Who is Million Manhoef? Vitesse's 'Swiss army knife' linked to Chelsea

Karan Tejwani

Updated: 25 Oct 2022 11:42 BST
4 min read

The Netherlands have a host of talent coming through at various clubs, and that has led to a huge rise in overall quality in the Eredivisie over the past year.

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Vitesse are one club who have been responsible for producing many of these players, and they have proven to be a solid mid-table club challenging the best in the country over the last decade.

One player that has come through the ranks in recent times is Million Manhoef, who has been excelling in multiple positions in the last few months.

So, what do we know about the youngster who is expected to have a bright future?

What position does Manhoef play in?

Manhoef can play in multiple positions. His primary role is at left-back, but he has a great threat going forward, and has also previously played in midfield, either in the centre or on the left or right. His versatility is probably his best attribute.

How good is Manhoef?

Manhoef is a fine, attack-minded left-back coming through in the Eredivisie and has all the attributes a modern full-back should have.

He’s been described as a Swiss army knife in the past for his multiple uses and versatility, with previous boss Thomas Letsch identifying he can excel in multiple roles.

He never hesitates to go forward, something he does with ease and links up well with his team-mates up the pitch, contributing heavily to his side’s attacking game.

3 - Million Manhoef (20 years, 216 days) is the youngest @MijnVitesse player to score or assist a goal in three consecutive Eredivisie games since Martin Ødegaard in 2019. Talent. pic.twitter.com/jUBol4Iw9O
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) August 7, 2022

Defensively, he lacks in a few basic attributes, but his physical capacity makes up for it: he’s quick and can cover ground quiet well to make up for errors.

Perhaps his best attribute is his dribbling – he carries the ball forward with composure and is great for a team that likes to play on the counter attack.

Additionally, he’s proven to be a big threat on set-pieces, and can deliver crosses with efficiency if it comes from a dead ball situation.

Last season, he was crucial in the tail-end of the season to help Vitesse reach the European qualification play-offs in the Eredivisie, but his side lost to AZ in the final.

What clubs are interested in Manhoef?

Interest is cool at the moment in Manhoef, but Chelsea were keen to sign the player in the past.

Manhoef has recently signed a new deal and he continues to improve, so it won’t be a cheap deal to sign him up. However, he would still represent good value.