Ivan Basic

Thirteen times international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivan Basic is a 23-year-old midfielder born in Croatia, currently playing for Astana FC. Trained at Zrinjski Mostar, Basic played for three years in Russia for FK Orenburg before being signed on a free transfer by the Kazakh club. He has a contract until December 2026.

Ivan Basic is a mesomorphically built player of average height. He is agile, quick to execute, and has good movement speed. He knows how to use his body well in ground duels and, as such, protects possession well. In the air, he is somewhat vulnerable, both because of his height and his lack of jumping ability. His centre of gravity is low, which helps him with his actions on the ball.

Technically, Ivan is a developed player. As such, it is easy to say that he can play both as a defensive midfielder and as a central midfielder, such is his ability to unbalance the opposition when he sees the game from back to front. He is a player who does not shy away from the game and who seeks to take the lead in organising the team, whether it be by bringing his teammates together with short passes or by looking for the long pass to activate a player who is free on the opposite side of the centre of the pitch. In addition, he is a strong player in tight spaces and has the ability to escape pressure and continue the game.

Tactically, when attacking, he is a player who moves well — he is very mobile. He is capable of dropping back to the centre-back line to take control of the game, as well as waiting behind the first line of pressure to activate a third free man. In addition, he makes dragging movements that create space for his teammates to progress with the ball. He does not usually invade the area to finish, prioritising a position that allows him to win second balls or prepare the defensive transition.

He is equally active in defensive situations. In a defensive organisation, he prioritises defending the central corridor and does not leave his space easily. He holds his position and only engages in a duel when he sees that the conditions are right to do so and regain possession. In transition, he is a player who prepares well through build-up play and respects the rest of the defence. In addition, when he has to recover his position, he does so at a good speed.

His competitive attitude is quite good due to the communicative and active way he behaves on the pitch. He is always giving instructions to his teammates, and his body language works in his favour at different moments.

Given the player’s potential and performance, I believe he could play for a team such as Royal Charleroi SC or Royal Antwerp FC. This is before hypothetically making a possible leap to a mid-table team in the major European leagues.