Jordy Alc铆var was born and raised in the coastal city of Manta, Ecuador in the small neighborhood of听Abd贸n Calder贸n. His mother grew up a soccer fan and when Alc铆var was born she wasted no time in taking him to the local soccer pitches.听
It was at this early age where Alc铆var鈥檚 love of the game began. Today, he has grown to become one of the hottest prospects coming out of Ecuador.听听
He听has represented his national team at the youth levels, but a senior national team call up could be on the cards for the 22-year-old Ecuadorian against Mexico at Bank of America Stadium next week.听
Here are three things to know about Alc铆var's style of play that make him currently one of the top young Ecuadorian players.听
Controlling Midfielder听
Alc铆var is what is known as a controlling midfielder,听a term coined for players who provide balance in the midfield to help dictate tempo. Without such a听midfielder, the attacking, possession-based style听that head coach Miguel Ram铆rez prefers听can become disjointed and struggle to, as the name suggests, control games.听
Controlling midfielders need to be intelligent in their play and have a good tactical understanding of the game听in order听to听be just as effective without the ball as they are with it.听
They must also听have good composure and quick decision-making in order to properly deal with the pressing styles of modern defenses.听
鈥淗e鈥檚 smart like that. He鈥檚 good under pressure, he really knows how to absorb pressure from an opponent and听then make quick decisions,鈥 said听Director of Scouting Thomas Schaling听of听Alc铆var鈥檚 intelligence.听
This听ability is difficult to coach and especially rare in younger players but, despite Alc铆var's young age, he has shown he is beyond his years in this aspect. While much of this comes naturally,听Alc铆var has听refined it听over time with experience,听already totaling 74 appearances across the Ecuadorian first division, Copa Libertadores, and Copa Sudamericana.听
鈥淗e comes from a well-respected league in South America and is very experienced for a player of his age,鈥 said Charlotte FC Sporting Director, Zoran Krneta.听鈥淚n Jordy, we add another player to our roster who has experience in big moments for club and country.鈥澨
Passing Ability听
Some central midfielders look to听control and听progress the ball听with their dribbling ability, but Alc铆var looks to do it with his passing. Often, it is not with flashy passing but calculated, purposeful passes with the intention of helping break defenses down.听听
鈥淗e gives those passes through the lines to feed the players ahead of him,听who can then give that next crucial听pass,鈥 said Schaling.听鈥淗e is often at the base of a good passing sequence,听gives the pre-assist pass that breaks the line of defense in front of him, so that the next person to receive it can play听that final ball.鈥澨
Having a midfielder that can feed the attackers helps the team remain positive in play. While the main attacking responsibilities don鈥檛 fall on Alc铆var, he is instrumental in the build-up leading to the attack.听听
Defensive Discipline听
There are also defensive responsibilities that come with the midfield position. Alc铆var doesn鈥檛 shy away from them and helps provide defensive stability to his team with his intelligence and discipline.听听
鈥淗e鈥檚 very, very disciplined defensively. Whenever he needs to scan his environment and听make听runs off the ball to recover听and track back,听he is so determined听and focused,鈥 Schaling said.听
Alc铆var constantly scans around him to find any opposing players who aren鈥檛 marked and picks them up. He tracks and follows runners who try to slip through the defensive lines.听听
He stands his ground and is strong in his tackles. He鈥檚 fearless in the 50/50 balls and doesn鈥檛 shy away from the dirty but all-important defensive work. At the end of the day, he鈥檚 a team player willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.听
Ultimately,听Alc铆var suits Charlotte FC鈥檚 head coach Miguel Ram铆rez鈥檚 high pressing, possession-based style of play听and听brings a well-rounded game that will be important to keeping the balance within the midfield.听
For Charlotte FC fans,听听on October 27th听at Bank of America Stadium听could be a chance to catch a first glimpse of the Club鈥檚 exciting new midfielder.
