Starts tonight for NAC Breda in their season opener, currently one-nil up against Helmond
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Clean sheet and 90 minutes at centre half for him on his debut in a 1-0 win, anyone watch it? Good start for a 19 year old defender
Hey tets, born in 2003 :)
MOTM I heardQuote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Doing well for NAC Breda. Article posted on voetbalzone.nl, ran it trough google translate. Full article in Dutch here https://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=414022
Thursday, 26 January 2023 at 14:00 • Jordi Tomasowa • Last update: 10:57
The Kitchen Champion Division has been a breeding ground for domestic and foreign talent for decades and this season again many football players with potential are walking around at the second level. Voetbalzone, the official media partner of the Kitchen Champion Division, highlights one of these talents every week, this time focusing on Anselmo García Mac Nulty, the Irish-Spanish defender who is hired by NAC Breda from VfL Wolfsburg this season.
By Jordi Tomasowa
The resignation seems gone at the training complex of NAC. Shortly after Christmas, Robert Molenaar was fired by the Pearl of the South. Club icon Ton Lokhoff then temporarily took over the honors. Jong PSV and TOP Oss won and Helmond Sport played a draw. The highlight was the bizarre cup thriller against FC Eindhoven earlier this month. Eighteen-year-old Rowan Besselink shot NAC in extra time from extra time to the next round: 2-1.
At Lokhoff and commissioner of technical affairs Pierre van Hooijdonk, the day after the announcement of Peter Hyballa as the new trainer of NAC, happiness prevails. Chagrin about the disappointing first half of the season has also made way for optimism within the group of players, as it turns out when we speak to Mac Nulty. The broad smile on the face of the nineteen-year-old defender betrays that a line has been drawn under the difficult six months with nine defeats and bad victories. “We started the season well, but that's how football works. “You have good and less good periods. We know that we could not have performed to our liking in the first half of the season.”
“NAC is a club that has to compete for the top places. Our goal is now to achieve participation in the play-offs”, continues Mac Nulty, who only missed three league matches this season due to a suspension. The defender is a stronghold in the Breda defense, but he does not dare to call himself a public favorite. “You have to ask the fans that. I hope they are happy with me. I always give everything for this club and the supporters. Of course there are strong and less strong performances, but I always try to do my best.”
Born in the Spanish city of Seville, Mac Nulty's dream came true when he was given a trial at Real Betis at the age of eight. “I managed to convince the club and eventually played there until the Under 16. I am very grateful to Betis, because I learned all the basic skills there. I really enjoyed that time and made a lot of friends.” While the defender had long set his sights on breaking through in the first team of Betis, he consciously opted for his first foreign adventure at a young age. “I received a call from my agent. He told me that VfL Wolfsburg was interested in me. I went to Germany to see the facilities at the club and I was very impressed. It was a great opportunity to go to Germany and develop myself as a footballer.”
Although it wasn't easy to leave his family and friends behind, Mac Nulty knew that moving to Wolfsburg was the right one for him. “I really love football and did everything I could to become a professional at that time. I immediately felt at home, even though I didn't expect this. A different language was spoken and you have to adapt to a different culture. But football is universal and I am a very open person. I trained well right away and immediately played everything in the youth of Wolfsburg, which made it easier to acclimatize.”
The connection with Lokhoff, who himself worked at Wolfsburg for several years, led Mac Nulty to NAC last summer. “Lokhoff called me that NAC wanted to hire me. He told me all about the city and that NAC is a big club in the Netherlands. I immediately started searching YouTube and saw videos of the supporters and the Rat Verlegh Stadium and thought: wow. It felt like a good step for my career because I had to play at a high level. Wolfsburg's first team was still a bit too ambitious at that time.
The high expectations about the club and the supporters immediately came true for Mac Nulty. “Yes, I feel really good here,” he says enthusiastically. “Our first competition match was at home against Helmond Sport. We won 1-0 and after the game all the supporters were cheering and singing. That was fantastic, I really had goosebumps. I come from Seville and the people there also have a huge passion for football. It was a dream come true to play in front of so many great supporters.”
In addition to Mac Nulty, Fabio Di Michele Sanchez also made the temporary switch from Wolfsburg to Breda last summer. “Of course it's always easier when you go to a new club with someone else,” explains Mac Nulty.
Mac Nulty also had few adaptation problems within the lines. “Football in the Netherlands can be compared to football in Spain. Here teams want to play football and play on possession and in Germany football is played more physically. More duels are fought and the game is more direct there. What do I prefer myself? I don't really care. As a player you naturally want to have the ball, but I was also able to develop myself physically in Germany.”
There have been two highlights for the defender so far this season. Winning the Brabant derby against Willem II, but especially the recent victory over FC Eindhoven in the TOTO KNVB Cup, is something Mac Nulty remembers. “That was one of the craziest nights I've ever had. It's because of evenings like these that you are a professional football player. We made it 1-1 in the 91st minute and in extra time Rowan Besselink was responsible for the 2-1 in the 121st minute. That was fantastic. The supporters in the stands went wild. FC Eindhoven is certainly a good team, but the supporters really pushed and supported us to reach the next round. Of course we had the belief that we could get an extension out of it. You always have to keep fighting until the last seconds.”
