The outgoing Villarreal coach, who saw the Norwegian score with an average of one goal every 89 minutes, talks about the striker who is now on the radar of both Juventus and Napoli: “He is ready for a team at the absolute top level.
Alexander Sørloth has played in nine countries, worn 11 different shirts, won two trophies and a top scorer title. But it was under the leadership of Marcelino García Toral – known only by his first name – that he really exploded.
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Less than one season at Villarreal, 2023–2024, was enough to make history. 18 goals in 25 games in total, 17 of which came in La Liga in just 21 games. The goal average? One goal every 89 minutes. The highlight was an incredible poker against Real Madrid in a fireworks display of a game that ended 4-4.
To understand what makes Sørloth the player he is today – and why he is now relevant for Juventus and Napoli – there is no better voice than the man who got the best out of him.
“He doesn’t talk much, but is loving in his dialogue
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Alexander Sørloth?
“I met him already when he was at Real Sociedad, but he didn’t have much continuity there. He competed for the place with another striker of the very highest class – Isak,” says Marcelino.
Then you met again at Villarreal…
“We crossed paths when I came back to the club in 2023. He had already scored a few goals that season, and was one of the team’s top scorers along with Gerard Moreno. Up until then, the year had been uninterrupted, but the group deserved more than the 12 points they had won in 13 games. He suffered an injury that prevented him from playing the first few games, but gradually his form began to grow. After a small relapse after Christmas, he finally found continuity.
With you on the bench, Sørloth had his best scoring average ever. What was the key to your relationship?
“He’s a very respectful and cautious guy who doesn’t talk much. But in reality, he is affectionate in relationships and dialogues. Both the technical staff and I in particular have excellent memories of him.
“After the poker against Real Madrid, I called him stratospheric
After the four goals against Real Madrid, you called the performance “stratospheric”. What made him reach that level?
“For a striker, it’s crucial to have confidence in your game, feel respect and support from teammates, and have the necessary composure in front of goal. I think he already had the trust of his teammates, but it increased as he became more and more decisive. Sacrifice and hard work have never been lacking, and efficiency grew hand in hand with the team’s gradual improvement. We collected more wins and more points, and it had a positive impact on the confidence of all the players – including him. In any layer, these factors affect the strikers a lot.
– Left-handed, physical and lethal in front of goal
How would you describe him as a player?
“He is a striker at the very highest level. His size greatly affects the opponent’s defense, and he is highly coordinated for being so tall and strong. He also has an important advantage: he is left-handed. On the left side, he thrives best, and that’s exactly where he scored many of the goals for us. He has a precise shot at the back post, which gave many goals.
“In addition, he conditions the opponent in pressure situations, because he wins individual duels and creates dangerous situations. He’s coordinated, quick in space, and moves well behind the defense – especially on the left side, where he knows how to cause trouble.
“Several factors explain the success”
Why was he so effective with you – 17 goals in 21 La Liga games?
“Several factors interacted. First: his individual qualities. Second: self-confidence and motivation. Third: the way the team played, which highlighted him both in the overall game and in his positioning. He was also greatly helped by players with excellent feet – especially Baena – who could make the decisive last pass. So it was all about a combination of individual qualities, team style and teammates.
“He’s ready for a team at the absolute top level”
Has it been an advantage that he has played in seven different countries?
“He adapts incredibly well. Against low blocks, his size makes him a fearsome player. With his head, he is very precise, he finds the back post perfectly, and inside the box he is simply deadly. He is a high-level striker for modern football. Like all strikers, he can have periods of discontinuity, but he has a very high level of competition. He is ready to play in teams at the absolute top level. When we lost him, it was very complicated for us to manage without him.
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