By the yr 2023, now we have reached a stage the place a fullback should have unbelievable attacking abilities down the wings if he desires to thrive in soccer. Tasked with going up the pitch, stretching the sphere as extensive as doable, and creating overloads at the moment are half and parcel of a fullback’s recreation. And one of many many merchandise of this revolution is AZ Alkmaar’s Milos Kerkez.
Born in Serbia & Montenegro, Kerkez’s footballing journey has taken him to a number of international locations the place he has witnessed highs and lows. Nonetheless, at AZ Alkmaar, he lastly has discovered a membership that has given him a steady surroundings to develop and on the similar time exhibit his expertise.
In simply his first season, Kerkez has taken to the workforce like a duck to water and has change into an integral half. Whereas he should still not be on the radar of a giant membership, Kerkez has proven this season that he’s one to be careful for. So, who’s Milos Kerkez, and the way good is he?
Taking part in profession to this point
Milos Kerkez was born on November 7, 2003, within the metropolis of Vrbas, in Vojvodina, Serbia’s northernmost province. As a die-hard fan of the sport, Kerkez’s dad and mom enrolled him into the native membership FK Vrbas youth academy.
He would keep on the membership until 2014 earlier than he would journey 500 kilometres to the Austrian capital of Vienna to affix Speedy Wien. His time on the membership supplied him with a steady surroundings the place he would constantly get higher for the following few years.
Nonetheless, Kerkez was getting stressed, a attribute that might play an integral half in some key moments. The participant would then decide that might impression not solely his membership profession but in addition his worldwide profession.
In 2020, Kerkez modified his nation once more, becoming a member of Hungarian aspect Hodmezovasarhely in 2019 however solely stayed for a yr earlier than becoming a member of FC Gyor. Right here, he made 16 appearances, which was sufficient proof for AC Milan to signal him in 2021. Kerkez initially had no inclination to go away Hungary, however a name from Milan legend Paolo Maldini modified that, and his household determined emigrate to Italy.
Whereas he didn’t get any senior workforce appearances, he usually skilled with the primary workforce. Working with Theo Hernandez helped him enhance his recreation immensely, particularly within the attacking division.
The restlessness, nevertheless, appeared as soon as once more, and simply after half of the season, Kerkez needed common senior-team appearances. Initially, Milan needed him to go on a mortgage, however Kerkez was adamant a couple of everlasting transfer and thus joined AZ Alkmaar.
Essentially the most promising U20 footballers in keeping with CIES:
1. 🇪🇸 Gavi
2. 🏴 Bellingham
3. 🇧🇷 Marcos Leonardo
4. 🇵🇹 Antonio Silva
5. 🇧🇷 Vitor Roque
6. 🇪🇸 Alejandro Balde
7. 🇭🇺 Milos Kerkez
8. 🇧🇷 Endrick
9. 🇧🇷 Ângelo Gabriel
10. 🇩🇪 Youssoufa MoukokoYounger ballers. 😍 pic.twitter.com/dOqsc9drIo
— Professional Future Stars (@ProFutureStars1) April 26, 2023
Milos Kerkez stats
When he joined AZ Alkmaar, he was initially despatched to the reserves aspect, the place he would spend the second half of the 2021-22 season. And when the 2022-23 season began, Kerkez was given the promotion to the senior workforce by supervisor Pascal Jansen.
And Kerkez has repaid the religion placed on him. The fullback has made a complete of 47 appearances scoring 5 objectives and offering eight assists. It’s a implausible return for a participant enjoying his first senior-team season.
Stats from fbref present that he constantly ranks among the many high ten percentile of fullbacks in attacking metrics similar to touches within the penalty space, objectives, and profitable take-ons, amongst others.
Learn extra:
Milos Kerkez scout report
His one yr at AC Milan has helped him enhance his attacking section of the sport. Kerke has admitted that Theo Hernandez and Paolo Maldini influenced his recreation significantly. Kerkez has additionally mentioned that he has additionally been influenced by Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies. In an interview with Scoutedftbl, Kerkez mentioned, “I nonetheless watch Théo to study. I additionally watch Alphonso Davies typically. When Jordi Alba was in his prime, I favored him quite a bit, too. He was nice.”
This explains his enjoying model. Kerkez has been afforded the luxurious of going up the pitch, which permits him to precise himself freely. In consequence, Kerkez is good at virtually each attacking metric, be it dribbling, method, ball management, and creativity. As well as, Kerkez can also be blessed with immense tempo and acceleration, permitting them to go up and down the pitch quickly.
On high of that, Kerkez can also be good at taking pictures one thing uncommon, even for the attacking fullbacks. This makes him a menace to the opposition, who know he can each create objectives.
Milos Kerkez (19) 🆚 Theo Hernández (25) stats this season as Left Backs.
Yesterday after scoring in opposition to Lazio, Milos did the celebration of his idol Theo who did the identical celebration in 2020 additionally in opposition to Lazio.
AZ Alkmaar signed Kerkez from AC Milan for simply €2M. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SuIGZg4FSD
— Professional Future Stars (@ProFutureStars1) March 8, 2023
What makes him particular
There isn’t a doubt that Milos Kerkez is a specific participant. Nonetheless, his best asset lies not in his footballing abilities however in his psychological toughness. Kerkez has at all times been courageous, whether or not on or off the soccer discipline. Earlier than he hit the age of 128, he modified his international locations thrice which might have been detrimental to his profession.
Nonetheless, Kerkez had immense religion and confidence in his expertise, a key cause for his unbelievable rise. Whereas enhancing bodily abilities is straightforward if the participant has expertise, psychological toughness is difficult to search out and develop, making Kerkez a uncommon participant.
Milos Kerkez switch information
Milos Kerkez has had short-term spells in any respect his three earlier golf equipment, so it is not going to be a shock if he leaves AZ Alkmaar come the summer season switch window. As well as, Kerkez’s father has expressed his curiosity in taking his son’s abilities to England.
This has alerted the Premier League golf equipment, with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers among the many frontrunners to signal the participant. Nonetheless, Wolves seem to have the higher hand given they’re eight factors away from the relegation zone whereas Leeds are surviving it by the pores and skin of their enamel.
Nonetheless, Milos Kerkez is certain to fulfil his large expertise wherever he goes.