Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa: Napoli’s Combative Midfield General
All of the visuals in this article were made with the usage of Once Video Analyzer Elite. Download Once Sport here and use our discount code BTL10 to get an extra 10% discount off your purchase!
Strong, intelligent and, technically astute, these are qualities often associated with some of the best midfielders in the world and it will not be a fallacy to use these adjectives in describing SSC Napoli’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Aged 29, there is no gainsaying that Zambo Anguissa has been in the game for quite a while. A career that has witnessed spells at Marseille, Fulham, Villarreal, and Napoli across Ligue 1, the Premier League, LaLiga, and Serie A, four of Europe’s top five leagues. More so, 63 caps for the Cameroonian national team is no mean feat.
Standing at 6 ft tall with a very robust physicality, it is very easy to mistake Zambo Anguissa for just the traditional transition-stopping midfielder tasked with breaking up opposition attacks and making the simple sideway pass from deep to the more technically efficient players around him but the Cameroonian offers a lot more. He is up there amongst the most technically gifted midfielders in terms of ball retention in tight spaces, beating the opposition press and dictating play from deep. Matter-of-factly, these are the qualities that earmarked him for a key role in a historical Scudetto-winning side.
Zambo Anguissa started his senior career at Ligue 1 club Marseille where he made his debut in a UEFA Europa League game against FC Groningen in 2015. The Cameroonian played in France for three seasons before joining Fulham in 2018, playing 22 premier league games for the Cottagers prior to their relegation in 2019 after which he joined Villarreal on a season-long loan. A season later, Fulham were back in the Premier League and Zambo Anguissa was back again playing an influential role for the West Londoners, making 36 league appearances but his contributions that season were not enough to prevent Fulham from returning to the championship again.
The midfielder had nevertheless caught the eye of Serie A giants Napoli whom he joined on an initial loan deal which was made permanent a year later. It was in that season that Napoli went on to win their first Scudetto in over three decades with Zambo Anguissa playing a very key role, 36 league appearances in central midfield for Luciano Spalletti’s side in the 2022/23 season, and after an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign which was precipitated by the departure of Spalletti, Napoli are back challenging for Serie A’s top spot again under Antonio Conte with Anguissa once again prime amongst the key men for the Neapolitans.
It is a totally different style of play under Conte this time around as the former Juventus and Inter Milan manager adopts a more conservative approach compared to Spalletti, a tried and trusted system that worked in league title-winning seasons at Juve, Inter, and even abroad with Chelsea. And given what we have seen from Zambo Anguissa over the years, there is no gainsaying that he has the skill set and the versatility to play in a variety of systems.
Scudetto Scassat’: How Napoli’s Nightmare Season Unfolded after Spalletti’s Scudetto Success
Worthy of note is the fact that when the Cameroon international first moved to Fulham, he played more often in a deeper midfield role primarily as a defensive midfielder so also during his loan spell at Villarreal in Spain. He has played quite a number of games in that position for Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions as well, but over the last two to three seasons, Zambo Anguissa has morphed fully into a central midfielder, playing in a more advanced role than he regularly played as a Premier League youngster in what now looks like a box to box role.
Currently under Antonio Conte, Zambo Anguissa has been excelling all season in a pivot alongside Stanislav Lobotka who has more of the defensive responsibilities while Anguissa is given more freedom to join the high attack when in possession; carrying the ball into the opposition half and also making underlapping runs into the box. Primarily, he has been tasked with playing a very key role for Conte in terms of tackling, assisting Lobotka in stopping transitions, ball progression and also build-up.
Zambo tracking back to defend a transition
He’s got the pace and athleticism to track back and he is able to effectively halt this transition.
A peep at Zambo Anguissa’s starting position here in the kick-off against Cagliari, positioned slightly more advanced than Lobotka in what looks like a midfield pivot.
Anguissa highlighted at the base of the triangle is able to carry the ball up to this point in the opposition half (not really surprising as he’s got the pace and athleticism). He then makes the correct pass to his right.
He then makes a run into the box which frees up space for the cutback to Lukaku who is positioned right in front of the D. This leads to Napoli’s first goal in their 4-0 win over Cagliari.
Zambo Anguissa’s role under Conte is a bit reminiscent of N’Golo Kante in Chelsea’s 2016/17 title-winning season; a willing runner who is able to win duels and second balls, and also provide a transitional threat for his side. What some would call a double-edged sword or a doubled-sim smartphone. Interceptions, duels, and tackles, these three put together are the insignia of any combative midfielder and Anguissa excels in this aspect of the game.
