Football, at its highest level, is often celebrated for artistry, moments of technical brilliance, and end-to-end action.
Yet being defensively resolute is the bedrock of survival, especially for newly promoted teams.
Leeds United have learned that their fate hinges on defensive solidity as much as attacking options.
In the 2022/2023 Premier League season, the Whites conceded 78 goals, which contributed to their relegation.
Their 2024/2025 recruitment, beginning with a focus on acquiring Jaka Bijol from Udinese, is a clear statement of intent.
This analysis examines Bijol’s game, drawing on metrics and how he fits within Daniel Farke’s evolving Leeds model.
The aim is to highlight Bijol’s strengths and weaknesses in isolation and explain (through narrative cause and effect) how his presence may give Leeds a fighting chance and what tactical trade-offs Farke must consider.
Who Is Jaka Bijol?
Jaka Bijol is a 26-year-old centre-back who started out as a defensive midfielder during the early years of his senior career.
His transition to the back seems to have contributed to his ability to see changing pictures of different match scenarios and read play.
His reputation grew during the UEFA Euro 2024 competition, during which he led Slovenias defence to a clean sheet in 120 minutes against Portugal, a testament to his concentration and determination.
In Serie A with Udinese, Bijol became the axis of a defence often under pressure, making 34 league appearances in 2024/2025 and emerging as one of the league’s most reliable box defenders.
Bijol is not just a presence; he is a player whose profile suits the needs of teams seeking structure and leadership at the heart of defence.
His experience, both at club and international level, has fortified his anticipation and ability to command a defensive unit under pressure.
Jaka Bijol Stats & Data In Context
Bijol’s statistical output shows a centre-back optimised for a direct, mid-block system.
His 10.3 long balls per game (91st percentile among top-five league positional peers) and 6.32 completed (90th percentile) tend to be deliberate progressions that initiate counterattacks or find wide runners.
Bijol Pizza
This radar chart provides a visual summary of Jaka Bijol’s performance as a centre-back for Udinese during the 2024/2025 season, showing how he compares to other centre-backs from Europes top-five leagues.
The 50th percentile is the average for his position—anything above that means Bijol is performing better than the typical top-five league centre-back in that area.
For exam
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