The defenders in the football sometimes do not get enough recognition. Their work for most of the 90 minutes often get unnoticed and if they make headlines then it is mostly for their heroic efforts on the other goal. For a team’s win, the last man tackle and a goal-line clearance are as important as free kicks and penalties. If you look back and see some of the history’s best teams then you will find the defenders always lay the foundation for the route to becoming a great team. AC Milan of early 2000s who ruled the world was having Nesta and Maldini at its core, Sir Alex’s United who won three consecutive Premier League titles and reached 3 UEFA Champions League final was having Vidic and Ferdinand at its helm. The Barcelona and Spain’s national team who won everything in the 2010s had Pique and Puyol as their pivot. The football’s enthusiasts know that the defenders are the first brick in the Great Wall of China.
Here we will look some of the upcoming talents in the defensive are who can complement the greats of the game. The path is long but the journey has already started.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT
Age – 19
Height – 188cm
Nationality – Netherlands
Position – Central Defender, Defensive Midfielder
Preferred Foot – Right
Current Club – Ajax
Similar Type of Player – Vincent Kompany
Description
Dutch football is going through a small crisis as they were not able to make a trip to World Cup 2018 Russia as they were knocked out in qualifiers. The hopes rely on the next generation and one of them for sure is De Ligt who is the product of the famous Ajax youth academy. He is also a regular ‘Oranje’ youth international, having been capped at the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19 levels – he earned 33 caps and 7 appearances for the national team – which is quite impressive for a 19-year old. On 21 September, De Ligt made his debut for Ajax’s senior team in a cup game against Willem II. De Ligt scored after 25 minutes from a corner, making him the 2nd youngest goalscorer ever behind Clarence Seedorf.
Strengths
- Passing
- Aerial Duels
- Athleticism
- Tackling
- Interceptions
- Concentration
- Determination
Style of Play
- Composed on the ball
- Dominant in the air
- Ball playing center-back and can also play defensive midfielder due to his vision.
- Natural leader
- Elegant defender
Honours
- Best player of ABN AMRO Future Cup: 2015
- Best player of Copa Amsterdam: 2015
- AFC Ajax Talent of the Future (Sjaak Swart Award): 2016
- Member of the UEFA Europa League 2016-17 squad of the season.
- AFC Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award): 2018
- Dutch Footballer of the Year Bronze Boot: 2018
THILO KEHRER
Age – 21
Height – 186cm
Position – Central Defender
Nationality – Germany
Preferred Foot – Right
Current Club – Paris Saint Germain
Description
Kehrer is youth product of Schalke’s academy. He made his Bundesliga debut on 6 February 2015 against VfL Wolfsburg in a 3-0 home win. He helped Schalke to finish 2nd in Bundesliga in 2017/18 season and secure a Champions League place. On 16 August 2018, it was announced that Kehrer had been transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for 37 million euros. Kehrer has played on U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20,U-21 levels for Germany. Also, he has been called up for the international duty for UEFA Nations League where he will possibly make his debut. He is a versatile defender and sometimes also features in the midfield and has all the traits of a modern center-backs.
Strengths
- Tackling
- Crossing
- Dribbling
- Composure
- Passing
Style of Play
- Likes to tackle
- Likes to dribble
- Indirect set-piece threat
- Ball playing defender
Honours
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2017
- 28 appearances for Schalke in the 2017-18 season to help them finish 2nd in Bundesliga
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN
Age – 22
Height – 188cm
Position – Central Defender
Nationality – Denmark
Preferred Foot – Right
Current Club – Chelsea FC
Similar Type of player – Mats Hummels
Description
Christensen began his career with local club Brondby IF. Christensen quickly rose through the ranks at Brondby IF, and after only 8 years with his local side, and at only 16 years old, he became a top prospect in Denmark. Some of the top clubs in the Premier League were interested in him, and he chose to sign with Chelsea in February of 2012. Christensen’s rise continued once he joined the London based side, as he played for his youth national team at the U-17 and U-19 levels after joining Chelsea. And then in 2013, he earned his first U-21 call-up despite only being 17-years-old. Jose Mourinho knew that he was too good to sit on the bench at Chelsea, and he was subsequently loaned to Borussia Monchengladbach for two seasons. And in 2017/18 season he started 23 games in Premier League for Chelsea.
Strengths
- Passing
- Blocking the ball
- Interceptions
- Long Passing
Style of Play
- Likes to play short passes
- Often block the shots
- Does not dive into tackles
- Due to his vision and passing skills, he can play in the midfield too
Honours
- Danish Talent of the Year: 2015
- Borussia Mönchengladbach Player of the Year: 2015–16
- Chelsea Young Player of the Year: 2017–18
MALANG SARR
Age – 19
Height – 182 cm
Nationality – France
Position – Central Defender, Left Back
Preferred Foot – Left
Current Team – OGC Nice
Description
Malang Sarr was born in Nice and joined local OGC Nice youth academy at the age of five. He spent the next 12 years in the club’s academy before making his Ligue 1 debut on 14 August 2016 against Stade Rennes, aged 17. It was a dream debut as he scored the winning goal for his team in the 60th minute, heading home from a Jean-Michaël Seri free-kick. It is worth mentioning that he has dedicated his goal to the victims of the terror attack in Nice. In 2016, he played at European U-17 Championship, but young Frenchmen were a massive disappointment and got knocked out already in the group stage despite high expectations.
Strengths
- Pace and Acceleration
- Tackling
- Aerial Duels
- Composure
- Determination
- Agility
Style of Play
- Likes to play short passes
- Likes to tackle
- Powerful and complete defender
Honours
- 37 Youth appearances for France
- In February 2018, Sarr was named by the CIES Football Observatory as the world’s fifth-most promising footballer under the age of 20.
Beyond Minute 90 