Noemi Ivelj is an exciting seventeen-year-old deep midfielder who was listed on UEFA’s ten women’s players to watch in 2024, alongside players such as Chelsea’s Aggie Beaver-Jones and Barcelona’s Giulia Dragoni.
Having made her full Swiss national team debut at just sixteen years of age, coming off the bench to replace Noelle Maritz from Arsenal in a Nations League game against Spain.
She generally plies her trade for the Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zurich, who currently sit in sixth position in the Swiss Women’s Super League.
In this tactical analysis, we will outline some key tactics and statistics that make Ivelj such an exciting young prospect.
Throughout this scout report, we delve into detail on her role alongside her ability to read the game, cover, defend, and progress the ball with the ball at her feet.
Noemi Ivelj Position & Role
Ivelj has primarily played in midfield for Grasshoppers this season.
Having played 13 out of her 16 Swiss league appearances in the centre of midfield.
Additionally, she has played two games as a centre-back; this is also where she made her Swiss senior team debut.
As the heat map above demonstrates, she spends a significant proportion, 82.7%, of her first team minutes in deep positions, particularly towards the right.
This would rightly suggest that her primary role is as a holding midfielder just in front of the backline, where she offers defensive support in front of the backline with the additional ability to play penetrating passes to control the Grasshopper side in attack, with her completing an average of 40.4 passes per 90 at a success rate of 79.7%.
