The Players Who Bring Good Luck to Their Teams
If you’re a fan of a Premier League club, there’s likely a player who brings a sense of calm and confidence whenever they step onto the pitch. These players might not always be the most high-profile, but their impact on the team’s success is undeniable. According to data from Opta, these are the top 20 ‘lucky charms’ in the English top flight this season, along with the most fortunate players for each club.
Nico O’Reilly: A Rising Star at Manchester City
The player with the highest winning percentage in the league is Nico O’Reilly, an English rising star who has become a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s team. At just 21 years old, O’Reilly has proven himself as an elite-level defender, capable of playing at full-back or in midfield. His goal threat is also impressive, having scored eight goals and provided four assists in all competitions.
O’Reilly has started 26 games this season and won 20 of them, giving him a remarkable 77% win rate. This performance has solidified his importance to the team and highlighted his potential as one of the league’s most valuable players.
Manchester City dominate the top five with Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico Gonzalez joining O’Reilly. However, a surprise name appears at number three: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United. After being on the brink of leaving the club last summer, Mainoo has turned his fortunes around under interim manager Michael Carrick. He has now signed a contract extension to 2031 and has a 75% win rate in 12 starts this season.
Arsenal’s Influence on the Top 20
Arsenal has five stars in the top 20, led by Bukayo Saka. Despite missing significant time due to injury, Saka has a 73% win rate, placing him sixth in the list. His contributions on the field, including six goals and four assists, have been vital to the team’s success.
Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, and Ricciardo Calafiori follow closely behind Saka, all with a 72% win rate. Viktor Gyokeres rounds out the group with a 71% win rate.
Aston Villa’s Boubacar Kamara is another standout, making it into the top 20 despite not coming from Manchester City, Manchester United, or Arsenal. Kamara had a strong season before suffering a knee injury in January, which affected Villa’s form. His 71% win rate highlights his importance to the team.
Other Notable Players
Harry Maguire of Manchester United has a 67% win rate, while Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes from Manchester City also feature. Gianluigi Donnarumma and William Saliba from Arsenal, along with Martin Odegaard and David Raya, complete the list.
The ‘Luckiest’ Players at Each Club
Looking at the ‘luckiest’ players at each Premier League club, we see that O’Reilly, Mainoo, and Saka all make the list. For Liverpool, Hugo Ekitike has a 62% win rate, while Chelsea’s Malo Gusto has a much lower 43% win rate, indicating a challenging season for the Blues.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez has a 48% win rate, making him a key figure for the Seagulls. Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham has a 37% win rate, though his season was cut short due to injury.
Other notable names include Kenny Tete (Fulham), Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), and Vitali Mykolenko (Everton). Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen, both with 38% and 26% win rates respectively, stand out for Newcastle and West Ham.
For relegated teams, Burnley’s Jacob Brun Larson (30%) and Wolves’ Matheus Mane (20%) were the lucky charms, though neither will be feeling much good fortune after their relegation.
These players, whether through consistent performance or sheer presence, have made a significant impact on their respective clubs. Their ability to bring about positive results makes them invaluable assets to their teams.
