Player Focus: Jordy the Clasie controller Netherlands need

After the Netherlands’ victory in Istanbul earlier this month a statistic was published on Voetbal International’s website highlighting the number of debutants in Louis van Gaal’s second tenure as manager of Oranje. The total was nineteen. But importantly, with emphasis on restructuring, twelve were 23-years old or under when first capped. Johan Cruyff, after the win over Turkey, commended one of those for the control he brought to midfield in what was an intense atmosphere. Jordy Clasie.

‘Control’ defines Clasie, who is Feyenoord’s conductor, an individual tailor-made for the ‘number six’ role. His spatial awareness complements his technique. He rarely gives the ball away, proving to also be effective even in the tightest of spaces. A master of the instep, every move starts before the ball is touched, courtesy of his sharp brain, 180-degree vision and impeccable foresight.

Once in possession, he distributes efficiently whether short or hitting long, accurate diagonal balls forward, and the occasional defence splitting pass (attempting four through-balls and succeeding with three this season).

In some ways he’s a typical Dutch midfielder of a bygone era, with the innate ability to find space others don’t see. Willem van Hanegem – who played a pivotal role early in his career by telling him to “go out and enjoy” – compared him to another club legend Wim Jansen. “A similar player,” he said. “I mean someone who has so much knowledge and technique.”

His style – keeping possession and circulating the ball with ingenuity and exemplary incisive passing (52.3 passes per game is considerably more than any of his teammates) – and movement has seen fans, media and teammates affectionately nickname him ‘Xavi in De Kuip’. The way he plays is eerily similar. Barça’s ‘number six’ unsurprisingly is a reference. “I want to be like him,” Clasie once told Voetbal International. “Xavi is unplayable in everything he does.” His height, which he shares with the Spaniard, has shown him “you’re never too small to become world class.”

Other players cited as role models include Cesc Fàbregas, Paul Scholes and Andrés Iniesta. “They obviously play at a much higher level, but nonetheless are examples.” There is also the evergreen Andrea Pirlo, who Clasie lined up against when Oranje faced Italy earlier in the year, using the occasion to measure himself. “He’s a great footballer. It will become clear in the coming years if I’m going to reach his level.”

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but Clasie doesn’t mimic his idols, instead he studies them and believes he can improve this way. He’s also tactically versed – very few in the Eredivisie read the game as well – “you have to be smart by positioning yourself correctly. When I intercept, it’s because I know where the ball was going.” He’s averaging 1.8 interceptions per game so far this season – the highest of anyone at Feyenoord that has played in more than five games.

Not solely a give-and-go type, when required he carries the ball from his starting position (as the single-pivot in midfield) and dribbling is one aspect of his game that is constantly improving. He’s successfully completed eight, averaging 0.8 per game.

Another area he’s looking to improve on is goalscoring having only netted five in Feyenoord’s red-and-white. But his focus is on the task at hand. His manager Ronald Koeman, a disciple of the ‘Ajax school’, moulded him into the type of controller you would see in Amsterdam or Barcelona: floating in front of the defence and orchestrating every attack. His four assists rank him joint fifth in the league.

Since emerging two seasons ago his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. There were even rumours Pep Guardiola, before leaving Barcelona, brought him up in a conversation with Koeman. This summer he rebuffed a potential move to Fiorentina, subsequently signing an extension to his contract keeping him at the Dutch club until 2016. His immediate aim is to “help the club win things again”.

Though not a Rotterdammer, born in Haarlem (west of Amsterdam), he feels like one. “I’ve grown up in Rotterdam.” In the summer of 2000 aged nine, a year after Feyenoord’s last championship, he joined their esteemed academy based in Varkenoord. There was interest from Ajax but the Rotterdammers gave him a “better feeling”. Koeman describes him as “Feyenoord-crazy”. Whilst his technical attributes are glowingly appreciated, it’s the other side, his gutsy, heart on sleeve approach that supporters have come to admire. “I love to tackle (averaging 2.2 per game this season) and work for the team too. I need that kind of game.”

Clasie’s ascent has been gradual. There were many who believed he wouldn’t make it as a professional. “He was deemed too small,” Van Hanegem said. “He’s been fortunate there are exceptional small players around,” before adding “brains and technique in football, physicality for weightlifters.” That obstacle was overcome due to some outside of the box thinking. Aged sixteen he’d often fade in the last fifteen minutes. Raymond Verheijen, then exercise physiologist at Feyenoord, in consultation with his youth team coaches Cor Adriaanse and Jan Gösgens, devised a different program from the rest of his teammates.

In short Clasie was to exercise less. “With Jordy all conditions were in place to being stretched to his limits as a kid”, Verheijen said. “He was of small stature and travelled very early in the morning from Haarlem to Rotterdam. That costs a lot of force. Cramp is a logical signal from the body that it cannot cope with the full load. By letting him exercise literally half less Jordy kept enough energy to execute what he does best.”

From that moment in almost every match a settled protocol was established. Clasie would be substituted on purpose about twenty minutes before the final whistle, to keep him fit and fresh. This season he has completed the 90 in eight of his ten league appearances, missing just 10 minutes of action.

Verheijen would cite Clasie as an example of how small youth footballers in the Netherlands should be dealt with. It proved a success and he signed his first professional contract in 2009. He’s now integral to a Feyenoord side that is still growing, a veteran at the age of 22, with only Graziano Pellè rated higher by WhoScored.

Van Gaal back at the helm of Oranje has meant a return to a distinct style of play that can be to Clasie’s advantage. “The KNVB gave me a clear mission to play ‘Dutch School’ football and with the quality of this squad that must be possible,” Van Gaal told journalists last September.

After receiving his first call-up, in the same month, Koeman made a fair observation. “He plays in a position that’s not very well occupied.” The ‘number six’ role – one of the more important in Van Gaal’s system – is up for grabs. It’s looking like a battle between Clasie and Nigel de Jong. The latter might edge it out, through experience, in the short-term but it could be in Clasie’s possession for years to come.

It’s worth remembering age is but a number to Van Gaal. “Experience is important, but you can also have plenty of experience at the age of 16 or 18. I let [Clarence] Seedorf make his debut when he was 16, Iniesta at the age of 17, and Xavi was 18.” Therefore, if he places faith in Clasie it shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. He’s shown great belief in his abilities and given him a chance to prove himself at the highest level. Six games and counting, Clasie is striving to be the best he can be and continues to repay that faith.