I am working on this piece for a football website. Might as well post it here as it becomes an annual thing around here anyway. Still a concept version though.
Dutch/Eredivisie youth ranked by age. I clustered 2002 and 2003 as both categories are major long shots right now. Also included Nouri out of respect. If you have any questions or feedback, please do.
1997
1) Abdelhak Nouri AM - 90C – Ajax/HOL*
2) Frenkie de Jong CM - 88B – Ajax/HOL
3) Kasper Dolberg ST - 85B – Ajax/DEN
4) Steven Bergwijn W - 84B – PSV/HOL
5) David Neres W - 82B – Ajax/BRA
6) Donnie van de Beek CM - 80A – Ajax/HOL
7) Arnaut Groeneveld LW – 76B – Brugge/HOL
8) Guus Til CM - 70B – AZ/HOL
9) Vaclav Cerny W - 80D – Ajax/CZE
10) Noussair Mazraoui RB/RM - 70B – Ajax/HOL
HM: Sam Lammers (PSV), Hidde ter Avest (Udinese), Philippe Sandler (Manchester City), Juninho Bacuna (Huddersfield Town), Matteo Casseira (Ajax).
1998
1) Carel Eiting CM - 84B – Ajax/HOL
2) Calvin Stengs W – 83C – AZ/HOL
3) Timothy-Fosu Mensah D – 83C – Manchester United/HOL
4) Rick van Drongelen CB – 78B – HSV/HOL
5) Justin Bijlow GK – 80C – Feyenoord/HOL
6) Kaj Sierhuis ST – 80C – Ajax/HOL
7) Dante Rigo CM - 80C - PSV/BEL
8) Justin Hoogma CB/LB – 70B – Hoffenheim/HOL
9) Teun Koopmeiners DM – 72C – AZ/HOL
10) Javairo Dilrosun LW – 75D - Hertha BSC/HOL
HM: Rodney Kongolo (Manchester City/Heerenveen), Hassane Bandé (Ajax), Giovanni Troupee (Utrecht), Maxmillan Wöber (Ajax), Dennis Johnson (Ajax), Julian Chabot (Groningen), Sherel Floranus (Heerenveen).
1999
1) Matthijs de Ligt CB – 93B – Ajax/HOL
2) Tahith Chong RW – 87B – Manchester United/HOL
3) Justin Kluivert LW – 85C – AS Roma/HOL
4) Armando Obispo CB 85B – PSV/HOL
5) Maximilliano Romero ST – 85C – PSV/ARG
6) Perr Schuurs CB 82B – Ajax/HOL
7) Joel Piroe ST – 83C – PSV/HOL
8) Donyell Malen W/AM - 75C – PSV/HOL
9) Bobby Adekanye RW – 80D – Liverpool/HOL
10) Leandro Fernandes DM – 76C – Juventus/HOL
HM: Emanuel Boateng (Lazio), Noa Lang (Ajax), Ferdi Kadioglu (Fenerbache), Che Nunnely (Ajax), Mitchell van Bergen (Vitesse), Owen Wijndal (AZ), Dylan Vente (Feyenoord), Deroy Duarte (Sparta), Nathangelo Markelo (Everton), Godfried Frimpong (Benfica), Anderson Lopéz (AS Monaco).
2000
1) Juan Familia Castillo LM/LB - 81C – Chelsea/HOL
2) Kik Pierie LB/CB - 80B – Heerenveen/HOL
3) Achraf El Bouchataoui AM - 83D – Feyenoord/HOL
4) Jasper Schendelaar GK – 75B – AZ/HOL
5) Jurgen Ekkelenkamp CM – 75B - Ajax/HOL
6) Nicolas Kuhn ST - 77C – Ajax/GER
7) Kjell Scherper GK – 75B – Emmen/HOL
8) Mitchell Bakker LB/CB 76B – Ajax/HOL
9) Victor Jensen AM – 80C - Ajax/DEN
10) Millen Baars AM – 75D – Manchester United/HOL
HM: Ludovit Reis (Groningen), Orkün Kokcü (Feyenoord), Dominik Kotarski (Ajax), Delano Ladan (ADO Den Haag), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Zakaria Aboukhlal (PSV), Kees de Boer (Swansea).
