GafferLens logoGafferLens
Sign in
Comparison

Compare managers

Select two manager dossiers for professional tactical analysis, read against the same scale.

Prototype rating

Select manager A

🇳🇱

Dick Lukkien

FC Groningen

Netherlands flag Netherlands

GafferScore 72

Youth DevelopmentStructured Build-UpPossession

Youth Development / Structured Build-Up

vs

Select manager B

🇪🇸

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Spain flag Spain · 54

GafferScore 88

Tactical FlexibilityHigh Defensive LineCounter Attack

Tactical Flexibility / High Defensive Line

Tactical comparison

Comparison summary

Dick Lukkien sets up as development • progressive • patient from a 4-3-3, pressing at high intensity behind a high defensive line. Unai Emery is detail-led • offside trap • game management from a 4-4-2, with high press intensity and a very high line.

Key similarities

  • Tempo — both around 62
  • Width — both around 78
  • Pressing Intensity — both around 80
  • Player Improvement — both around 84

Key differences

  • Verticality — Unai Emery higher by 31
  • Formation Flexibility — Unai Emery higher by 21
  • In-Game Adaptability — Unai Emery higher by 20
  • Rest Defence — Unai Emery higher by 18

Tactical similarity30%

🇳🇱

GafferScore

72/100

Dick Lukkien

FC Groningen

Eredivisie

🇪🇸

GafferScore

88/100

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Premier League

Comparative shape

Assessment profile

AttackDefencePressingPossessionBuild-UpTransitionPlayerTactical
Dick LukkienUnai Emery
0–100 index

Overall

72

GafferScore

88

Advantage Unai Emery

68

Current Form

80

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Tactical identity

74

Possession

82

Advantage Unai Emery

62

Tempo

62

Similar

78

Width

78

Similar

63

Verticality

94

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Build-up

76

Short Build-Up

83

Advantage Unai Emery

69

Goalkeeper Involvement

74

Advantage Unai Emery

75

Central Progression

83

Advantage Unai Emery

75

Press Resistance

82

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Attack

72

Chance Creation

84

Advantage Unai Emery

73

Final Third Structure

83

Advantage Unai Emery

76

Width

80

Advantage Unai Emery

62

Central Overloads

71

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Pressing

80

Pressing Intensity

80

Similar

75

Counter-Press

83

Advantage Unai Emery

77

High Press

82

Advantage Unai Emery

73

Pressing Triggers

88

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Defence

71

Defensive Organisation

88

Advantage Unai Emery

80

Line Height

92

Advantage Unai Emery

56

Compactness

64

Advantage Unai Emery

71

Rest Defence

89

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Transitions

68

Attacking Transition

80

Advantage Unai Emery

71

Defensive Transition

88

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Development

85

Youth Development

82

Similar

83

Player Improvement

84

Similar

0–100 index

Flexibility

73

Formation Flexibility

94

Advantage Unai Emery

73

In-Game Adaptability

93

Advantage Unai Emery

GafferLens index

Category assessment

72Attack84
71Defence88
73Pressing84
74Possession82
77Build-Up83
71Transition88
85Player Development82
73Tactical Flexibility94
Verified canonical record

Current Club — League

—Matches140
—Win %52.1%
Career-wide profile data

Career profile record

—Points / game1.83
—Goals / game1.86
—Conceded / game1.11
—Clean sheet %38%
4-3-3Current base shape4-4-2
—Age54
—Appointed1 NOV 2022
—Tenure3 years, 11 months
—ContractUntil Jun 2029
—Yrs in senior management21 years
FC GroningenClubAston Villa
EredivisieLeaguePremier League
Projected

Head-to-head tactical matchup

Provisional

  • Press vs build-up

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Dick Lukkien's press (73) against Unai Emery's build-up (83) decides whether the first phase survives.

  • Build-up vs press

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Unai Emery presses at 84; Dick Lukkien builds at 77.

  • Attack vs defence

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Dick Lukkien's attacking model (72) against Unai Emery's defensive organisation (88).

  • Transition duel

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Both sides live in the seconds after a turnover — 71 vs 88.

  • In-game flexibility

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Who changes the game from the touchline: 73 vs 94.

Matchup lines are modelled from tactical descriptors, not from recorded fixtures between these managers.

GafferLens Pro

Advanced manager intelligence

Coming later

Advanced Tactical Style

Possession + High PressFast / Vertical + Counter AttackBuild combinations

Build-Up Style

Short Build-UpStructured Build-UpDirect ProgressionGoalkeeper InvolvementBack Three Build-Up

Pressing Profile

High PressCounter-PressMid-BlockLow BlockMan-Oriented Press

Attacking Profile

Positional AttackHigh-Tempo AttackWide OverloadsCentral OverloadsHalf-Space FocusDirect Attacking

Defensive Profile

High Defensive LineCompact BlockAggressive DefenceDeep DefenceDefensive Organisation

Player Development

Youth DevelopmentAcademy IntegrationPlayer ImprovementYoung Squad Experience

Advanced Experience

Champions League ExperienceEuropean ExperienceInternational ManagementTitle-Winning ExperienceRebuild Experience

Rating Filters

GafferScore ≥ 85Pressing ≥ 80Build-Up ≥ 80Player Development ≥ 75

Multi-Filter Search

Possession + High Press + Under 45 + Elite Experience

Manager Match

Build an ideal profile92% Match with explanation

Club Fit Analysis

Which managers best suit a selected club

Advanced Similarity

Build-UpAttackPressingDefenceTransitionsFlexibilityPlayer Development

Available with GafferLens Pro — coming later. These previews are not yet interactive.

Season: 2026/27