Best Alternatives to Chris Smalling

Playing Style Analysis

Smalling is the rare veteran centre-back whose most statistically distinguished contribution in the Pro League this season is putting the ball in the net. That goals-per-90 figure landing in the top 20% among defenders tells you something about his timing and threat from set-pieces—a weapon that never shows up on a defensive report but wins points. His aerial volume is genuinely above average, yet his overall aerial win rate sits only at league average, which suggests he's winning the battles that matter positionally rather than dominating every contest. The three closest DNA matches to Chris Smalling:

• Axel Tuanzebe(86% match) — A Physical Stopper. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.2 clearances/90).
• Harry Maguire(86% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (5.8 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (71% duel success), dominant in the air (3.2 aerials won/90, 70%) and uses long balls frequently (6.0/90).
• Lisandro Martínez(86% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, commanding in the air (4.5 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (90% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (66% duel success), heavily involved in possession (69 passes/90), penetrates with forward passing (9.8 final-third passes/90), central to possession (81 touches/90), uses long balls frequently (7.1/90) and active off the ball (2.5 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions.

Similarity uses per-90 performance across playing-style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →