PROFILE | Veteran Ismaily is unglamorous but not unimportant figure in exciting Lille side | OneFootball

Lille OSC’s veteran left-back Ismaily (33) brings defensive solidity and technical assuredness to his team’s left flank, allowing offensive players more liberty of movement on that side, and overall contributing greatly to the balance of Paulo Fonseca’s side.

The 33-year-old started his career off in Brazil playing for Esporte Clube São Bento and Desportivo Brasil Ltda, before making the move to Europe and Portugal in 2009, where he played for GD Estoril Praia, SC Olhanense and SC Braga, where he made his Champions League debut. In 2013, he transferred to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, where he went on to become a club legend, playing for nine seasons during which they won six national championships and making over 50 European appearances in the process. His experience as a proven left-back pushed Lille to sign him during the summer of 2022, come the end of his contract with Shakhtar.

Ismaily quickly slotted into Les Dogues’ lineup, making 25 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring two and assisting two. Though never an outstanding performer, the Brazilian proved invaluable thanks to his consistency throughout the season, always providing solutions down the flank, and tidily protecting his side of the defence. Precisely, his ability to carry the ball into dangerous areas serves nicely in allowing his team to transition into offensive play, while his high aerial duelling success rate, regardless of his rather short build, makes him an important asset in defending long balls and corners.

Ismaily a prominent figure in Ligue 1

The left-back has been an essential piece in Lille being the joint second-best defence in the league so far, with only OGC Nice concerning fewer goals. Indeed, while his right-sided counterpart Tiago Santos (21) often pushed forward into advanced positions, Ismaily finds himself occupying more central areas while the centrebacks shift to the right.

This season, while his teammate Gabriel Gudmundsson (24) has played in most of the Conference League games, having a more energetic profile to go forward and attack spaces, the 33-year-old has been the preferred option in Ligue 1. However as LOSC go further into the competition, no doubt Ismaily will get more and more playtime when further controlling both offensive and defensive phases becomes an issue.

Lille will be counting on their Brazilian veteran to continue to provide a blend of solidity and technical excellence in order to push for the European spots come the end of the season.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande