The fear amongst Milan fans has always been how they would replace Andrea Pirlo or Marcos Cafu should either be ruled out for any length of time. Over the summer the proverbial cavalry arrived in the shape of Johann Vogel, a Swiss international who seems equally at home in the right back slot or in midfield. Doubtless boss Carlo Ancelotti saw how effective ‘The Bird’ was when he came within a whisker of knocking Milan out of the Champions League last season, instantly earmarking him for a key role at the San Siro.
Yet with proven internationals like Manuel Rui Costa, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka, Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso to name but a few already at the club, it is certainly not going to be easy for Vogel to break into the Milan midfield. Something else that may hold him back in claiming a regular position is that, unlike the above, he is regarded as a ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ rather than a specialist in any one role. Yet it is precisely this versatility that should see him make some sort of impact this term.
With his arrival on a three-year deal, the Rossoneri finally seem to have some cover in central midfield for Pirlo, back-up that was sorely lacking at times last season. He is a different player from the Italian international and certainly doesn’t have his vision, but tactically he is very much on the ball.
Vogel’s reputation is as an unselfish, solid team player whose philosophy is to melt into the background, stopping attacks while setting up new ones. This season he will be doing precisely what he has done so effectively for the last six with PSV in the Eredivisie and for Grasshoppers Zurich before that. He will sit in front of the back four, breaking up opponent moves in that highly deceptive, understated approach of his and act as the connection between attack and defence.
He should remind Rossoneri fans of his boyhood hero – former Milan legend Demetrio Albertini. Like the ex-Barcelona player, Vogel has a steady, calm and collected nature, which has always been a trademark of great Milan sides of the past. “My idols were Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and of course Frank Rijkaard – the three Dutchmen who meant so much to Holland and Milan in the 1980s and ‘90s. I also remember Albertini, whom I have a lot of admiration for and whom I think I am similar to in certain ways,” he admits.
He certainly can play well in several positions – as Albertini could. “I like to sit in front of the defence but I can also play on the right or the left of midfield. For example, when Mark Van Bommel, Phillip Cocu and I played for PSV, we were changing our roles throughout games. Sometimes it was confusing for me so hopefully it was also confusing to the opposition,” he jokes.
Born in Geneva, Vogel was playing for his local club FC Meyrin before he was picked up by top Swiss outfit Grasshoppers Zurich. He made his professional debut for them in the 1992-93 season aged just 16, playing in central defence, right-back and a central defensive midfield role on the way to picking up three Swiss titles.
These qualities did not go unnoticed and PSV Eindhoven snapped him up in 1999. He helped the Dutch side win back-to-back Championships in his first two seasons and won a third and fourth in 2003 and 2005. Last term he formed the formidable midfield partnership with Van Bommel and Cocu that was fundamental in the club’s fabulous run to the Champions League semi-final.
Vogel claims he first heard about Milan’s interest a few days after that last four defeat. “It was a marvellous emotion and I did not sleep for three days. One player I particularly like is Pirlo – who without doubt is a great. I have come here with my qualities and hope to show them to the Milan fans. I know I am not guaranteed a first team place so it is up to me to show that I can play as well as anyone. I need to demonstrate my abilities at every training session as if it was a European Cup Final.” With this sort of attitude and the dedication he has shown in pre-season, ‘The Bird’ should spread his wings far in Serie A.
Posted by: Jimmy @ 21:32pm 01/01/08 | Jimmy's current mood: Content