Michael Laudrup: Encyclopedia II - Michael Laudrup - Playing Style

Michael Laudrup - Playing Style

Laudrup is the most technically accomplished football player to emerge in Denmark and was ranked amongst the best players in Europe. His talent was exceptional and the former French star Michel Platini described him as one of the most talented players ever.

He was hugely admired all over the world for his outstanding technique, elegance, deep passes and dribbling. His vision was second to none. Former argentinian star Jorge Valdano and coach of Laudrup in Real Madrid said "he has eyes everywhere". His trademark move — looking one way and passing the other — fooled countless opponents during his career. The Laudrup dribble was perhaps the best-known part of his game, as he quickly moved the ball from one foot to the other away from the defender. In Barcelona he played alongside Hristo Stoitchkov, who scored many goals from Laudrup's passes, like Ivan Zamorano (who called Laudrup el genio, the genius) during Laudrup's time at Real Madrid. Throughout his career his number of assists was impressive and almost always the highest of his team.

Laudrup was known as a gentleman on the field and never received a red card. He preferred to out-play his immediate opponent rather than knock him down.

In 1999 he was voted the Most Valuable Foreign Player in Spanish Football the last 25 years (ahead of former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff). He has two times been elected the best player of the year in Spain.

He is the only player ever to win the Spanish league five times in a row playing for two different clubs.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Playing Style", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki