Big Soccer is going to be having the height discussion about this guy many times in the future. Is he any taller than 5'2 or 5'3? Physically, he looked like a little kid against grown men in that highlight, and those players are around his age. That goal was ridiculous though. The skill he exhibited on that goal was really good. I hope he can grow many inches because he looks like he has the skills to be a very good player.
I think its pretty worrying for his career that he still doesn't seem to have grown that much. If he's 5'2 right now, I don't see how he can realistically become a professional soccer player at the highest level unless he grows another 2 or 3 inches at the minimum. He doesn't even look 5'2 from that video. 5'0 or 5'1 from the looks of it. He's going to turn 18 in under six months. I question whether he will ever be tall enough to be a professional player at the highest level.
In a world where arguably the best player of all time (Maradona) was 5'5" I can't believe I even have to respond to this, but... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximiliano_Moralez (Atalanta in Serie A) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Lee_(footballer) (Liverpool) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Villalva (River Plate) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Élton_José_Xavier_Gomes (Steaua Bucharest) There are a slew more. Needless to say, you're wrong to worry. His height won't hold him back, only a lack of talent will.
There are also many players that don't make it because they are too short. Thats part of professional sports. Height plays a part into it to some degree, whether its soccer or basketball. Akale can make it at his current height, but his chances would be a lot better if he was three or four inches taller. Soccer is a sport where height seems to matter a lot less than other sports, but its much harder for players his height to make it.
Maybe they are worried. Maybe his height is the reason why he signed with Villarreal instead of Barcelona or Real Madrid. His skills look incredible, so Villarreal might be thinking that its a chance worth taking that he will grow a few inches or make it as a one of the shorter professional soccer players.
America, get over your height obsession. Or better, develop a new one: Be obsessed (positively) about players of Akale's size (and skill and quickness). There's a big (or small) reason why he was able to literally dance around those three sad English defenders. And that's what counts in futbol.
Who cares about the kids height atm! Did you all not see those sick nasty skills to put the dagger in the heart of SouthHampton?
There would be little mention of his height if he was 5'4 or 5'5 right now. He looks no taller than 5'0 or 5'1, and its very hard to make it as a professional soccer player at that height.
That's just stupid. Of course being THAT small will be a problem. He's young enough he might grow 2-3 inches, and if so, no problem. 5'3" is a problem, and anyone who doesn't realize that is just mouthing a meme instead of observing the world around him.
I literally just listed 4 players, and there are a ton more, who have played or are playing at the highest levels in the game. My point is that if he has the requisite talent, it won't matter. Sure, they are the exceptions overall, but being 5'3" is an exception in itself.
At his position (I'm assuming he's an attacking center mid...never seen him play outside of the above clip), height is more or less irrelevant. Winning headers is about the only thing height helps with (if you're not a keeper), and that's not a big part of the job description for that position. He has to have the strength to shield the ball and ride challenges, quickness, and technical ability, but none of that is dependent on height.
Height - or lack thereof - shouldn't be much of a hindrance and could even help a quick turning type. Soccer, like many other sports, is about finding an own niche. If this kid becomes an attacker with pace and movement, he may even benefit from this. Most of yous kids probably did not watch that 1986 Argentina-England quarterfinal but the larger English defenders just could not turn with DAM. They had no hip movement to counter his cuts. That should have been obvious to Bobby Robson from the friendly Argentina played in England a few years earlier.
I'm more worried about his strength than his height. He's looks incredibly agile, so hopefully he can add some bulk without loosing a step. Otherwise he could be snapped like a twig against grown men, you can't always skip away from thuggish tackles. I'm happy he's in Spain though, you don't see that from an American too often. If he really stands out in his stints there now and when he moves there full time in January I could see a pro debut in the next year. Though most likely with Villareal B, it would still be a big step.
If Villarreal were so worried about Akale’s chances of "realistically becoming a professional player" — specifically because of his height — then I just don’t see why the would have bothered signing him with the intent of investing their time and money into developing him. We’re talking about a team that just finished 6th place in the strongest league in the world, and one that has played several times in the Champions League, so I have to imagine they have some pretty decent youth scouts and coaches at their disposal. And if they noticed his height and still chose to take him on anyway then it doesn’t seem they let too much worry affect their decision.
To ignore this is a youth game and what is required physically to succeed at a top professional level is ignorant too. His future physical development will impact his overall talent. If he doesn't grow an inch and doesn't add a pound he will struggle to play at a very high level. Modern day soccer is very physically demanding with 22 players over 8000 square feet. Not a lot of room to prance around untouched. Messi and Maradonna are super quick but more importantly super strong. To say that his physical development of quickness, height AND strength and where that ends has no impact on his overall game is ignoring what soccer is. He has a good foundation of skill and quickness now has to supplement that with power and strength and some of that is a correlation to what his frame and its height can handle as an adult soccer professional.
Bernard of Shakhtar Donetsk is only 5'4". Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli is 5'4". Sebastian Giovinco of Juventus is 5'4". Aaron Lennon of Tottenham is 5'5". These guys all play at a very high level despite their height, and the one thing that they share in common other than height is they all either play an attacking midfield role or as a winger. Akale seems destined to be playing in one of those two positions so it'd be silly to be overly concerned with his height. Plus he might grow a bit still. If he was a striker or a true central midfielder, then I might be concerned...
I think both sides of the debate over emphasize only height. Its overall physical development where height is only one aspect. I'm worried about his height, strength, power, acceleration along with how that impacts his skill as he grows. To ignore that his physical development impacts his overall quality as a player is as silly as only mentioning height as the only physical data point to that quality also.
Of course, but physicality/athleticism as a winger/attacking mid are for more important than height. It's the level of importance that should be emphasized. If you are speedy and strong with a low center of gravity, no one is going to give a shit that you're a 5'3" or 5'4" winger.
A few Points: He's not even 5-4 yet. He's listed at 125 which will impact him as a winger too. He also see's himself as a #10 and his physical development will impact that position too but to a lesser degree. I'm sure he wants options as to where he can play so anything to increase his ability to see the field is a blessing.
Well said. Like any just turned 17-year-old, Akale needs to take the final developmental step still into an adult body. What's he going to look like at 19? What's he going to look like -- in all the attributes you cite? If he can get a tad taller and a bit stronger, yet really dominate in pace and agility and quickness, then that could work. Even quite well. If he's just a tad taller and not a lot stronger, and his pace and quickness don't top out as much as you'd hope, then that's problematic, I would say. Height isn't the only factor. But speed does kill.