the house and if he knocked one over he would have to start again.
Szoboszlai was also made to play on the pitch while holding golf balls so he learnt how to win the ball back without pulling shirts or committing fouls.
Liverpool‘s new boy cites his father as “the biggest influence on my life” and thanked him for helping his career.