“Best Young Player In His Position In European Football.” – Ben Bocsák On ‘Perfect’ Andy Robertson Successor | OneFootball

By Leah Bower

The rumours of Milos Kerkez signing for the Reds have been far from subtle, even from the player himself, who seems more ready than the club to announce his arrival to Merseyside.

Hungarian Senior Football Journalist Ben Bocsák has been keen on this signing for Liverpool since 2022, having been monitoring his progression and playing style since Kerkez was a teen.

Dan spoke to Ben, who shared the background of Kerkez, his perfect fit for the Reds and how he has come to be “in a league of his own”

On Kerkez’s rise:

“I have a good friend in Hungary, who at the time was a football coach in Dzer, and he was telling me about this kid who turned up from Austria of Serbian origin and just absolutely mesmerised everyone.

“He was 14, 15 at the time, playing two age groups up already and even attracting the attention of the first team, and at the time he couldn’t speak a word of English, but he was the captain in the youth team, playing as a number 10 as well.

“Then gradually, you know, players and coaches in the first team recognised, ‘well, if he’s going to be a player in senior football, his best position is going to be as a fullback.’

“So they sort of transitioned him to become a left back. By 16, he was playing for the first team, only in the second division of Hungary, but even that was enough to catch Paolo Maldini’s attention.

“I believe it was actually Maldini who called him up to convince him to join AC Milan when he was still only 16 years old.”

On his playing style:

“I don’t think you can compare him to anyone, really. He’s in a league of his own or a very unique mould, I think, when it comes to left-backs.

“He’s someone who can go on the outside, but because of his experience of playing as a number 10, he can also go on the inside.

“He’s definitely someone capable of, you know, chopping in and coming into his sort of more central side, which I don’t think we saw of Andy Robertson.

“I think that’s what’s interesting, with Frimpong joining, I think he’s very similar to Milos in the sense that he also likes to cut in and play in those central channels.

“So I think we’re going to see an evolution of sorts, maybe, at full-back.”

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On Kerkez as a person:

“Miloš is a very laid-back, easygoing character. Off the pitch, he’s very much a family man. I think he values the people who are close to him, who have supported him since the beginning of his career.

“On the pitch, he’s just someone who’s going to give it 120% every single time.

“From his AZ Alkmaar days, when he dove into a challenge head first and actually won a tackle, that pretty much sums him up perfectly as a player on the pitch.

“He’s going to give it his absolute everything, and I think if it is Liverpool who sign him, then Liverpool fans are going to absolutely love him.”

On his international career:

“In Hungary’s national team, he has a slightly different role than when he was playing for AZ Alkmaar or Bournemouth.

“He’s a lot more advanced sometimes. Hungary play with wing-backs, and he’s coped really well.

“He will have played in a little bit more advanced positions even, which I think bodes well for Liverpool, because we know he can play more advanced roles. I think I’ve seen a lot of people compare him to Alberto Moreno, which I can see a little bit, but I think he’s got more of a brain than Alberto Moreno, and we all respect Alberto Moreno.”

On his talent:

“Milos is a different class, a different level. I think at 21 years old, he is one of the best young players in the Premier League right now.

“We are talking about a 21-year-old here, who as a left-back has the third most goal contributions in the Premier League.

“I think this is one of the best young players in the Premier League and arguably the best young player in his position in European football right now.

“Liverpool will be getting a world-class talent.”

On his own excitement for Kerkez to join:

“We were here not so long ago, talking about Dominic Szoboszlai, and that was crazy, just to see a Hungarian signed for Liverpool of that profile, having wanted him to come to Liverpool for a long time.

“With Milos, it’s been the same for me, you know, as a Liverpool fan, having heard about him for a very long time now, having seen his career and having seen his trajectory.

“You can ask the Liverpool.com guys, I was writing about why Liverpool should sign Milos back in 2022, because I saw him as the perfect Andy Robertson replacement, and three years later, I still agree with that.

“I think he would be the perfect option for Liverpool.”

To find more of Ben, head to X – @BenBocsak

Redmen Reacts

This signing couldn’t come at a better time in my opinion – with Frimpong coming in this transfer window as well, we could truly see a new era of dangerous fullbacks at Liverpool.

While I have so much love for Robertson and don’t believe his time at Anfield is over just yet, seeing Kerkez’s impact at Bournemouth and hearing Ben’s analysis of the player, we could have a very exciting few years.