Brendan’s right to say Tom’s magic and it’s futsal roots that have put the Aussie on the road to top
THE football snobs call it spatial awareness – and it’s what sets Tom Rogic apart. An ability to see things others don’t and a skill that has been honed through an upbringing playing futsal with a small, heavy ball on small courts. Throw in the elegance, quick
ANALYSIS
feet, excellent technique, an eye for a goal and quite frankly a superior footballing IQ. That’s why his boss at Celtic labels him the “Magic Man” and Hoops fans “The Wizard of Oz”.
Six years ago the Australian won a place at the Nike Academy after being spotted in their “The Chance” competition and it has been clear he is destined for greater things.
Rogic has a perfectly-honed radar that allows him to receive the ball on the half-turn and play forward in one movement or bring others into play.
The style has futsal written all over it and shows the merits of his time with the Australia Futsalroos.
That talent to resist the easy pass, to be positive by rolling his marker and orchestrating play in the final third makes him Scotland’s stand-out player.
The most talented performer now has the puff to get through 90 minutes after addressing stamina
issues that threatened to bill him “The Hour Man”. But it’s his goals that have Brendan Rodgers believing he’ll become one of Europe’s best midfielders and they’ve been getting better and better.
It you don’t agree watch Man City players chasing him like shadows in this season’s Champions League. The Betfred Cup Final opener, last October’s winner against Aberdeen or the fourth in a recent 4-3 win over Motherwell – take your pick.
All of them had the mark of quality, composure and two-footed technical excellence written all over them.
It’s also what puts him on a par with the likes of PSG wonderkid Adrien Rabiot whose club are adding a few million to the 21-year-old’s transfer tag.
Celtic know they have a real jewel in their crown. Rogic’s emergence also speaks volumes on the merits of encouraging young players to get involved in futsal, a remedy to the rise of the “baller” culture.