Players for Top leagues #1
The first player on the list of interesting options for strengthening in the top European championships is Anel Ahmedhodzic.
Player Profile:
Age: 22
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 85 kg
Club: “Malmo”
Nationality: Bosnian / Swedish
He played in one friendly match for the Swedish national team, but then decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the end of September 2021, he took part in 8 games for the national team.
At the age of 16, he moved to Nottingham Forest from his native Malmö, but he could not gain a foothold in the main team, only once coming on as a substitute. The main part of his English career he played for the U-23 team, which helped him in the development of physical data (in his own words, he added a couple of centimeters in height and more than 10 kilograms in weight). In early 2019, he returned back to Malmö, signing a contract for 4 years. In the summer he went on loan to the Danish Hobro, where he was able to gain a foothold in adult football. In the 2020 season (the Swedish championship is held according to the spring-autumn system), he became the main defender and helped Malmö win the championship title. It was then that he attracted the attention of European clubs, but did not go anywhere, although rumors circulated until the last day of the transfer window. At the moment, Anel is a full-fledged leader of the team, the main club asset and the Swedes plan to bail out more for him than they once did for Zlatan Ibrahimovic (so far the club record is 7.8 million euros).
A young defender is used to playing right center in both three and four defenders. Sharp and quick, he is good at predicting the actions of opponents, playing ahead of the curve, often intercepting the ball, physically powerful, with an excellent first pass at any distance. Ahmedhozic is already a fully prepared defender with enormous potential.
Malmö’s entire game is built through Anel and his ability to launch attacks: he picks up the ball in his own half and finds options for moving the ball. Interestingly, he always has an alternative, he will not be at an impasse if the opponent blocks the opportunity for the long diagonal (Ahmedhojic’s favorite technique, 6.4 attempts per match with 64% accuracy). The experience of playing in the center of midfield and on the defensive flank allows him to outplay with partners and unexpectedly accelerate — he feels very confident with the ball and joins forward on the right flank in every match.
Playmaker skills are important to playing at the top level, but defending their own goal is still the main task for a defender. The physique of Ahmedhozic and his dimensions are very helpful here: long legs and tall stature. Thanks to three years in England, Anel has added in obstinacy and work with the corps — it is difficult to beat him one-on-one, he is not thrown into the attacker, he wisely chooses the time for selection.
A game with a high line of defense suits him best, in which Anel will be able to use his favorite diagonals, and thanks to his high distance speed, he copes with the opponent’s fast wingers and forwards, preventing him from running into the gap. When a low block is needed, as in an away game with the Rangers, where Malmö was outnumbered for a whole half, Ahmedhodzic is useful for his ability to win the top (3.3 wins on horseback on average per match, 76%) and make accurate throws behind the defenders. In this match, he has 2 blocked shots, 2 interceptions and 4 accurate throws into the final third of the field.
What are his weaknesses?
Anel has trouble picking up the attackers. Too much space he leaves between himself and his opponent often allows the attacking team to gain an advantage. Plus to this, Ahmedhodzic can get confused when the attackers are displaced inside the penalty area and simply does not know whom to patronize. It is possible to fix it over time, but at the moment there is no progress in such situations, mistakes are regular.
Statistics:
Successful actions, % — 89%
Accurate passes, % — 90%
Accurate long passes, % — 64%
Successful dribbles, % — 75%
Challenges won, % — 67%
Air challenges won, % — 68%
Tackles won, % — 68%
Fouls, per 90min — 0,81
Ball recoveries, per 90min — 8
Interceptions, per 90min — 7
Why is he still in “Malmö”?
Anel plays for “”Malmö”, for him this club is of great importance. He never showed disrespect, did not ask to arrange his transfer as soon as possible.
With the Swedish championship coming to an end soon and Malmö’s Champions League came to end in December, Anel’s winter transfer seems a foregone conclusion. If nothing extraordinary happens, the Swedes will be ready to consider leaving their defender, because there is no point in keeping him any longer, the player has outgrown the local championship.
For myself, I see Ahmedhozic in the German bundesliga. Both in style and adaptation. The clubs in the middle of the table are ready to give him playing time, a competitive championship and a good salary. The conditional clubs of the capital are Hertha and Union. Possibly Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
What’s the result?
The young center-back, the best player in Sweden’s championship last season, has been wooed by rumors throughout the year to half of the big clubs in Europe. Ready to go to the next level. Smart and ambitious, national team player. Not subject to injury, physically developed. The cost on Transfermarkt is 6 million euros. Will be a reinforcement for any club in the second half of any Top Championship + you can earn money from it, as the growth prospects are limitless.
