Braga’s Uruguayan dynamo Rodrigo Zalazar goes from strength to strength | OneFootball

Rodrigo Zalazar has improved season on season at Braga to become arguably the most complete midfielder in Portugal. (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

The PortuGOAL Figure of the Week series returns for the Liga Portugal Midfielder of the Month (February) and one of the top performers of the entire season.

From dispatching set-pieces with unflappable composure against Sporting Clube de Portugal…

… to the synergy created with modern day Braga legend Ricardo Horta, in the same match, with a phenomenal first-touch deserving of the emphatic finish.

The Uruguayan midfielder has been Liga Portugal’s most incisive and effective player in the final third for a significant stretch of this season.

PortuGOAL’s latest Figure of the Week is one of the best players in Portuguese football. Kevin Fernandes reports.

Like father like son

Rodrigo Zalazar Martínez was born in Albacete, Spain, as his father José Luis was capping off his professional career back at the Queso Mecánico in 1999.

Rodrigo, aged eight, joined the youth ranks of the club his father represented on 230 occasions. After seven years in the youth set-up of Albacete Balompié, spells at the prestigious academy of Málaga and later San Félix completed his footballing education before a move to Germany.

The services of Zalazar cost Eintracht Frankfurt around 50 thousand euros in a typical, surgical operation carried out by former Director of Football Ben Manga.

German journalist Christopher Michel told zerozero.pt: “The fans adored him, partly because of his unique emotive nature.” The son of El Oso (The Bear) embodies the same fiery spirit, seen repeatedly across his career, from controversial social media posts to bizarre interviews praising Braga’s competitors.

The rise of El Osito

Zalazar would never make it to the Frankfurt first team, heading to Polish outfit Korona Kielce before seriously kicking off his senior career at FC St. Pauli. Despite contributing to 11 goals in 35 appearances, current Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner was not convinced, trusting more established senior names.

Zalazar’s ambitions were always crystal clear: to play regularly at the top level. Schalke offered that pathway when Frankfurt seemed skeptical, and Zalazar truly led the fallen giants back to the Bundesliga on a temporary deal subsequently made permanent.

Relegation may have become reality for Schalke once more, but it was always apparent that Zalazar would repeat the same storyline, only this time an opportunity to play in the Champions League presented itself.

Zalazar told Uruguayan radio station Carve Deportiva: “I’m doing really well at the moment, though it took me a while to settle in. Moving to a new country and a new league is tricky. Even so, when I joined SC Braga, I was really surprised by the league, because it’s very physical and demands everything from you in every match because the teams have some very good players.”

It’s safe to say that Zalazar has justified the six million euros spent – 61 goal contributions in 118 matches (and counting) – puts Zalazar amongst the best in Braga’s history and in an era of real promise for the northern club.

Zippy Zalazar

Recognised as Footballer of the Year at Braga’s annual Legião de Ouro awards, Zalazar has the mobility of a decently rounded box-to-box midfielder and the technique of a seasoned top-level winger, operating with an effortless grace while on the ball, despite being recognisably robust without it.

Able to fulfil deeper or more aggressive offensive midfield roles, on either side, and in multiple systems, the 26-year-old is mentally well-rounded, versatile and consistently displays an incredible instinct and incisive nature in the final-third.

Standing at 5’10” or 1.77m, El Osito is a receiver in progressive play who is mainly looking to provide decisive touches, despite being capable, resilient and direct when space arises to carry the ball. As mentioned earlier regarding his understanding with Horta, Zalazar is a protagonist of a fluid attack on the same wavelength, able to find teammates with ease and wreaking havoc with simple one-twos and short combinations.

However, he truly comes into his own when zoning in on the penalty area, mastering the art of exploring and manipulating space, technically impressive when operating in tight spaces and incredibly composed when assisting or taking responsibility for the final touch.

Braga president António Salvador has serious ambitions of breaking the hegemony of the commonly recognised Portuguese “Big 3”, which is closer to becoming reality with players of the quality of Rodrigo Zalazar.

However, reports suggest that the 50-million-euro release clause may not be enough to deter potential suitors in Rodrigo’s pursuit of reaching the top.

When questioned about his future, Zalazar admitted: “Right now I’m very focused on helping my team and very happy at Sp. Braga. In the summer we’ll see what happens with my future and with the World Cup, which I hope to be part of.”

(Side note: In the same unauthorised interview, Zalazar called Benfica “the Real Madrid of Portugal,” repeatedly praising the club and multiple players)

It was probably long overdue, but it’s a pleasure to recognise the brilliant talent that one could argue is the best midfielder in Liga Portugal. Wherever the future of the latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week lies, Rodrigo Zalazar still has much to offer Braga and Portuguese football in the remaining months of the season.

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Paulo Moreira - Estrela’s standout performer of the season contributes to Jovane Cabral’s goal with a touch of class.

Oskar Pietuszewski - 17 years of age and doing this to a World Cup winner at the Estadio da Luz.