League Focus: Europe's Most Improved Players of the Season

A year is a long time in football. A player can go from hero to zero and vice versa over a 12 month period, with the displays of many often not going unnoticed. Using WhoScored.com’s unique rating system, we can see which players have improved the most from 2011/12 to the 2012/13 season across Europe’s top five leagues of those to have started at least 15 games in each. Here we've picked out the most impressive rise in the rating of a player from each division.

Stefan Kießling (Bayer Leverkusen)

The Germany international was the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer this season (25) and saw his average rating skyrocket from 7.13 to 8.01. Kießling’s performances saw Bayer Leverkusen secure a third place finish and a return to the Champions League, with the striker directly contributing to 49.2% of their domestic goals this term - an improvement on the 38.5% from the 2011/12 season.

The striker netted 21 of his clear-cut goalscoring opportunties this year - the highest in the Bundesliga this season - with that figure an improvement on 14 from the previous campaign. Utilising his height, Kießling also won the most aerial duels this season (183), up from 147 the previous year, while his two headed goals from the 2011/12 season quadrupled to eight this time round.

Operating as the focal point in the Leverkusen attack, it’s also no surprise to see the frontman complete 117 layoffs for his teammates, which is again a significant improvement on the 98 from the past campaign, further accentuating his qualities as a striker. His performances were deserving of 10 man of the match awards compared to the seven in the 2011/12 season, as Kießling's rating improved by 0.88; the best in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Gonzalo Rodríguez (Fiorentina)

A predominant reason as to why Fiorentina came close to securing a Champions League berth was their resolute defence, with the Viola conceding just 44 goals, with only four teams managing fewer in Serie A this season. A mainstay in the backline, Gonzalo Rodríguez saw his average WhoScored rating rise from 6.5 to 7.37, which was the biggest improvement of a player in Italy this year.

Having signed from Villarreal last summer, the Argentine made 97 interceptions in Serie A this season, an improvement on the 75 with El Submarino Amarillo over the 2011/12 campaign. His aerial prowess saw him dominate in the league this term as Rodríguez made 140 headed clearances with Fiorentina, a vast improvement on the 43 during his final year in Spain, whilst also winning 83 aerial duels during his debut campaign in Italy compared to just 23 with Villarreal last season.

The 29-year-old also won more tackles this season (83) compared to his final year with the then La Liga outfit (60), bolstering his defensive credentials in a season in which Fiorentina finished fourth, having been tipped to struggle after ending up in 13th twelve months earlier.

Diego Godín (Atletico Madrid)

While Thibaut Courtois was deserving of the plaudits for Atletico Madrid this season, Diego Godín was a key member of a defence that conceded just 31 goals over the 2012/13 campaign, seeing the club secure a third place finish in La Liga. In turn, the Uruguayan saw his average rating improve from 6.45 last season to 7.31 by the end of the 2012/13 campaign.

Godín, of all the centre backs in La Liga, kept the most clean sheets (19), with that figure a significant improvement on seven from the 2011/12 campaign. Much like Rodriguez, the defender also won a far higher amount of aerial duels this season (103) compared to the 47 of the previous year, as Atletico conceded 15 fewer goals - 46 to 31 - whilst also winning 20 more points - 56 to 76.

The South American was evidently impressive in the heart of the Atletico defence, aiding their watertight backline having made more tackles this season (70) compared to last (55), while also committing fewer fouls (32) compared to the 43 of the 2011/12 season. This indicates not only towards an improved defensive ability, but also increased maturity under head coach Diego Simeone.

Andy Carroll (West Ham United)

While he endured a torrid time with Liverpool during the 2011/12 season, garnering an average rating of just 6.71, Andy Carroll impressed during his season long loan with West Ham United, ending the year with a vastly improved 7.47. That rise in score was the highest of any Premier League player over the last 12 months, with the England international netting seven goals during his spell at Upton Park having scored just four in the previous campaign.

Moreover, a direct contribution to 24.4% of West Ham’s goals, close to double that of the 12.8% during his full season with Liverpool, reinforced his striking credentials, while his on target conversion rate of 30.4% this year was a considerable mark up on 14.8% with the Merseyside outfit. Carroll also missed far fewer clear cut goalscoring opportunities this season (3) compared to last year’s 13 under then Reds boss Kenny Dalglish.

The much maligned striker also won more aerial duels - 224 to 152 - and completed more accurate flick ons - 69 to 39 - with West Ham than Liverpool, highlighting his importance to the Hammers this year. Meanwhile, a tally of 44 headed clearances - 15 more than the 29 he made during his time at Anfield - not only points towards his heading capabilities, but also his defensive preponderance for West Ham this year.

André-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)

As Marseille ran Paris Saint-Germain as far as they could in the race for the Ligue 1 title, part of the reason behind their impressive finish this season was striker André-Pierre Gagnac, as the Frenchman saw his average rating rise from 6.11 to 6.8. Netting 13 times for Les Phocéens, a vast improvement from the solitary strike in the previous campaign, Gignac’s goals attributed to 31% of the team's 42 for the season.

A markedly ameliorated conversion rate from efforts on target, with the 27-year-old seeing 26% of his shots on target result in a goal compared to 4.7% the previous year, helped contribute to the rise in his average rating. Furthermore, standing at 6ft 1in, Gignac put his physical attributes to good use, completing more accurate flick ons (17) compared to four the previous season, while also winning more aerial duels (34) compared to just eight in the 2011/12 campaign.

Gignac also won possession for his side in the attacking third more times this season (13), a mark up on the four times last year, and utilised his powerful frame having made far more accurate lay offs this year (60) than the 20 he managed in the past campaign. Having seen his stats spike impressively over 12 months, it’s no surprise to see that Gignac is the most improved Ligue 1 player this season.