2001
1) Daishwan Redan ST – 87C – Chelsea/HOL
2) Myron Boadu ST – 84B – AZ/HOL
3) Joshua Zirkzee ST – 85C – Bayern München/HOL
4) Manuel Pherai AM – 83C – Dortmund/HOL
5) Cheick Touré LW – 82C – Feyenoord/HOL
6) Wouter Burger CM – 82C – Feyenoord/HOL
7) Joey Koorevaar GK - 82C - Feyenoord/HOL
8) Liam van Gelderen CB – 80C – Ajax/HOL
9) Splinter de Mooij AM – 80C – Feyenoord/HOL
10) Vicente Besuijen AM – 75C – Roma/HOL
HM: Colin Odutayo (Aston Villa), Kenzo Goudmijn (AZ), Sepp van den Berg (Zwolle), Denilho Cleonise (Genoa), Thomas Buitink (Vitesse), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Tyro Nimmermeer (Lazio), Quinten Timber (Ajax), Anouar El Mhassani (West Ham United), Enric Llansana (Ajax).
2002/2003
1) Naci Unuvar AM – 91C – Ajax/HOL
2) Xavi Simons CM – 91C – Barcelona/HOL
3) Ryan Gravenberch CM – 90C Ajax/HOL
4) Jaymillo Pinas ST – 86C - Ajax/HOL
5) Brian Brobbey ST – 87D – Ajax/HOL
6) Mohammed Ihattaren W/AM – 84D – PSV/HOL
7) Jayden Braaf ST – 85C – Manchester City/HOL
8) Dillon Hoogewerf ST - 83C – Ajax/HOL
9) Ian Maatsen CB – 80C – Chelsea/HOL
10) Kian Fitz-Jim AM – 75C – AZ/HOL
HM: Melayro Bogarde (Hoffenheim), Ki-Jana Hoever (Liverpool), Mohamed Taabouni (AZ).
Updated and final, more detailed version. Lots of changes as the list is made with someone else. Also added a current, total top 10 (note that the comparisons are solely based on style, not on potential).
1997
1) Abdelhak Nouri AM – 90E – Ajax/HOL*
2) Frenkie de Jong CM - 90B – Ajax/HOL
3) Steven Bergwijn W - 86B – PSV/HOL
4) Kasper Dolberg ST - 83B – Ajax/DEN
5) David Neres W - 82B – Ajax/BRA
6) Arnaut Groeneveld LW – 80B – Brugge/HOL
7) Donnie van de Beek CM - 79A – Ajax/HOL
8) José Angel Tasende Angelino 76B – LB – PSV/SPA
9) Guus Til CM – 70A – AZ/HOL
10) Noussair Mazraoui RB - 74B – Ajax/HOL
11) Pablo Rosario DM - 70A - PSV/HOL
12) Michel Flap AM - 71B - HEE/HOL
13) Sam Lammers ST - 70B - PSV/HOL
14) Alessio da Cruz W/AM – 70C – Parma/HOL
15) Vaclav Cerny LW – 76D – Ajax/CZE
HM: Laros Duarte (PSV), Hidde ter Avest (Udinese), Philippe Sandler (Manchester City), Juninho Bacuna (Huddersfield Town), Matteo Casseira (Ajax), Mohamed El Hankouri (Feyenoord), Rasmus Nissen Kristenssen (Ajax).
