Watching Michael Olise with the man who gave his football career another chance | OneFootball

Brendan Flanagan, Reading’s head of academy recruitment, watched Michael Olise influence France’s 2-0 World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco. The player he once urged Reading to sign now excels at Bayern Munich after a 2024 switch from Crystal Palace, with five assists in six matches.

“Look at the ball by Olise and the weight of the pass: it’s inch-perfect.” Flanagan told The Athletic. The through ball sent Kylian Mbappe clear and led to a penalty he missed.

Olise lit up the second half, gliding past defenders and slipping Mbappe in again. “What an amazing turn,” said Flanagan.

After Mbappe put France 1-0 up, Olise started the move for the second, feeding Mbappe, whose lay-off released Ousmane Dembele to finish right-footed.

Flanagan had first backed him in 2016 after releases by Chelsea and Manchester City. “I was like, ‘Just get him in. Let’s make our own opinion’.” “He was quiet, reserved and wanted to play football.”

France moved first internationally, calling him to the under-18s for the Toulon Tournament in 2019. “The fact was, France chose him first, and he was very proud of his family’s heritage as well.” “I’d love Michael to start getting on the scoresheet, to round off his performances, as he’s been so good this tournament.”

Source: NY Times