To say Zeno Debasts rise has been astronomic would be an understatement. After being a product of Anderlecht’s famed youth academy, Debast was handed his first team debut in the May of 2021, at the age of 17. Now, in a new system under Felice Mazzu, Debast has started every single league game for Anderlecht so far this season, playing as one of the three centre-backs in Mazzu’s preferred 3-5-2 system.
His performances have also attracted the attention of Belgian national team boss and former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who has seen enough from Debast to give the 18-year-old his first caps at senior international level, with the centre-back starting in Belgium’s last two UEFA Nations League games against Wales and the Netherlands.
This tactical analysis and scout report will take a look at some strengths that are developing in Debast’s game so far, and take a glance into why the future looks bright for the young Belgian international centre-back.
Player profile
When Debast was handed his Anderlecht senior debut at the back half of last season, the Belgian was under the management of former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany. This meant that Debast was part of a back-four system. Now under Felice Mazzu, Debast has been playing as the right-sided centre-back in a 3-5-2 system.
The heat map above shows the areas that Zeno Debast has been more prominently involved in this season under new manager Felice Mazzu. In Mazzu’s 3-5-2 system, Debast has more freedom as the right-sided centre-back to go forward, which is able to explain why he has plenty of involvement moving closer to the halfway line and even into the attacking third at some points this season.
These more forward runs are illustrated in some of the attacking metrics for Debast so far this season, with the young Belgian centre-back averaging 2.36 progressive runs per 90 minutes. This metric shows that Debast is given some freedom to get forward and drive into the opposition’s half with the ball at his feet, with him being arguably Anderlecht’s best defender when it comes to pass completion rates, especially into the final third to the attacker’s feet, or even in behind.
Subscribe To TFA To Unlock All Posts - Free 7 Day Trial
Login if you have a TFA subscription
Try TFA Free For 7 Days
Gain access to all of TFA's premium contents.
More than 12,000+ articles.
Subscribe To TFA To Unlock All Posts - Free 7 Day Trial
Try TFA Free For 7 Days
Gain access to all of TFA's premium contents.More than 12,000+ articles.