1998
1) Carel Eiting CM - 84B – Ajax/HOL
2) Calvin Stengs W – 83C – AZ/HOL
3) Timothy-Fosu Mensah D – 83C – Manchester United/HOL
4) Javairo Dilrosun LW – 80C - Hertha BSC/HOL
5) Rick van Drongelen CB – 78B – HSV/HOL
6) Justin Bijlow GK – 76C – Feyenoord/HOL
7) Kaj Sierhuis ST – 76C – Ajax/HOL
8) Dante Rigo CM - 79C - PSV/BEL
9) Ritsu Doan AM - 75C - Groningen/JAP
10) Ferdi Druijff ST - 73B - AZ/HOL
11) Justin Hoogma CB - 75C - Hoffenheim/HOL
12) Teun Koopmeiners DM – 72C – AZ/HOL
13) Rodney Kongolo DM – 74D – Heerenveen/HOL
14) Maxmillan Wöber CB – 69B – Ajax/AUS
15) Sherel Floranus LB/RB – 68B - Heerenveen/HOL
HM: Jasper van der Werff (Red Bull Salzburg), Dani de Wit (Ajax), Gianni dos Santos (Sparta), Hassane Bandé (Ajax), Giovanni Troupee (Utrecht), Dennis Johnson (Ajax), Julian Chabot (Groningen), Sherwin Seedorf (Bradford).
1999
1) Matthijs de Ligt CB – 94B – Ajax/HOL
2) Tahith Chong RW – 86B – Manchester United/HOL
3) Justin Kluivert LW – 83C – AS Roma/HOL
4) Armando Obispo CB 82B – PSV/HOL
5) Maximilliano Romero ST – 82C – PSV/ARG
6) Perr Schuurs CB 82B – Ajax/HOL
7) Joel Piroe ST – 83C – PSV/HOL
8) Donyell Malen W/AM - 80C – PSV/HOL
9) Bobby Adekanye RW – 80D – Liverpool/HOL
10) Nick Venema ST - 78B - Utrecht/HOL
11) Danilo Pereira ST – 80C – Ajax/BRA
12) Che Nunnely LW/RW – 79D – Ajax/HOL
13) Leandro Fernandes DM – 76D – Juventus/HOL
14) Ferdi Kadioglu AM – 74C – Fenerbache/HOL
15) Tyrell Malacia LB – 72B – Feyenoord/HOL
HM: Cody Gakpo (PSV), Owen Wijndal (AZ), Emanuel Boateng (Lazio), Noa Lang (Ajax), Mitchell van Bergen (Heerenveen), Dylan Vente (Feyenoord), Deroy Duarte (Sparta), Jordan Teze (PSV), Nathangelo Markelo (Everton), Godfried Frimpong (Benfica), Anderson Lopéz (AS Monaco), Halil Dervisoglu (Sparta).
2000
1) Mitchell Bakker LB/CB 83B – Ajax/HOL
2) Juan Familia Castillo LM/LB - 81C – Chelsea/HOL
3) Orkün Kokcü AM - 80C - Feyenoord/HOL
4) Kik Pierie LB/CB - 78B – Heerenveen/HOL
5) Achraf El Bouchataoui AM - 78C – Feyenoord/HOL
6) Jurgen Ekkelenkamp CM – 77B - Ajax/HOL
7) Millen Baars AM – 78B – Manchester United/HOL
8) Jasper Schendelaar GK – 76B – AZ/HOL
9) Nicolas Kuhn ST - 77C – Ajax/GER
10) Victor Jensen AM – 80C - Ajax/DEN
11) Ludovit Reis AM - 76C - Groningen/HOL
12) Delano Ladan W/AM - 75C - ADO Den Haag/HOL
13) Kjell Scherper GK – 73B – Emmen/HOL
14) Gianni van de Pitte AM - 72C - NAC/HOL
15) Yassin Nasser AM - 72C - Utrecht/PSV
HM: Lucas Leverland (ADO), Dominik Kotarski (Ajax), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Zakaria Aboukhlal (PSV), Kees de Boer (Swansea), Elayin Tavsan (Sparta).
