News at FCB : Ivan Rakitic: Talent and personality in midfield | Ivan Rakitić is a versatile midfielder who combines strength and skill Although his job is not to score goals, he got twelve in La Liga last season as one of the captains of Sevilla Ivan Rakitić (Rheinfelden, Switzerland, 10 March 1988) is a versatile midfielder who combines arguably the two most important qualities in a footballer: physicality and skill. He reads the game brilliantly, and knows exactly when to hold his position and when he should use his strength to support the attack, and he’s always a threat when he enters the opposing area. Also, at every club where he has played until now, he has been the main man when it comes to set pieces. Although he was born in Switzerland, he’s a Croatian national. He started playing professionally at Basel in 2005, and after two seasons and 46 appearances he was signed by Schalke 04 of the Bundesliga. In spent four years in Gelsenkirchen, playing 135 matches and scoring 17 goals. From the Bundesliga to Sevilla In the summer of 2011, he moved to Spain to play for Sevilla. At the Sánchez Pizjuán his scoring rate rose considerably: in 145 games, Rakitić found the target 30 times. After just two seasons in the Andalusian capital, he became team captain and led his side to victory in the Europa League. Unai Emery made the best out of his two-footed midfielder, generally playing him in the middle, although it is down the left that Rakitić tends to shine. The Croat has always been a regular starter wherever he has played, and has also become one of the key members of his national team. As he heads for his first ever World Cup Finals, in Brazil, he has 61 international caps and 9 goals to his name, having previously appeared at both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. (ift.tt/1vuqf0e)
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:46:58 +0000
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