Mac Nulty describes himself as an aggressive defender who likes to tackle and duel. “But I am also comfortable on the ball and I am not afraid to take care of the build-up.” At a young age, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos in particular were idols for the Sevillian. For me they are the best Spanish centre-backs of all time. At the moment I mainly watch Virgil van Dijk and Rúben Dias. They are both strong defenders. They have a certain appearance and are leaders of their team. That is also what I want to be at NAC. As a defender you have to be a leader and help the team because you have the whole field in front of you. If an attacker sees that you're not talking and your shoulders are down, he'll think he has something to gain. Your body language is important. You want to exude leadership and give your opponent the feeling that there is nothing to gain.”
Mac Nulty says he is still learning every game. “This is my first season in professional football. There are very experienced attackers in the Kitchen Champion Division. Martijn Kaars from Helmond Sport, for example, had very good timing when it comes to runs behind our defense. I also liked Lennart Thy, the striker of PEC Zwolle, but for me the most difficult striker to play against was Thomas Verheydt of ADO Den Haag.” Mac Nulty can still remember the first duel with the physically strong target man. “A long ball was played from the back and I tried to give him a shoulder push, but he looked like a wall. I thought, ****, he's very strong. Everyone told me he's really good, but you really don't see it until you play against him. It was a very tough match. We lost in the end and he scored twice with his head.”
Since March 2018, Mac Nulty can call himself a youth international of Ireland. “My mother is Irish and I have a lot of family living there. When I was fourteen I started talking to the Football Association of Ireland. I have now played for the youth teams as far as Ireland Under 21. It is a huge honor for me to represent my country. Hopefully I can make my debut for the 'great' Ireland in the future. A lot of young guys are playing there now, so there are definitely opportunities. I just have to keep working hard and maybe my debut will follow.”
For the time being, however, the focus is on NAC, which wants to start the way up with the return of Hyballa. “No, I didn't know Hyballa yet, but he had been to the training complex before,” says Mac Nulty. “He spoke to the group of players today (last Thursday, ed.) And I also had a short conversation with him afterwards. He will take over the daily management after the away game with TOP Oss. It is nice that a new trainer has now been appointed and that I can learn from them. Personally, I just want to make as many minutes as possible and record more clean sheets. It is always good for goalkeepers, but also for defenders. If the opponent doesn't score, you can't lose”, the spontaneous defender concludes in his Cruijffian way.
Passport:
Name: Anselmo Garcia Mac Nulty
Club: NAC Breda
Age: 19
Position: centre-back
Height: 187 cm
Number of matches: 18
Strengths: aggressiveness, tackling, determination
Centre back is not a position that we're desperate to see players come through in obviously but, out of the collection of (often wonderfully named) players from around continental Europe that we've brought into the national youth setup in recent years, he's the one I'd have the highest hopes for. Especially as Conor Noß seems to have fallen away in Germany this season.
Hopefully Anselmo will be part of our Under 21 squad this campaign. He ticks the Jim Crawford requirement of going out and playing first team football so hopefully he doesn't lose out just because he's not based in Ireland or the UK.
Interviewed on goal.com, in Spanish: https://www.goal.com/es/noticias/ves...af432246da18c0
some (badly) translated segments
Currently, the U21s don't play again until September, so unless there's a training camp or a friendly organised in the summer, and he continues to play well in the Eerste Divisie, there's no harm in bringing him into the squad against Greece and Gibraltar.Quote:
How is it to play with the Irish Under-21?
'The truth is that with Ireland I'm doing really well and I've been playing with them from the Under-15 and they've treated me very well from day one. It is a pride to represent the one who is also my country, that of my mother and that of the whole part of the family. It's a very nice project. In September we stayed at the gates of the European Under-21 in the playoff against Israel and we were left with the feeling that we could have been there. We have started a new campaign and there is a lot of hope in us."
Have you opted for Ireland or open the door to Spain?
"In football you never know. I am very happy in Ireland because they have trusted me from day one and it would be a dream to debut with the Absolute. I can't close any doors but I'm very happy in Ireland. The selector follows the Under-21 closely, talks a lot with our coach and comes to our games. There are several comrades who were with me in the Under-21 who are already in the Absolute, that is a sign that they trust and that it is not impossible to reach the Absolute. They are not shaken by the pulse to trust young people."
Who was your idol?
"My favourite Irish player is Roy Keane because he was very passionate and very good leader. From a young age I looked at Puyol a lot for his character as leader and when I grew up a little bit in Sergio Ramos. He's Sevillian like me and he's got it all: fast, aggressive but very good with the ball. Those three are the ones I look at the most."
Your mother is from County Clare and there the king sport is hurling, has he ever played?
"I played, yes. I've got cousins there and I've played with them but they got mad at me because when you had to use the stick, I was going to get hit with my feet that's what I know how to use. I've gone to watch matches too and it's super fun to watch, I think it's the fastest sport in the world and anyone who goes to Ireland I recommend you see it.'
