Jacob Duijser '18 Recruiting Profile

    Born in Geneva, Switzerland, from Dutch and Canadian parents is already quite a mixture of culture, but this wasn't all. I moved on to live in places like Milan (1 year) Evian, France (1 year) Paris, France (5 years) San Francisco, California (2 years) Cleveland, Ohio (3 years) and now stationed in the home of the world champions of soccer; Germany. It is safe to say that if my experiences traveling around the world playing the sport I love has made me a player of great diversity and quality. With top quality training from club coaches all over the world, and my own personal trainers, they have moulded me into a jack of all traits, as I inherited different styles of football from the pioneers of certain movements in the sport. In Italy I learned the calm, and disciplined defending which usually can turn into a ferocious counter attack. In France I learned the Importance of the first touch as players like Zainadine Zidane showcased it to the whole world. In America I learned the physical and Athletic stance needed to be successful in soccer. Now in Germany I am learning how to gain full control of a soccer match, using very popular tactics in the country such as; playing a goalkeeper as almost a third centre back like Neuer, or playing the outside backs up almost as if they were additional wingers just like we see the national team do on TV. The clinical finishing is probably the most known trait to a german soccer player as legends like Klose have displayed. 

    As I wright this quick introduction about myself I think that It should be necessary that I categorise myself as a player; playing most of my life at the Centre Back position, the mental game which is needed to take control of not only a defence but also a whole team is definitely present and I like to think that it is hard to find me out of position or committing non disciplinary actions on/off the field. My touch, and quality of my dribbles is what I like to think as my best asset as a soccer player as I can make effective attacking runs with the ball at my feet. Obviously being effective with the ball at my feet is not useful for the team if I am not able to release the ball in time. I have contributed to the Centre Midfield position and was able to not only be effective with the ball, but also be menacing with passes through to wingers of strikers. One of my most recent lessons that I have learned is to always be first to the ball in the air. Playing defender I know this can be very important to eliminating the danger as soon as it is presented. When it comes to eliminating danger with the ball on the ground I would like to think of myself as more of a conservative defender not going for tackles that could be missed. 

    As I look for a chance of coming back to America to play Collegiate Soccer (I am an American Citizen) I am hoping to find the university that is right for me, not only in a sporting standpoint, but also a school that fulfils my academic needs. (if there is no video posted yet it is soon coming!)
    
Thank you,
Jacob Duijser