Name To Remember: Marko Arnautovic

By: chris | March 20th, 2009

This is borderline name to remember/name you soon won’t forget.

It seems we can’t go a day without being bombarded by the hype machine of the “new so and so”. From the new Kaka – all one hundred thousand of them – to the new Franz Beckenbauer to the new Patrick Vieira (anyone of African origin who speaks French and plays central midfield). It’s all just so nauseating and, to a degree, careless.

Except when it’s not – when it’s perfectly spot on. Meet Marko Arnautovic, who isn’t just the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he’s his clone.

They both stand 1.92m and they’re both from Balkan parentage – Marko’s father is Serbian (mother is Austrian) and Zlatan is Bosnian & Croatian. They both play as strikers but with inclinations toward the wing, particularly for Zlatan when younger, and would rather dribble their opponent – or six – than be fed perfect service. They’re both powerful and strong, able to win any header, but with exceptional technique rarely found in big men. They’re both very much showman with a propensity for the spectacular and the cocky attitude to match. And neither has scored in a World Cup or Champions League knockout.

It’s hard to define how similarly they play without watching an FC Twente game. It’s remarkable – almost as though Marko is consciously trying to mirror a hero (altogether possible). And even with all this he isn’t assured Zlatan’s superstar status. He still has the mental attributes of a 19 year old and his decision making does leave something to be desired – particularly if the accusations of racism against him this week hold any truth. (He’s denying and it appears anything but cut and dried.)

But really, he’s exquisitely talented to the point that Real, Barcelona, Juventus and Milan – and we musn’t forget Arsenal – are all deciding not if they’ll jump, but when. Playing that right forward/wing position in Twente’s 4-3-3, he’s already scored eleven goals this year despite starting one and scoring none last year, while also making his full international debut for Austria.

And if he’s even half of Ibrahimovic, with Marc Janko and Arnautovic, Austria may have a hell of a strike force for years to come. Who knew?