Surely there will be a training camp like Crawford's first year in charge. Someone on YBIG made a good point when taking about B/U23s teams that a good thing to do would be our U21s play against fringe senior players.
Gives the U21s better opposition to play and they've played a few U23s teams over the years with the Toulon tournament and then Australia last year. Could make it Ireland U21s vs Ireland U23s. Gives senior management a chance to look at the current U21s against the former U21s. Bring back the B team for a couple of games should also be a consideration. Mick used it in his first stint and Trap used it.
Sounds like a good lad. Hopefully he doesn't let his talent go down the drain in the Kitchen Division.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nagger
Long been an advocate for a home based side too. Perhaps the opportunity would be there for a home based vs under-23 selection.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
What a great name. It's not quite Albéric Joseph Rodolphe Marie Robert Ghislain O'Kelly de Galway, but it's still a great name.
Through to the semi finals of the Eerste Divisie Play Offs with NAC Breda after knocking out Maastricht 5-1 on aggregate.
Suspended for the first leg against Emmen on Tuesday, but is eligible for the second leg on Saturday.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E...isie#Play-offs
Interviewed in today's independent
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...031983198.html
Could be something, could be nothing. MacNulty was in the stands for PEC Zwolle's preseason game against FC Twente. He was linked with a move to PEC earlier in July, not clear if it was a loan or permanent though.
PEC Zwolle were promoted from the Eerste Divisie last season, so a move would mean top level football in the Netherlands for him
Turns out it was something, he's signed a 12 months contract - with the option of a further year - with PEC ZwolleQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
https://peczwolle.nl/nieuws/anselmo-...bij-pec-zwolle
second tier dutch football... we've been down this road before but best of luck to the lad.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
PEC Zwolle play with a back three and two of their starting three are 36 (LCB) and 37 while the other CB was recently sold to Feyenoord for €2.7m.
It's not second tier - they were promoted last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by zero
ah fair play, that makes a difference as he'll be facing some good quality opposition.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Started, at left-back, in PEC Zwolle's away win over Almere yesterday.
Thank you. Did nt realise he could play left full. Was surprised he was let go by wolfburgQuote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
Left footed so probably just trying him out there. Looks like they're playing with four CBs in a back four when they're not playing 3-4-3. All the better for us I think if he does get games at LB.
Starts again today away at Heracles at left-back, his fourth Eredivisie start of the season and fifth league appearance overall.
Signs a two year extension to his contract with PEC Zwolle, after only four months at the club
https://peczwolle.nl/nieuws/anselmo-...2026-in-zwolle
Would it be fair to suggest that he's not a million miles from entering our left back conversation given our weakness in that position. I know I'd certainly prefer a defensively minded left back to the catalog of converted wingers that can't actually defend that we've been playing there in recent years.
He's playing at the same level as Troy Parrott, so why not?
Would love to see the lad called up in the next two windows especially June as you'd imagine it will be more of a training camp. Covers CB and LB which is a problem position for us.
U21s only have one qualifier against San Marino between now and September so won't miss him.
Scores his first goal at senior level tonight. By the sounds of it there was a scramble in the box after a corner and ball landed at his feet and scored.
Reports in Spain are saying Real Betis are interested in bringing the youngster back to the club. Though they say they're open to him going on loan to another Spanish team next season but will have the chance to impress in pre-season as both senior LBs could leave.
Mark McCadden (big pinch of salt needed) also reporting that there's interest from championship clubs who could get promoted this season along with Club Brugge who've supposedly scouted him since last season.
Reported by a Spanish source that the interest in MacNulty from English clubs is between Southampton, Leicester, and Leeds.
Did PEC buy him or was he released on a free? Ir was never that clear when the move came aboutQuote:
Originally Posted by JR89
A solid season in the Eredivisie along with Premier League/top end Championship interest should mean a call up for the senior squad in June. I'd genuinely wonder does John O'Shea even know he exists though? O'Shea I think had left the Under 21 setup before he was brought in at that level.
Maybe that's overly harsh on O'Shea. But the lad plays in a position where we're short and there's bound to be call offs for June. He really should be involved in the seniors for the friendlies given our left back struggles.
Believe he only signed a one year contract when he joined so likely got him on a free.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Didn't make his U21s debut until O'Shea was with the seniors but Crawford first called him up three years ago this June to a training camp. Was an unused sub in six games for the U21s before making his debut in March '23.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Scored in the final game of the season, at 6:05 below
Scored his first goal of the season at the weekend to put Zwolle 2-1 up away to Heracles, but they went on to lose 4-2, goal at 3:33 below
Good numbers for a 22 year old. The few times I've been scrolling Dutch league on Livescore (normally to see how Troy is going) he seems to be playing as left sided centre back. Hard to see him breaking in to our squad in that role playing for Zwolle. Now if he was playing left back...Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
With three games to go, MacNulty is one of only two outfield players to have played every minute of the eredivisie so far this season, four goalkeepers have also not missed a minute
https://eredivisie.eu/stats/general/