Enric Llansana – Jong Ajax’ buccaneering centre-back-midfielder hybrid
19-year-old Enric Llansana was born in Tarragona, Spain as he joined Ajax as an 11-year-old growing up in Haarlem, rising through the ranks as a talented deeper-lying midfielder. His career is now at a crossroads with Ajax having options at centre-back and in midfield as his career will most likely continue somewhere else next year. However, an astounding rate of over 90% of players natured in De Toekomst embark on professional careers, be it with the Ajax first-team or clubs in the Eredivisie as well as having other options. The high level tactical and technical training at De Toekomst makes Llansana a brilliant option at little cost for a wide range of clubs in the summer.
17-year-old Youri Regeer and Llansana have accrued the most minutes for Jong Ajax this season as Llansana has been deployed in midfield and at centre-back as he is now the captain of Jong Ajax in what is likely to be his final season at the club. The 19-year-old is physically very highly developed as there have been instances where he has been the best tackler in a team of lightweight but technically gifted youngsters while also being strong aerially in regaining possession. He has also been a threat in the opposition box, rising high to score from corners and free-kicks as there is a sense of authority with which he plays.
In Jong Ajax’ opening match of the Eerste Divisie against NEC Nijmegen, Llansana was playing at the base of midfield, regaining possession and poking passes through the lines nonchalantly as he would move into space to receive the ball and connect play in the opposition half. The 19-year-old was available in all phases of play as he would drop in between the centre-backs to progress play brilliantly as Kenneth Taylor would move into the six-space as Llansana would then push into the midfield line after releasing the ball. Away to Excelsior, Mitchell Van der Gaag would then move Llansana to right centre-back as he started the game by pushing into the six-space to work a combination before driving the ball deep into the opposition half to spread the ball into the wide areas.
Llansana is naturally right-footed but possesses an ability to pass with both feet as he threaded a pass to Devyne Rensch before receiving possession with his left foot. The youngster’s ability to play with both feet helps with a ‘croqueta’ manoeuvre where he rolls the ball from his right foot to his left before flicking the ball to the in-step of his outstretched right foot to evade a marker and drive the ball into the next line. He loves to drive the ball forward and evade pressure when he is deployed as a centre-back as he can act as a buccaneering force with the ball at his feet. He started the second-half against Excelsior by making an interception and pushing the ball forward to thread a pass to Victor Jensen to instigate a counter attack. He then worked a passing interchange with Regeer before driving the ball into the opposition half to work connections.
The centre-back also played to audacious lobbed passes to Lassina Traore as he showed his quick feet when working passing interchanges in tight spaces to create space for himself to move into the midfield line. Van der Gaag loves to utilize these gifts in build-up routines as away to NAC Breda, Llansana played a wall-pass to the midfield line before finding Brian Brobbey in between the lines with an accurately lasered line-breaking pass to the nine space. The 19-year-old then showed his quick feet by receiving possession under pressure on the edge of his own box to feint and poke to left-sided centre-back, Nordin Musampa.
Away to Den Bosch, Llansana had to move to the left-sided centre-back position after Rensch went off with an injury as his brilliant combination play led to the creation of a high-quality opportunity. He rolled the ball off his right boot to work a pass to a teammate before receiving the ball and threading a pass in behind for Naci Unuvar to play in Brobbey to square for Jensen to have his shot blocked. He then played a switch ball for Neraysho Kasanwirjo to work a combination with Sontje Hansen who moved into the central areas to chip a pass before Kasanwirjo is played into the box as he was not able to get a shot away. He then made an astute interception before receiving a pass from Regeer to beat his marker and switch a pass to the flank. He would then beat his man again to drive into the midfield line and switch a pass for the Brazilian winger, Giovanni.
The 19-year-old is phenomenal at regaining possession by winning aerial battles from goal-kicks before playing progressive passes to instigate attacking moves as Van der Gaag has created intricate build-up rotations where Llansana receives possession in the midfield line to beat man-orientated pressure. At home to Volendam, he made an interception in his own box before working a combination to move to the left flank in a counter-attacking situation to weave into a yard of space with a nifty dribble and find Hansen with a lovely pass. Away to Dordrecht, Jong Ajax were building up in a 3+2 shape as Llansana was playing passes to Brobbey who would drop out of the nine space to lay the ball off to Taylor to instigate attacking moves.
