Asier Illaramendi: Next Xabi Alonso or just another incredible Spanish talent?

Gifted with extreme patience, Asier can be involved in patient build up to an attack and possesses god gifted skills to turn defence into attack in no time – a key requirement in Spanish football philosophy. Aged 23, this is the last junior level tournament that Illaramendi would be involved in, and now it remains to be seen when he gets that dream call up to the Spain senior squad ahead of the big World Cup year. Very much likened to the style of Xabi Alonso, a Sociedad and Basque hero, Vicente del Bosque could use the Basque boy as the former’s long term replacement, who it seems would hang up his boots post Brazil 2014.

A no-nonsense defensive midfielder

As far as Real Sociedad’s season was concerned, outgoing manager Philippe Montanier had used the 5ft 9in Illaramendi as a defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system partnering the experienced Markel Bergara. The naturally strong physical aspects and swift passing abilities of the Spain U-21 international have in turn brought the best out of the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Carlos Vela in the Sociedad squad. Illaramendi is the main supply route in the Anoeta based club’s attacking set up and now in the Spain U-21 outfit. When in pressure, the Sociedad defence depends on Illara, and he is know to get the ball out of the danger zone and turn defence into attack – a trait that Xabi Alonso possesses too.

It is too early to predict if Asier Illaramendi is similar to Xabi Alonso, and if Spain would not miss the Real Madrid legend once he is gone because Alonso’s mental set up is probably the strongest in international football and the former Liverpool man has time and again shown that he could be manhandled, kicked and knocked out on the field, but when it comes to making a difference in big matches with audacious passing, tough tackling interceptions and long range goals, there is no one better in Spain and Europe than Xabi. Young Illara would need to improve his physical and mental conditioning to survive the intensity of European football and, above all, need to overlook the lucrative offers that will come his way once the U-21 European Championships are over as remaining in San Sebastien for one more year and helping Sociedad in the Champions League would be the wisest thing to do in a demanding 2013-14 season.

Born in the small Basque coastal town of Mutriku, Asier Illaramendi has immense talent but would need to prove that he is not a one season star. With rumours already linking him with a move to Real Madrid, the player himself has come out and said that he has everything one craves for in life at Sociedad, but that rarely happens in the modern football transfer stories. Undoubtedly though we are dealing with a very impressive player indeed and Europe’s elite are already in Israel to have a look at him.