“Emre is the most complete player I’ve ever seen in my career, and I’ve seen a lot,” Steffen Freund concluded after his side’s 6-1 victory over Ecuador. Freund was coaching a German side would go on to finish 3rd in the U17 World Cup, losing to the eventual victors, Mexico, in the semifinals. At this point the manager had been coaching through the U20 and U16 ranks of the German national team setup, and was about to embark on a new role as Assistant Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. His player scope was complex and Can was the most complete.

Has Liverpool purchased a Gerrard replacement? Have they found a binding glue for a changing team shape, a complete player? Growing up in the youth systems of Germany, Can has impressed at every level. Oddly, of all of his achievements, one of his firsts might be the best indicator. In 2009 Can represented Eintracht Frankfurt in the Matthias-Pape Cup, the “unofficial U15 indoor championship” of Germany and won ‘player of the tournament’. The cup’s self proclaimed dream team of past participants is staggering: Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Julian Draxler, Lewis Holtby, Nuri Sahin, Marcel Schmelzer, Joel Matip, Jerome Boateng, Gonzalo Castro and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Can continued to progress physically and technically. He was awarded the captaincy of the German U17 national team who was to compete in the previously mentioned 2011 World Cup in Mexico. Although the German’s did not reach their goal of winning the tournament, Can’s ability was displayed on the world stage. This was his catalyst. After the team’s third place finish he was awarded the Fritz Walter gold medal, identifying the best U17 player in Germany. The giants of the country could not let this pass without their influence, and Bayern approached. (A man among boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoOAoAiTjvk)

Bayern Munich convinced Can that their allure was too strong, and signed him on contract. Over the next 2 seasons he represented the club’s first and second team, commanding a presence in the second team’s midfield and getting rare first team opportunities. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich’s first team coach at the time, looked ahead to the future. “He has power, ambition and obsession, he can do it for us,” Rumminegge proposed before his club’s 2012 preseason tour of Asia. Bayern Munich was eventually too crowded for Can after the 2012-2013 season, but the club wasn’t willing to let him slip through their fingers. Rumminegge pointed to Bayern’s recent success of loaning or selling players, with returnable contract stipulations, in order to gain first team experience (i.e. Phillip Lahm, David Alaba and Toni Kroos). Bayern allowed Can to sign a 4-year contract with fellow Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, inserting a buy-back clause into his contract for future consideration.

As a Leverkusen player, Can’s role and abilities of application evolved as a professional. Originally playing in a back four, usually as an outside defender, Can transitioned centrally, then to a holding midfield role as Leverkusen pressed for a top 4 position in the league. He was now allowed to surge forward when appropriate, with minding his defensive and structural responsibilities in the team shape. Can and Leverkusen surged with 13 points out of a possible 15 in their last 5 games of the season, ending up in 4th place in the league, gaining a Champions League place.

A broader horizon was awaiting Emre Can, and England called. Feeling the residue of a stinging 2nd place, Premier League finish, Liverpool identified current and potential weaknesses that needed addressing: a leaky defense, an aging Steven Gerrard and the need for dynamic players to compliment an evolving team shape. Can ticked every box. Liverpool needed it and Can wanted the opportunity; the Reds triggered the, reportedly, 12million Euro buy out clause in his Leverkusen contract and received a technician. Can referenced Bayern’s buy-back clause in his contract when asked about his move to Liverpool, but it hasn’t seemed to carry over and apply to teams outside of Germany.

Starting the season without Daniel Sturridge or the recently departed Luis Suarez, Liverpool immediately struggled. Can’s influence would be in distribution, work rate and structural consistency, but certainly wouldn’t be the answer the their goal drought. Now, Raheem Sterling has continued his offensive edge and Sturridge is coming back from injury, which has affected the team’s recent success. But, the foundation of their form is the defensive skeleton, and at the heart of this personification is Emre Can.

After a damaging start to the season, Brendan Rodgers tried to compensate with changing Liverpool’s formation. Rodgers decided on a 3-4-3 shape to bring to Manchester United, away at Old Trafford. The outcome: Liverpool get slaughtered 3-0. Sticking with the formation, seeing signs of offensive progression and knowing that the understand of the defensive shape needed to be drilled in training over weeks, Rodgers stuck with it; tieing Arsenal at home 2-0 and winning away at Burnley 1-0 (below, Kolo Toure player dashboard), next, seemed to convince him. Enter, Emre Can and the turning point of Liverpool’s season, quieting the critics and callers for Rodgers’ head. Swansea City ran into a side, in Liverpool, that was becoming offensively expansive and finding its defensive feet. The Reds go on to win 4-1 with their new back 3, and it’s evident what Can adds to the side (below, Emre Can player dashboard).

Now, including the Swansea victory, Liverpool have not lost in 9 games, conceding 5 goals and scoring 18. Can has mostly been playing on the right side of the back 3, with also seeing time on the left, pushed further as a wing back and in the middle of the park. Because of his ability to distribute it has opened up both sides of the pitch for Liverpool. He can link with midfielder or wing back on his side, as well as posing a threat over the top, diagonally, to the opposite wing or striker. It is no coincidence that Lazar Markovic’s recent run of form and Jordan Ibe’s ability to find his feet quickly have paralleled Can’s, now, consistent presence in the side.

What has been impressive is not only all of the tools at his disposal, physically and technically, but the ability to strike the right balance of these tools and properly apply them to his given position. At right and left back he is defensively stout, structurally aware of his spacing, and composed but urgent on the ball. When pushed to wing back, usually later on in a match Liverpool is already winning, he is full of energy, willing to work and offensively involved. In the center of midfield, his preferred position, his distribution is complex and composed, always looking to link play, his shape is disciplined and his driving dribbles escape stale possession.

Above all, he has footballing attributes that that can’t be ignored. In possession, his peripheral vision and ability to use either his X or Y axis seems to come naturally. Because of this, he has developed patience that most players lack, due to their inability to completely manipulate the ball at their will. He constantly wants to involve and link with players surrounding him, but when it gets compact and stale he drives with a Yaya Toure like determination and body shape. The compliment to his tactical sheen is his relish for the war; his instinctive reflex to get in, win a tackle or clean up a mess, and immediately look to progress in possession. In any assignment, Can has certain capabilities that seem superior, but his understanding of fundamental, positional responsibilities is what allows him to express himself. His tactical discipline is on display in the heat maps below, showing 3 different positions with correct positional and activity frequency.



So, back to the questions. Has Liverpool purchased a Gerrard replacement? Can is more comfortable in a holding, defensive role where he is able to dictate offensive tempo and can be consistently involved in tackling. Steven Gerrard has come to find himself in this role, now later on in his career, and this potential vacuum suits Can as a replacement. The issue is longevity. Will Can commit himself to Liverpool long-term when undoubted European suitors come beckoning? I’m not so sure. Has Liverpool found a binding glue for the team shape, a complete player? Yes. At a 12million Euro transfer fee, Brendan Rodgers has found himself a footballer, a gem. A player who is a modest, flexible hard worker who can fit most positions on the pitch, as well as someone who has a ceiling potential to become world-class.

Brendan Rodgers was routinely questioned after his side’s 0-0 draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby a month ago. His response was significant. “Look at Emre Can tonight, pshhhh [sigh of disbelief]. 21 years of age, he was like a Rolls Royce.”