Who exactly is Chelsea target Alen Halilovic? Chelsea have recently been linked with one of football’s hotter prospects, Alen Halilovic. He looked almost 100% set to join Tottenham, but a deal has yet to be struck. However, Jose Mourinho, who was interested in Halilovic since Jose’s Real Madrid days has been said to have reinvigorated his interest in the Croatian midfielder. Profile: Alen Halilović is a Croatian footballer, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Dinamo Zagreb in the Prva HNL and Croatia U-17. Halilovic is both the youngest player who has ever played in the Croatian Prva HNL and the first division youngest ever goalscorer. Alen Halilovic is considered one of the greatest and most impressive youth talents in European football. Halilović started his career playing at youth level for Dinamo Zagreb. In June 2012, he signed a professional contract with Dinamo. On 27 September 2012, he made his debut for the first team in an “Eternal derby” 3–1 win over Hajduk Split, when he replaced Sammir for the final ten minutes of the match. This made him the youngest debutant in the history of Dinamo Zagreb, at the age of 16 years and 101 days (5945 days). In the next round match against Slaven Belupo, he again came off the bench and scored the final goal in a 4–1 victory. This made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 112 days, breaking the record set in November 2010 by his teammate Mateo Kovačić. Playing style: If you were glancing upon Halilovic for the first time, you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at a young Luka Modric doppleganger. Both possess the wavy hair, short stature and immense quality with a football at their feet, and both even have similar playing styles. Like Modric, Halilovic has begun his so far short career at Dinamo Zagreb, coming through its famed youth production line. Unlike Modric, who Halilovic has been compared to with ‘The Next…’ title, Halilovic possesses a deadly left foot that is both skillful and capable of a powerful, yet accurate shots. Thus far in eleven appearances in the 2012/2013 season, Halilovic has scored twice but started only four times in those eleven appearances, with the other seven coming from the substitute’s bench. It is hard to forget at times that he is only seventeen this year, such is his confidence and attacking prowess when going forward that he displays no fear to his opposition numbers. Additionally like Modric, Halilovic can play out wide as a winger, but unlike Modric it is his preferred position. At this stage in his early career, this could be due to his stature, with his coaching staff perhaps preferring to develop him out wide where he has time and space to think more so than in central or attacking midfield where the challenges can come in slightly quicker, so don’t rule out an attacking positional change for Halilovic in the future as he grows both physically and mentally. His ability to play a pass is good for an attacker, but his strength undoubtedly lies in his quick feet, confidence to go one-on-one and his eye for goal, with his ability for a ‘golazo’. ~Paul~ chelseafc360/2013/07/21/who-exactly-is-chelsea-target-alen-halilovic/
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:53:17 +0000