One of the positive surprises of this season in the Austrian Bundesliga is Wolfsberger AC, which stands out with its dynamic football and well-structured system that allows them to be highly effective in attack. A key figure in this is Adis Jašić, a versatile player who provides significant added value to his team in multiple positions.

The Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995 drastically changed the lives of many families living in the region. Some fought and suffered losses, while others decided to flee the violence. Austria became a common destination for many refugees, including the parents of Adis Jašić. Their son, born in 2003, developed a passion for football. His career began at FC St. Veit, before moving to VST Völkermarkt and then joining Wolfsberger AC. At the Carinthian club, he first excelled in the youth ranks, earning call-ups to the Austrian youth national teams, and in 2020, he made his debut in senior club football.

Since then, he has steadily become one of the club’s key players. However, for him to deliver an outstanding performance this season, the coaching change was also crucial, as it helped Wolfsberger AC escape the lower-table struggles of previous years. Dietmar Kühbauer, who returned to the bench this summer, is a coach who employs an intense, fast-transition style of play and is flexible with formations, even making tactical adjustments mid-game. Without the ball, his team uses high pressing, with a key role assigned to midfield zonal defense. In possession, he builds from the back with a focus on combination play, deep runs, and wide attacks.

DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

At the start of the season, Jašić played mainly as a full-back in a four-man defense, which limited his involvement in high pressing. However, since the switch to a five-man defensive setup, he has become a key figure in Wolfsberger’s pressing traps on the flanks. The team aims to deny central passing options to the opposition and force them wide, where Jašić and his teammates aggressively press at pre-determined triggers, restricting space and inducing mistakes.

This requires strong game-reading skills and good timing to apply pressure at the right angle. As a result, although Wolfsberger ranks only seventh in PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action), they recover the ball in advanced areas the second-most in the league. Jašić is the team’s leader in this aspect, with impressive tackling efficiency (70th percentile) and above-average numbers in interceptions and tackles. While most of his defensive actions occur in his own half, the following heatmap shows that he also wins possession beyond the halfway line when playing as a wing-back.

ON-BALL CONTRIBUTIONS

One of the main reasons behind the tactical shift mid-season was defensive struggles. However, a major benefit of the new setup is that Kühbauer’s attacking and build-up patterns work much better when there is greater width. Previously, in a four-man defense, Jašić played as an inverted full-back, helping in midfield ball progression due to his excellent press resistance—his ability to receive under pressure, shield the ball, and turn effectively. This skillset was valuable for Wolfsberger, but Kühbauer prefers utilizing Jašić in combinations with the winger ahead of him, progressing the ball through half-spaces and along the touchline. Statistically, Jašić ranks among the top wide defenders and wing-backs in progressive metrics:

• Progressive passes (12,74/90) – 88. percentile
• Passes into the final third (9,78/90) – 84. percentile
• Passes into the box (4,78/90) – 64. percentile

His creativity and versatility are further highlighted in his attacking involvement. He actively participates in possession play in the opponent’s half, even if he is not always the primary creator. His role is crucial in destabilizing defensive structures:

• Passes received in the final third (16,83/90) – 79. percentile
• Passes made in the final third (13,87/90) – 79. percentile
• Key passes (0,32/90) – 67. percentile
• Through balls (0,71/90) – 91. percentile
• Crosses (2,74/90) – 42. percentile

Another valuable asset is his ability to create danger individually. While he does not attempt dribbles in high volume (36th percentile), he is very effective when he does (76th percentile). Similarly, his shot volume is not high, but he is efficient in hitting the target (79th percentile) and has already scored twice this season. His expected goals from open play also rank impressively (91st percentile), though his numbers in key passes leading to shots and big chances created are lower (both in the 36th percentile).

CONCLUSION

In modern football, there is a high demand for technically skilled, progressive full-backs and wing-backs who stand out with their versatility and tireless play. Jašić fits this profile perfectly, having already proven his adaptability across multiple roles at Wolfsberger AC. This makes him an attractive prospect for the Bundesliga, a league that frequently recruits the top young talents from Austria. At 22 years old, and following a strong season, the time may be right for him to take the next step in his career.