Anwar El-Ghazi

Anwar El-Ghazi

Country: Netherlands/Morocco

Date of birth: 03/05/1995 (19 years old)

Place of birth: Barendrecht (Netherlands)

Height: 1,88m

Youth career: BVV Barendrecht, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Spartaan ’20, Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax Amsterdam (since 2013)

Senior career: Ajax Amsterdam

Squad number: 21

Current national team: Netherlands U-20

Position: attacking midfielder, winger

Preferred foot: right

Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 500,000 €

Tournaments participated in: UEFA Youth League 2013/2014 (3/2), Champions League 2014/2015 (1/0)

Contract until: 30.06.2016

Player’s agent: unknown

Similar type of player: combined playing styles of Cristiano Ronaldo & Alexis Sanchez

Strengths:

– pace

– acceleration

– dribbling

– flamboyancy

– balance

– dynamism

– technique

– unpredictability on the ball

– ability to lose his markers

– long shots

Style of play:

– inside forward/flamboyant winger/offensive allrounder

– likes to dribble

– likes to play a direct style by running straight at defenders with pace

– uses his speed and skill to take on defenders until he finds the space to make an attempt on goal

– likes to enter the opposition’s penalty area whenever possible

– often beats an opponent with a trick or feint

– likes to shoot at every opportunity he gets

He is best suited to playing as:

Right winger in 4-3-3.

Video:

Achievements:

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League summary:

Eredivisie 2014/2015 (ongoing): 6 matches/2 goals (Ajax Amsterdam)

Description:

El-Ghazi began his football career in the youth ranks of a small local club BVV Barendrecht, joining the youth academy of Feyenoord for two seasons, where he played behind Tonny Vilhena as second choice winger. He then joined the ranks of Spartaan ’20, before getting recruited to Sparta Rotterdam where he progressed through the academy. In 2013 he joined the famous Ajax Youth Academy, playing for the A1 selection (U-19), competing in the UEFA Youth League for Ajax. During the 2014–15 pre-season, El Ghazi scored eight goals in 150 minutes. The top scorer of the preparation period was intended to play for the reserves team Jong Ajax, but due to his performance was listed for the first team of Ajax, following the loan of winger Lesley de Sa to Go Ahead Eagles. It’s looking like it might be a big season for teenager. He made his official debut for “Joden” in the 2014 Johan Cruijff Schaal against PEC Zwolle, coming on for Ricardo Kishna in the 1-0 loss at home in the Amsterdam Arena. He made his regular season debut for Ajax in the 2014–15 season opener against Vitesse. The match ended in a 4–1 home victory, with El Ghazi providing the assist for the fourth goal by Lasse Schöne in the ’87-minute, after coming on for Kishna in the 70′-minute. On 17 August 2014 he scored his first Eredivisie goal against AZ in the 90′-minute of the 1–3 win in Alkmaar. Having dual citizenship, El Ghazi is eligible to represent both the Netherlands as well as Morocco on senior level. He made his international debut playing for the Netherlands U-18 side in a friendly match against Austria U-18 on 15 October 2012 which ended in a 0-2 loss. Currently, he is a member of “Oranje” U-20 team.

Quotes:

“Another interesting trait in El Ghazi’s game has been his range of skills to beat defenders and this un-predictability in his game has excited the Ajax fan-base and Dutch football as a whole. The Ajax youngster has also showcased his potential to play in any forward position by not only having the requisite passing ability, but also having an eye for goal.”

(backpagefootball.com)

Football Talent Scout potential rating:

9/10