This month, it's FC Groningen's
Richairo Živković
Full Name: Richairo Juliano Živković
DOB: 05/09/1996 (17)
Place of Birth: Assen, Netherlands
Height: 6ft, 1 inch
Position: Striker
Current club: FC Groningen
Squad number: 30
Preferred foot: Right
Key Atrributes
With a surname like Živković, one would expect FC Groningen's youngest ever debutant to have a bit of zip about him.
The 17 year-old striker, who drools for a dribble and salivates for a sprint, began playing his football at FVV Foxhol where he established himself as a genuine Dutch prodigy. At the age of just 11, the nippy forward made the short move from the village of Foxhol to Groningen where he signed a three year deal with the Eredivisie club.
On December 2nd 2012, Živković made his debut for the green and whites against Heracles Almelo. All eyes may have been fixated on the clubs youngest ever player, but his expeditious movement and mesmerising mobility made the Groningen faithful's task a tricky one. The striker's first Eredivise goal came on the opening day of the 2013/2014 season when his 89th minute header sealed a 4-1 win for Groningen over NEC Nijmegen. Securing his title as the club's youngest ever goalscorer at just 16 years and 332 days old, Živković announced himself to the Dutch football world.
With both Serbian and Dutch blood running through his veins, the young attacker attracted interest from both sides of Europe with his characteristically animated performances. In August 2013, a request from the Serbia U19's team to include Živković in a preliminary friendly squad was rejected by Groningen on the basis that the game was not included in the international playing calendar. A subsequent call from the Netherland's U19 squad in the same month was accepted, but the striker didn't make it through pre-selection.
The teenager is beginning to attract the big guns and comparisons between himself and Arjen Robben have already, inevitably, begun. However, although Živković's preposterous pace, cool control and magical movement can be likened to the Bayern Munich winger, his ability in the air separates him apart from the Dutch legend. His first goal for the club came via an acrobatic diving header and his height makes him a terrific target for wingers bombing down the flanks.
With a little muscle, Richairo Živković's goalscoring tally could soar, but his slight frame renders him a fragile foe for any defender. With just 5 goals in 21 Eredivise appearances, the Dutch starlet lacks a genuine goalscoring threat and has now gone four games without a goal. Fortunately, age remains on the strikers' side and improvements can be made.
The nippy forward has earned praise from both FVV Foxhol's and FC Groningen's youth coaches who label Živković as 'focused' and 'a great talent'. However, Dutch eyes are not the only peepers gazing in the direction of the Eredivisie's freshest talent. In November 2013, FC Groningen received 13 applications from scouts representing top European clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid to watch Richairo in action. Although the scouts never confirmed who they were there watch, Groningen director Hans Nijland said 'it is obvious they have come to see Richairo'.
With Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid leading the chase for the speedy striker, big things lie in store for Richairo Živković.
Živković's main strengths include:
- Movement
- Positioning
- Dribbling
- Pace
- Heading
Živković's main weaknesses include:
- Strength
- Finishing
Facts
- Živković has made 24 appearances in FC Groningen's first team squad
- He has scored 5 goals in 21 appearances for the club
- However, out of the 24 matches he has featured in, he has only started 5 times
- Živković's personal Twitter account is @RichairoJZ
- His former club is FVV Foxhol
Overall Rating
- 1-3 - Not good enough to reach the top level
- 4-5 - Potential to nail down a regular spot in a mid table side
- 6-7 - Potential to be a top European striker
- 8-10 - Potential to be world class
7/10
Joe Hart 8 - Braved his way through a nasty eye injury and made a number of excellent stops from Puncheon and Jedinak. England's No.1 is back!
Vincent Kompany 7 - Solid yet again from the skipper who ensured Palace's counter attacks resulted in nothing.
David Silva 7 - Controlled City's play in the first half but faded in the second. His late booking will see him miss City's trip to Swansea on New Year's Day.
Fernandinho 7.5 - City's major attacking threat in the first half and was unlucky not to net a double with a spectacular volley and a powerful header. Passing was excellent and a number of sublime balls were controlled poorly by 
Jesús Navas 7 - Drifts in far too often and made City adopt a narrow approach in the first half. Hugged the touchline in the second and assisted 