Llansana would also thread passes to Taylor in between the lines as he once received possession by letting the ball roll across his body to his right foot to play a pass to Regeer in the next line with a player pressing him. Regeer would move to right centre-back to allow Llansana to push into the six-space as against Telstar, Liam van Gelderen would move to right-centre-back to allow Llansana to push forward. The youngster’s passing in tight spaces allowed for fluid interchanges in build-up as he received possession to work a pass to Rio Hillen at right-back before moving into the six-space to receive possession from Hillen to drive forward and work a pass to the flank.
Llansana would regain possession to drive into the opposition half to send a shot wide before he would drive the ball to the right flank, swivel past a marker and switch a pass to the weak side. The 19-year-old would also shift across to cover for 17-year-old Hillen at right-back to make crucial tackles, block shots and make clearances. Telstar would have a cross into the box regained by Llansana who would instantly use the ball to drive forward. Away to FC Oss, Llansana would constantly move into midfield as a ploy in possession with Kasanwirjo moving inside as a right-sided centre-back. The 19-year-old would evade pressure by working passes to Kasanwirjo when he pushed up on the right flank before he threaded a brilliant pass to Regeer in the six-space.
Van der Gaag then utilized a brilliant pressure evading sequence when Llansana played the ball back to the goalkeeper, Dominic Kotarski who threaded an exceptional pass in between the lines for Regeer to lay-off for Llansana who moved into the six-space to drive the ball past pressure. His press resistance as a midfielder was phenomenal as he allowed the ball to roll across his body to beat his marker before driving the ball forward and laying it off to a teammate and continuing his run into the opposition half.
In the defensive phase, Llansana is the best tackler in his side as he is such a clean tackler, nipping the ball out of the stride of an opposition player to drive the ball forward. When he is deployed in a centre-back role or in the centre-back role, he has an intuitive sense of anticipation to push up and regain possession with well-timed and tidy challenges. Llansana is also very strong aerially as his towering height allows him to clear crosses into the box and win challenges with opponents. He plays with such authority as a centre-back, shifting across to make blocks and tackles as he always looks to make the correct decision once he regains possession as he will look to play the first pass to establish a counter-attack or drive the ball out.
The 19-year-old who only turns 20 in April is able to play effectively as a deeper-lying midfielder or as a centre-back. His press resistance is multi-faceted as he can beat markers with his strength, quick feet and his dribbling while his directional first touch and feel for when to let the ball roll across his body is excellent. He can distribute and receive possession with both feet as well as being able to drop in between his centre-backs from his midfield role to distribute possession or push into the midfield line from his centre-back role to move the ball into the next line. At Ajax, he has been a captain at Under 14 level, Under 19 level and is currently the captain for Jong Ajax.
“I am a player who does not always stand out', said Llansana to Ajax TV. “I think I am an important player, also between defense and attack. I take a lot of balls, have a good pass, but of course I also have enough points for improvement. My examples have always been Iniesta and Busquets. I also think Frenkie de Jong is very good. “
“He is always good positionally and is strong in duels and in the air. He can really provide balance in the team and that is essential, especially in the sixth position. He is often very stuck to the ball in taking care of the build-up from behind. He also has the strength and discipline and he is a very intelligent boy. He makes other guys better,” said Ajax Under 19 Head Coach, John Heitinga to Ajax TV in February 2019.
At only 19-years-old, Llansana is well-educated talent with bundles of potential who will be available for free in the summer as he will be a low cost and low risk asset for any club in the summer. Groningen have been able to sell Deyovaisio Zeefuik and Kaj Sierhuis for profits while Lille could sell Sven Botman for a major profit after only having him for six months to a year as Club Brugge could do the same with Noa Lang. De Toekomst educated talents that are unable to make the first team are blue-chip prospects who can accrue resale value as signing Llansana could be a prescient piece of business for any club. He would suit any mid-table Eredivisie clubs as well as being a cost-effective acquisition for many clubs in the Championship where his technical skillset and physical ability could be of use. It will be interesting to see this high-potential talent’s next step.
