da spicy bet： Everything you need to know about the scintillating center-back
da premier bet： It isn't often that a youngster shows maturity at such a high level that it seems the player has been around for years. Matthijs de Ligt was one such youngster, showing immaculate leadership qualities and defensive acumen even before he had legally turned an adult. De Ligt having a bright future was written in the stars.
Born on August 12, 1999, in Leiderdorp, Netherlands, De Ligt began his youth career at the renowned Ajax academy, where he quickly rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut at the age of 17.
De Ligt's playing style is characterized by his exceptional defensive abilities and composure on the ball. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.89 meters), he possesses great physical strength and aerial prowess, making him a formidable presence in both penalty areas. His positioning and reading of the game are remarkable for a player of his age.
Not only is De Ligt solid defensively, but he is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. He displays excellent passing range and distribution, often initiating attacks from the back with precise long balls or carrying the ball forward himself. This ability to contribute to the buildup play has earned him comparisons to some of the great ball-playing center-backs of the past.
De Ligt's leadership qualities are evident both on and off the pitch. Despite his young age, he captained Ajax during their impressive run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season. His maturity, confidence, and ability to organize the defense have earned him respect from teammates and opponents alike.
In July 2019, De Ligt made a high-profile transfer to Italian giants Juventus, where he continued to showcase his defensive skills in Serie A.
His performances have cemented his reputation as one of the most promising young center-backs in the world, attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, which earned him a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2022.
GOAL takes a look at some of the most interesting facts about the Dutch defender.
Started playing tennis before football
Even though it's not surprising to see how well De Ligt plays, the fact that the Dutchman played tennis before he started playing football just goes to show how good an athlete he is.
De Ligt started playing tennis at the tender age of five and had never touched a football till he was six. However, when he turned eight years old when his local club in Abcoude, a town outside of Amsterdam, informed Ajax about him.
According to Dutch soccer writer Henk Spaan, Ajax first viewed De Ligt as too slow and out of shape, but a scout was reassured about his future body type when he saw De Ligt's slim father watching from the touchline.
AdvertisementStood up for bullied children at school
In an interview with AjaxShowTime, Frank de Ligt, Matthijs' father, recalled how Matthijs would stand up for children who would get bullied.
"If someone was being bullied in class, he didn't go with the crowd, but he stood up for the bullied boy. According to the high school teachers, he grew up quickly compared to other boys of fourteen or fifteen years old," Frank revealed.
Could have been a midfielder
De Ligt, who is currently regarded as one of the best center-backs in the game, might have easily been playing higher up the pitch, possibly as a midfielder.
"Until I was 15, I was an attacking midfielder," he explained to UEFA.com.
"I played a lot in midfield, I scored some goals, gave some assists, and then suddenly they said to me it would be better for my career to go one position back, to center-back.
"At the beginning, I was thinking: 'I don’t like being a defender,' but now I’m starting to realise that the way I was brought up like a midfielder is helping me. So I’m really happy that this was the development I had to go through."
Didn't want to get a driver's license
In the same interview with AjaxShowTime, Matthijs' father Frank recalled the time when the defender refused to get a driver's license.
"He is also not busy with getting his driver's license. He doesn't want a car; 'focus first, it doesn't fit into my schedule,' [Matthijs] says. I then have to push him to go to a driving school. He lets it all come to him."