His 1.4 interceptions per game in the Serie A is second-highest in the Napoli squad and the highest amongst midfielders. And he also records 1.7 tackles per game, the fourth highest among his teammates in a category dominated by defenders, just slightly bettered by his midfield partner, Stanislav Lobotka (1.8) amongst midfielders in the Napoli squad. Furthermore, the Cameroonian’s 66 total duels won this season is the third-highest in the Serie A among Napoli players, behind defenders, Giovani Di Lorenzo (78) and Amir Rrahmani (73).
Zambo Anguissa here wins the second ball in midfield. His marker is very tight but he’s got pace and he’s got the power to shrug off his marker. The amount of space lying in front of him is a dream for transition football.
He picks the run of Kvara to the left. (Choice of pass probably highlights a shortcoming, would talk about that later). But this wasn’t a bad decision as far as this particular passage of play is concerned.
He makes the run in support of Kvaratshkelia after releasing the ball.
Opposition centre-backs are drawn to the ball. Anguissa’s man who had followed him from the duel earlier is struggling to keep up with him.
As mentioned earlier, the outstanding quality about Zambo Anguissa is that he is not just a duel winner or a runner who excels off the ball. He is equally good with the ball. Little wonder he has one of the highest dribble percentages (58%) in the Serie A amongst Napoli players this season with his 0.7 dribbles per game just behind only Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (1.2) and Scott McTominay (1.1). There is no doubt that Anguissa is one of the best ball players in the Napoli squad.
His ball retention is at an elite level and he is certainly one of those players that could play a role in a possession-based team. As a matter of fact, he has shown he can as he was a very influential figure in Luciano Spalletti’s side that won the Scudetto a couple of seasons ago. Although Conte’s Napoli are more of a transitional side, Zambo Anguissa plays a very key role anytime they have the ball in their own half trying to build up play or when they want to retain possession in the opposition half.
A Cagliari offensive move ends up in the gloves of Meret. Anguissa is spotted running from the opposition half towards his box, calling to receive the ball to feet.
Anguissa highlighted in the middle showing to receive the ball from deep from the goalkeeper. (Never hides from the ball, takes responsibility on the ball)
Anguissa highlighted at the right-hand side of the triangle; makes the right pass to beat the press.
Napoli forming triangles in possession; Anguissa positioned with his back to goal in between two players to receive.
Anguissa highlighted at the top left of this Napoli box in the opposition half. Receives close to the line with two opposition players ready to press. Still retains possession in this passage of play.
This is the passage of play that led to Napoli’s second goal in a 4-0 win vs Cagliari. Zambo Anguissa once again part of the triangles formed in possession as seen in the below figures.
Napoli’s triangles in possession and their slow patient build up is able to bring up seven Cagliari players into the Napoli half. Talk about baiting the press with Anguissa playing a key role here. Due to his technical security on the ball, it is a big risk getting to close, his pass here is to Lobotka whose man gets drawn away by the ball.
Lobotka receives and immediately releases Di Lorenzo. Cagliari had naively committed too many numbers forward, there is acres of space in front of the Napoli wing-back, to Lukaku to Kvara and ball at the back of the net.
Keep things simple, not so much extravagance but a lot of efficiency. This is the key to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa being what makes Napoli’s midfield tick. However, the 29-year old is not without his shortcomings. Playing as an 8, one might expect more offensive numbers than he currently has. It is safe to say there is a lack of creativity in his game. A total of 18 G/A in 103 appearances across all competitions over the past two and a half seasons does not look very impressive and he should probably be doing more given the role he plays for his team.
This image earlier shown as figure 7 is an example of Anguissa’s shortcoming in terms of creativity. A more creative player tries a through ball to find Romelu Lukaku as the centre-ball looks drawn to the ball but Anguissa chooses the safer option to his left (Kvara). Results in a good chance but the other option could have been a more clear-cut opportunity. No wonder he is not topping the charts for key passes and big chances created.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is already 29 years old. The chances of him turning into a creative player or a playmaker overnight thereby improving on his shortcomings is slim, but it is perfectly okay the kind of player he is; a combative midfielder who offers the bonus of technical security, thereby solving problems in both halves of the pitch.
Napoli are currently second on the Serie A log, just two points behind league leaders, Atalanta in what looks like an intense title race as they chase their second Scudetto in three seasons after a very underwhelming campaign last year and there is no doubt that the industry of Zambo Anguissa could be crucial for their success this season.
By: Moe Adikwu / @Moe_Adikwu
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / DeFodi Images