2001
1) Daishwan Redan ST – 90C – Chelsea/HOL
2) Myron Boadu ST – 84B – AZ/HOL
3) Joshua Zirkzee ST – 84C – Bayern München/HOL
4) Manuel Pherai AM – 83C – Dortmund/HOL
5) Wouter Burger CM – 82C – Feyenoord/HOL
6) Liam van Gelderen CB – 80C – Ajax/HOL
6) Joey Koorevaar GK - 80C - Feyenoord/HOL
7) Crysencio Summerville RW – 80C – Feyenoord/HOL
8) Vicente Besuijen AM – 78C – Roma/HOL
9) Sekou Sibide RW – 78C – PSV/BEL/IVO
10) Yorbe Vertessen ST – 78C – PSV/BEL
11) Sepp van den Berg CB – 77C – Zwolle/HOL
12) Cheick Touré CM – 74C – Feyenoord/HOL
13) Shurandy Sando CB – 74C – PSV/HOL
14) Kenzo Goudmijn AM – 74C – AZ/HOL
15) Ramon Hendriks CB – 71C – Feyenoord/HOL
HM: Tyro Nimmermeer (Lazio), Marouan Azarkan (Feyenoord), Sydney van Hooijdonk (NAC), Christopher Mamengi (Utrecht), Denilho Cleonise (Genoa), Thomas Buitink (Vitesse), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Quinten Timber (Ajax), Anouar El Mhassani (West Ham United), Enric Llansana (Ajax), Omar Rekik (Hertha BSC), Jimmy Kaparos (Schalke), Daan Reiziger (Ajax), Splinter de Mooij (Feyenoord).
2002/2003
1) Naci Unuvar AM – 91C – Ajax/HOL
2) Xavi Simons CM – 91C – Barcelona/HOL
3) Ryan Gravenberch CM – 90C Ajax/HOL
4) Brian Brobbey ST – 85D – Ajax/HOL
5) Mohammed Ihattaren W/AM – 84D – PSV/HOL
6) Melayro Bogarde CB - 83C – Hoffenheim/HOL
7) Jaymillo Pinas ST – 83C - Ajax/HOL
8) Jenno Campagne CM 82C - Ajax/HOL
9) Jayden Braaf ST 82C – Manchester City/HOL
10) Sontje Hansen W/ST – 83C – Ajax/HOL
11) Jeremy Antonisse W/CAM- 82C - PSV/HOL
12) Noah Ohio ST - 82C - Manchester City/HOL
13) Kian Fitz-Jim AM – 81C – AZ/HOL
14) Ki-Jana Hoever RB – 80C – Liverpool/HOL
15) Tein Troost GK - 80C - Feyenoord/HOL
16) Dillon Hoogewerf ST - 80C – Ajax/HOL
17) Ian Maatsen CB – 80C – Chelsea/HOL
18) Kenneth Taylor CM – 80C – Ajax/HOL
19) Mohamed Taabouni AM – 77D – AZ/HOL
20) Naoufal Bannis ST – 75D – Feyenoord/HOL
HM: Jordi Altena (Vitesse), Heritier Bora Deyonge (PSV), Salah-Eddine (Ajax), Neraysho Kasanwirjo (Ajax), Dirk Proper (NEC), Syb van Ottele (NEC).
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Top 10 Dutch prospects:
1) Matthijs de Ligt CB – 94B – Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX0THVpiYRI
Style comparison: Frank Rijkaard, or a mix between Pique and Vertonghen
Maxed potential: Best at his position
Pro’s:
- Strong, especially in the air
- An aereal threat on set pieces offensively
- Remains calm under pressure
- Outstanding tackler.
- Disciplined
- Passing is good, quality long ball. A CB to be trusted with the ball.
- Ball possesion is his number one priority, even in defensive battles.
- Wins most of his personal battles.
- A vocal leader. Ajax captain at 18 years old.
Cons:
- His acceleration is average. Likes to clutch and grab to compensate. Strikers should take more advantage of this.
- Sometimes still out of positon, often having to correct his own positional faults.
- Short, speedy forwards are his kryptonite.
- Should butcher the ball more during pressure situations.
