Valeriy Lobanovskyi, the legendary Ukrainian manager, was a firm believer in players being comfortable in multiple roles and that sentiment is shared by Ajax Amsterdam.
The idea and pursuit of universality, as this is otherwise known as, is central to the club’s ethos and instilled from an early age. One individual who represents this ideal more explicitly, albeit never graduating from their esteemed academy but retains the hallmarks of a classical Ajax midfielder, is Frenkie de Jong.
As custodians of the ‘Amsterdamsche School’, which has been successfully adopted by among others Pep Guardiola, they view their teachings as sacrosanct despite an ever-changing world. Central to allowing these ideas to flourish is an orthodox 4-3-3; following this blueprint a midfield triumvirate is then made up of a ‘controller’, ‘box-to-box midfielder’ and ‘incisive playmaker’.
The ‘controller’, in this sense, is otherwise known as the ‘number six’. De Jong, a modern dynamic midfielder, is looking to make that role his own.
His ascent in recent season has captured the imagination. Yet to make 50 official appearances for the Amsterdammers, since joining from boyhood club Willem II in 2015 , he’s been regularly linked with Spanish champions Barcelona who are no strangers when it comes to conducting business in the Dutch capital.
And there is a good reason why. Tall, languid and elegant, his playing style is a mixture between Sergio Busquets and Kaka – that’s not to say he’ll end up as good as them; it’s just he seems to play the beautiful game so effortlessly despite his relative inexperience.
In another generation, he would be the ideal libero. Presently for Ajax, he’s been alternating between operating as a false central defender (a testament to his versatility) – alongside the ridiculously talented Matthijs de Ligt – and sitting just in front of the back-four, essentially acting as a ‘third centre-back’, which is where he gets his most enjoyment. Subsequently, in the latter role, his energy and discipline become the kernel around which the rest of the side’s panache is constructed.
⚽️ Frenkie 🆚 Matthijs ⚽️#UCL #staaja pic.twitter.com/NIO9Km2umQ
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 8, 2018
De Jong, who then operates as single-minded man-marker – normally designated to do a job on the opposition’s playmaker – shuttles across the pitch following the ball. By positioning himself correctly, he’s able to retain possession (1.1 interceptions per league game last season), in other words he knows where it is going. Reading the game like a seasoned professional shines a light on his technical excellence, which is a touch of the old school, and refreshing to see.
Cut from the same cloth as Frank Rijkaard, but the Arkel-born footballer is more of an updated version, as the modern controlling midfielder primarily builds the attack. Proficient in the tightest of areas, every pass made (averaging 62.2 per league game in 2017/18) effectively starts before the ball is touched courtesy of his sharp brain, 180-degree vision and impeccable foresight.
“I recently watched an Ajax game and spent 90 minutes following Frenkie de Jong,” Kiwi international and PEC Zwolle player Ryan Thomas told Voetbal International last season. “You might ask me about other players, but I can’t tell you a thing about them. I was only watching Frenkie – the way he runs, the way he turns, the way he finds space. He is the youngest on the pitch, but everyone gives him the ball. That is the greatest compliment for a footballer. He is incredibly good, and should play for Barcelona or Real Madrid one day.”
One cannot underestimate De Jong’s intelligent movement and positional awareness, which thereby creates space for those in his vicinity, allowing manager Erik ten Hag to implement his interpretation of Ajax’s modern game. A strong fleet-footed runner, the Dutchman, who combines individual skill with stamina, is fast becoming renowned for his ball carrying thus becoming a threat in the opposition half as well as a presence in his own. When not on the move he dictates the tempo: whether Ajax needs to slow things down or raise it. This also depends on how high up the pitch they are.
However, according to his former coach Peter Bosz, there’s room for evolution. He believes De Jong will end up as either a ‘number 8’ or ‘number 10’. It’s these characteristics and potential which has got so many people excited, but there’s also tempering of expectations. Understandably so as we’ve been here many times before. A talent emerges, promises so much, only to fade into obscurity.
A move away from the Netherlands is inevitable, however at this crucial stage in his development sacrificing regular playing time for a squad role at a club where experience counts is unwise. For those who care about Oranje the hope is he chooses wisely – looking ahead to the next decade, everything’s in place for him to be one of the pillars of the international side – as of now De Jong is uncapped, but the way things are progressing it won’t be long until national team boss Ronald Koeman changes that.
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