Alejandro Garnacho’s wonder goal against Everton for Manchester United has thrust the player into the limelight for the all-right reasons. The incredible overhead kick has been applauded by fans and experts in the last few days and has also opened the conversation about the dying art of the overhead kick.
Paul McGuinness, former academy coach of Manchester United between 1992 and 2016, was approached by The Athletic to gain insight into the technique and its prominence in the current soccer landscape. Coincidentally, he was running a training drill on overhead kicks at Harland & Wolff Welders Football and Social Club in Belfast, exactly when Alejandro Garnacho scored his wonder goal.
McGuinness talked about the fundamentals of the technique. He explained that kids need “to get used to falling” after they learn the technique of hooking it over their heads. As per the coach, the secret lies in learning the hooking technique is essential before the kids try to replicate the kicks on the ground.
Coaching in Belfast on Sunday with @connected_ni Garnacho scored his overhead kick during our session for “Assassin Goalscoring” – inspirational for the lads to see his spectacular goal and know they are capable of doing the same thing 🎯🔥⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5Er0IVY5o4
— Paul McGuinness (@Paulmcg8) November 27, 2023
The conversation reveals that learning overhead kicks is a dying art in the practice session. In modern games, the patterns of play are already mapped out ahead of the training session. This has reduced the need to practice overhead kicks.
The chances of attempting an overhead kick have been reduced due to the precise pattern of play. Any attempt of overhead kick is usually due to an error in the delivery of the ball.
Paul McGuinness has a particular passion for overhead kicks
McGuinness was the perfect person for the conversation due to his passion for overhead kicks. Wilf McGuinness, father of Paul, was the main force behind Paul’s passion for the overhead kick. Wilf was a former Manchester United player in the 1950s. He also succeeded Sir Matt Busby as manager of the English side.
Wilf McGuinness was among the lucky generation who witnessed the magic of the famous Real Madrid team of the 1950s and 1960s. He saw the Spanish team train in front of his eyes and had first-hand experience of witnessing the handstand technique perfected by Real Madrid legend, Paco Gento.
Inspired by Gento, McGuinness senior learned the trick himself and used it to train his son in different parks. He practiced volleys with Paul by crossing the ball toward his son during Paul’s childhood. The memories and technique resonated well with McGuinness Junior, who continued to train in the art during his Manchester United days.
As per McGuinness, the only way Alejandro Garnacho could have scored in that instance was through an overhead kick, which he has been practicing in training. In a video released by Manchester United in February 2023, the Argentine can be seen practicing the dying art. All those efforts in training resulted in this wonder goal which might inspire other players and coaches to include the practice drill in their training.