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Posted by
Ian McClurg,
January 27, 2014 |
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Ian McClurg
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The signing by Real Madrid last week of 16 year old Norwegian star Martin Odeggaard has prompted much debate. Has Odegaard selected the right club for this stage of his development and has Real Madrid invested wisely in a player so young.
I am particularly interested in observing Odegaard’s progress in the coming months as I will be beginning my Master’s Degree in Talent Identification and Development in Soccer at Real Madrid’s Graduate School.
See also: Southampton may now lead the way but Crewe Alexandra developed the template
There is no denying that Odegaard is very talented young player. At only 16 year’s of age he has already played for Norway’s full national team after making his senior debut for Stromsgodset IF in April. There are indications from Norway that he is technically gifted footballer, with an impressive understanding of the game, who is an extraordinary trainer. He also enjoys a strong support system. His father is a former professional player and his agent, Tore Pedersen, is also a former Norwegian international.
Odegaard’s contract was due to be up this summer and in the last few months he has visited top clubs in Europe such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool to decide upon his next career move. He selected Real Madrid as he believes that working with Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane and playing for Madrid’s B team, as they aim for promotion to Spain’s second division, is the right pathway for him at this stage.
So, has Odegaard selected the correct club to aid his development? He made early trips to Bayern Munich and many feel that Bayern’s long tradition for developing young players and providing them with early opportunities in the first team may have made them a better choice. Particularly when Pep Guardiola has such a strong reputation for educating and nurturing young players. Ajax is another club that has been mentioned as potentially a better choice. Ajax also has a strong history in the education and development of young players and the Dutch league would be a higher and more challenging standard of play than the Spanish 3rd division.
The other question is whether Real Madrid has made a good investment by signing Odegaard. This is not the first time that they have invested heavily in young players. In 2010 they signed 18 year old Sergio Canalas for 4 million pounds. Canalas never became a 1st team regular and now plays for David Moyes at Real Sociedad.
The reality is that there are no guarantees. The professional game has many examples of young players who were identified at early ages and bought by top clubs. Sir Alex Ferguson bought Bebe for 7.4 million pounds as a 19 year old over five years ago and he is now on loan at Spanish club Cordoba, after being sold to Benfica. Similarly, Bojan Krkic currently playing at Stoke City was at one time expected to reach the heights of Lionel Messi and a Brazilian player called Kerlon Moura Souza was expected, earlier in his career, to reach the heights that Neymar is at the moment. Souza played a few games for the Atlanta Silverbacks in the NASL last season. Not the career one would have expected from a former U17 and U20 Brazilian international was billed as the “next best thing”! When I think of young players and their potential, I often think of a line from the movie Moneyball “You don't have a crystal ball, you can't look at a kid and predict his future any more than I can. I've sat at those kitchen tables with you and listened to you tell those parents 'When I know, I know! And when it comes to your son, I know'. And you don't. You don't! f
There are many factors that can determine the level of success that talented young players ultimately achieve. Injuries can play a role. Being at the correct club at the right time can also be a key factor. Players at all levels need the support of those around them to thrive. Professional footballers are no different. To perform at their very best they need to know that they enjoy the support and confidence of their coaches and also the players they play with.
From his comments this week, Odegaard seems to be placing a great degree of confidence in Zidane to be a key mentor in his development pathway. Perhaps, he has looked at Messi’s progress and the faith and confidence that Guardiola placed in him during his progression from Barcelona’s 2nd team to Barcelona’s 1st team squad. There are many similarities between Guardiola and Zidane. Both enjoyed very successful careers and have enjoyed legendary status at their respective clubs. Both men have also started their coaching careers working with younger players and coaching their club’s second team squads. Guardiola has since went on to enjoy unpreceded success at Barcelona and then Bayern Munich.
Zidane is starting out on his coach journey and there is no doubt that Real Madrid has invested time in his development. He has served as Sporting Director, assistant coach to the first team and his now Head Coach of the 2nd team – Real Madrid Castilla. Many believe that Zidane is being groomed to be the successor of Carlos Ancelotti , as first team coach and this may have played a factor in Odegaard selecting Real Madrid over other clubs. Odegaard may be attempting to duplicate the pathway of Lionel Messi, although Messi arrived in Spain aged 13, three years younger than Odegaard.
Critics have also criticized the amount of the contract being paid to a player so young. His basic weekly wage will be 40,00 pounds a week, with incentives built in that can double that. By contrast, Paul Pogba a much coveted midfield player at Juventus is reportedly receiving 25,000 pounds a week. Jealousy is rife in professional football and there is no denying that the high wages being paid to Odegaard will not sit well with more experienced teammates or the opposition that he will face. It will be interesting to see how Odegaard will cope with this pressure and the expectations that are now being placed upon his young shoulders.
My biggest concern for Odegaard is that he may be receiving too much too young. Large financial rewards can reduce the drive, desire, persistence and willpower required by all athletes to make it to the very top of their professions. Talk to many professional players and they will tell you that their path to play at the highest levels of the game was paved with obstacles. Odegaard will need to be mentally strong to overcome the pressure being placed upon him playing for the biggest club in the world. He may, however, be arriving at Real Madrid at a very good time. Carlo Ancelotti is providing opportunities to Real Madrid’s best young academy players at the first team level and recently included seven players from the academy set-up in a fist team game against Cornella.
It has long been argued that Barcelona has enjoyed greater success from its academy because the club has provided clearer pathways to the first team. Real Madrid’s academy has developed many talented players but at times their progress at the club has been blocked by the signing of big-name players.
We may now be seeing a new Real Madrid emerge. A club that has a succession plan in place for it’s first team coach and a club that is prepared to develop, nurture and provide clear pathways for its talented young players. Zinedine Zidane seems to have emerged as a leading figure at the club and the success of Martin Odegaard’s career at Madrid and in world football may very well hinge on the success of Zidane during the next few years.
I will be watching at close quarters and hope to see both men in action during the coming months.
Ian McClurg is technical director of 1 v 1 FC, a soccer training academy based in Ancaster Ontario and author of the upcoming book, The 1v1Way: Soccer Tips from an Emerging Talent Centre. For more info, contact Ian at ian@1v1soccer.ca or visit www.1v1soccerfc.com
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