Goalkeeping scout Tony Coton is responsible for pushing Manchester United to sign Senne Lammens after watching the Belgian for several years.
Manchester United will be delighted with their £18 million signing of Senne Lammens last summer as the Belgian shot-stopper has been a revelation in his debut season.
Tony Coton played a key role in signing Lammens by pushing United chiefs to consider him over a ‘proven’ option such as Emiliano Martinez or Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Coton’s reputation has been boosted after he spotted Senne Lammens’ talent, and the scout has now revealed what he saw in the Belgian star from an early age.
Senne Lammens looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
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Tony Coton watched Senne Lammens since he was 15 years old
Before working for United, Coton also spent time as a scout for Aston Villa, which is where he first came across Lammens as a young talent.
Speaking on United’s Inside Carrington podcast, Coton revealed what he saw in Lammens from his teenage years.
“It was 2019 when he [Lammens] first came onto my radar at Brugge,” Coton said.
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“So, obviously very raw. We just followed his progress, and we didn’t think it was the right time to do anything. In fact, I was at Aston Villa when I first found out about him.
“I was at Aston Villa as chief scout, and he got brought to my attention. So I followed him from there. We didn’t think he was ready to come to us, but we just kept abreast of it, and then when I came back here, I followed him even more.
When asked what he saw in Lammens back in 2019, Coton added: “I saw somebody who loved to protect his goal, defend his goal. I looked at somebody who hurt when a goal went in.
“You know, it meant something because he conceded. You know, he wasn’t happy. Physically, he was good for that age, and you know that there’s more to come.
“So the first thing was protecting the goal, and then what had come into the game then was in possession. Their in-possession game, goalkeepers were required to play out from the back and things like that.
“Even at an early age, you had to really analyse him to see which was the stronger foot.”
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Senne Lammens is an elite shot-stopper and passer
Coton was clearly confident in Lammens’ ability from a young age, and he has immediately proven this season he has what it takes to cut it in the Premier League.
Lammens’ shot-stopping is elite, and he has proven to be a drastic improvement from both Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana before him.
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But Coton also spoke highly of Lammens’ two-footed ability on the ball, and that has helped to add a new dynamic to United playing out from the back.
Lammens’ passing stats have been strong in his debut season. He is comfortable passing out from the back with both feet which can help to avoid opposition pressing, but his long-passing has also been impressive.
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