- Hard shot, but never shoots on goal or gets himself in the position to.
2) Naci Unuvar AM - 91C - Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud0AqJzoTKA&t=4s
Style comparison: Mix between Kaká and Messi
Maxed potential: Top 5 at his position
Pro’s:
- Outstanding dribbler
- Creates space for his teammates
- First touch is excellent.
- Quick, agile, light footed.
- Outstanding vision; reads plays well.
- Above average shot; more touch than power.
- Creative, technical – joy to watch.
- Very smart player; high football IQ; has continuesly played vs boys 2 to 4 years older.
Cons:
- Short in size, though at 15 should still grow and beefen up more.
- Can be a bit to enthusiastic.
- Defensively there’s still a lot of room to grow. He saves his energy when his team doesn’t have possession.
- Plays with a lot of risk in his game; prone to turnovers.
3) Xavi Simons CM - 91C - Barcelona/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ8BroO4MqM&t=1s
Style comparison: mix between Xavi and Edgar Davids
Maxed potential: Top 5 at his position
Pro’s:
- Fast, with or without the ball. First touch is top notch.
- Thinks very quickly.
- Finds openings rather effortlessly.
- Outstanding through ball.
- Creates space and opportunities for his teammates
- Works hard, defends well; passionate.
- A real director on the pitch; directs the tempo of the match.
- High football IQ
- A vocal leader
Cons:
- Should shoot more often. He can be too generous with his passing.
- Size, much like Unuvar, is rather short, but he might still grow, nor does it affect players with his IQ much.
- Can be too fancy. I think he can be even more effective with his playmaking.
4) Frenkie de Jong CM - 90B - Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7go9SsN9BaE
Style comparison: Mix between Beckenbauer and Iniesta
Maxed potential: Best at his position
Pro’s:
- Excellent at creating space; Frenkie’s dribbles and body fakes attract opposing players, creating more room for his teammates.
- Excellent vision and passing – long or short.
- Always remains calm; shows a lot of patience with the ball.
- Everything he does has a purpose on the pitch; very high football IQ.
- A ball hog, but always wants to move forward, even in hopeless or pressured situations.
- Positionally sound & a quality tackler; making him a reliable stand in defender as well
Cons:
- Still rather weak in personal battles vs the bigger players out there.
- Weak with his head.
- His shot is non-existant; rarely, if ever shoots the ball.
- His playing style comes with a lot of risks; prone to turnovers.
- Leads by example, not much of a vocal leader; rather quiet even.
5) Dashaiwn Redan ST - 90C - Chelsea/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uO6T60g7Jo
Style comparison: Patrick Kluivert
Maxed potential: Top 10 at his position
Pro’s:
- Complete striker. Strong with both feet, okay with his head, can be a pinchhitter or create opportunities himself.
- Times his runs without the ball perfectly – always gets his fair share of chances.
- Has the speed, guts and technique to be an effective winger, too.
- Lateral speed, turns quickly, making him hard to guard even with his back towards the goal.
- Scores easily. Doesn’t need a whole lot of time or space.
Cons:
- His final delivery often lacks accuracy.
- Can be very nonchalant as the game goes on; overconfident with his trickery or shot.
- Should improve his heading. He can waste some perfect heading opportunities.
- Can be very negative towards his teammates when things aren’t going well.
- Not all that tall; around 1.77.
6) Ryan Gravenberch CM - 90C - Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ynoBAr-O8
Style comparison: Paul Pogba
Maxed potential: Top 10 at his position
Pro’s:
- Tall, physical, albeit still lanky, midfielder; uses his size and reach very well.
- Creative; quality playmaker, which is his main quality.
- Speedy for his size.
- Calm; knows when to speed things up or slow things down. No nerves.
- Defensively imposing.
- Powerful player; hard nosed in battles, hard shot, but also shows finesse in his playmaking and technique.
- Versatile; can play at all three midfield positions (DM, CM, AM or even wide).
- Leadership. Very talkative during his youth team days. This is much less for jong Ajax or Ajax, but that’s understandable.
Cons:
- Can be prone to making unnecessary fouls at unnecessary moments.
- Rather wild shot. Should be more precise with his chances. I’ve head his teammates yell: “go get it yourself!” – whenever he was about to shoot from outside the box during practice.
- His versatility can actually hurt his development. Doesn’t appear to have picked a primary position yet, or better said his coaches. Even played parts as a striker during earlier youth matches.
7) Tahith Chong RW – 86B – Manchester United/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0mr21H7Wn0
Style comparison: George Best
Maxed potential: Top 10 at his position
Pro’s:
- Lots of speed; especially his first steps.
- Outstanding technique and plays with a lot of flair; uses it effectively.
- Runs all the time and passes his man easily. Trickery and agility makes him hard to defend.
- Defends and willing to do the dirty work.
- Reads the game well and, even at top speed, has the touch to play outstanding through balls.
- Cuts inside a lot, not the typical backline-crossing-winger.
Cons:
- Sometimes goes on runs without a plan – like a headless chicken.
- Very lanky and a light weight. I think the primary reason he hasn’t made his debut yet, as he has the raw talent to compete with the likes of Martial and Rashford already.
- Often wanting to do too much. Picking up balls at midfield or suddenly finding himself defending on the other side. Needs to have a coach to put him on a short leash. Mourinho would’ve been a good one if he were to be a more youth orientated coach.
8) Steven Bergwijn LW - 85B - PSV/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ1rIvQ3sHc
Style comparison: Mix between Rob Rensenbrink and Eden Hazard
Maxed potential: Top 10 at his position.
Pro’s:
- Lightning fast; acceleration and top speed.
- Strong for his size; feisty and passionate.
- More of a scoring, self-creating winger than he is a backline-crossing-winger.
- Technique and touch is outstanding; very trickery.
- Likes to run a lot with the ball. Passes his opponents rather effortlessly.
- Hard to defend due to his speed and agility. Avoids tackles easily.
- Powerful shot; albeit predictable, much like Robben shoots, though it needs work.
- Can switch and be used as a modern free-roaming striker as well; ala Mertens, Aguero.
Cons:
- Wild and a lose cannon at times. His ball handling is lacking at times.
- Needs to have confidence. Can play real dull for stretches if he doesn’t have his mojo.
- His efficiency needs to be better.
- I think his crosses need work.
- Not much of threat with his head.
9) Brian Brobbey ST - 87D - Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0zmAc8Dyz8
Style comparison: Didier Drogba
Maxed potential: Top 10 at his position
Pro’s:
- Ridiculously strong (club even forbids him to work with weights now); imposing forward.
- Likes to play with his back towards the goal, hold the ball and wait for his teammates to position themselves, or turn and shoot himself.
- Underrated speed for a man his size, especially when at full speed.
- Powerful shot and a strong, fearless header.
- Deadly in the box. Knows where to be at the right time.
- Even played winger before, and while his main assets were wasted there, he better understands when and where to anticipate on crosses.
Cons:
- Not much of a playmaker.
- No finesse.
- A deep lying striker; not that useful without the ball.
- Needs to surround himself with playmakers and crossing wingers to be most effective.
- His physical head start will level out once he reaches Ajax I. Will be interesting to see how he holds up.
10) Carel Eiting CM - 84B - Ajax/HOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix-mfKeQ22Y
Style comparison: Philip Cocu
Maxed potential: Top 15 at his position
Pro’s:
- Complete midfielder.
- Quick thinker. High football IQ. His nickname is “the professor”.
- Always wants to move forward, even in high pressured situations.
- Calm and mature for his age.
- Likes to direct play and play long through balls.
- Does a lot of the little things right (prevents breakouts, closes gaps, smart combinations); a silent force.
Cons:
- Strenght. Not the strongest player and often has to put more energy in personal battles than he wants to.
- His speed is average.
- Should be more vocal for his position and the touches he is getting.
