Newly promoted VFB Stuttgart are enjoying an exciting return to the Bundesliga, currently sitting mid-table in the German Bundesliga, six points off the Champions League places and with an enthralling and impressive 5-1 win at Borussia Dortmund mid-December, they are a team strongly aiming to stamp their mark on the German top-flight and sustain their placing amongst some of Europe’s elite clubs.
The club are going about the right way, currently holding an embarrassment of riches when it comes to young exciting stars who are already making a name for themselves in Germany’s flag-ship division. Nicolás González, Silas Wamangituka (currently on seven goals, 3 assists in 14 Bundesliga outings so far this campaign), Tanguy Coulibaly, Borna Sosa, Konstantinos Mavropanos (on loan from Arsenal) are Clinton Mola are just a number of names on Pellegrino Matarazzo’s talented roster.
Though one player, currently strutting his stuff under-the-radar in this exciting looking team is Belgium under-21 international midfielder, Orel Mangala. The 22-year-old has been a mainstay in Stuttgart’s midfield this season, making 13 appearances in the Bundesliga and even chipping in with a goal and an assist so far this campaign. Mangala has performed with consummate regularity this season, putting in some silky and dominant performances from the centre of the park.
Touted for a move to Arsenal this time last year, if the talented youngster continues to lead by example in this Stuttgart team this season, there’s no reason why he cannot make the step up to a much more elite proposition in the near future, and who knows, even receive his first international call-up for the Belgium squad this year.
So, who is Orel Mangala? How has he developed at Stuttgart and what kind of characteristics on the pitch does he bring to the table?
Who is Orel Mangala?
Born in Brussels, Belgium. Orel Mangala is actually of Congolese descent through his parents.
Though, Mangala is yet another burgeoning talent to emerge from Belgian football. The midfielder spent his formative years at Anderlecht’s academy where his quick feet and intelligent passing quickly attracted plenty of admirers from across Europe. His reputation was further enhanced at the Under-17 World Cup in 2015 when he led Belgium to a third placed finish.
Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund made their move soon after. In the summer of 2016, they signed Mangala on an initial season-long loan deal which included an option to buy clause. He became a mainstay for the under-19 team who won the 2016/17 German Championship but BVB opted against signing permanently. A decision that could well soon cost the club if Mangala goes on to fulfil his remarkable potential which is already underway at his current employers.
Stuttgart, fresh from clinching promotion back to the Bundesliga had seen enough and eventually signed him when he was 19-years-old.
“Orel is a well-educated and very ambitious player,” Jan Schindelmeiser, then Stuttgart sporting director, said. “He can operate in midfield in the defensive or attacking positions and has all the necessary qualities to establish himself in the Bundesliga step-by-step.”
Mangala went straight into Die Roten’s starting XI but struggled to establish himself. Played as part of a midfield two in a 5-4-1 system, he lacked the experience to dictate games and was eventually taken out of the side. He made only one start after October and that came on the final day of the campaign.
The club decided to send him out on loan, and that they did. He required adaptation and necessary experience of regular senior football, which they sent him on loan to Hamburg in the summer of 2018.
Relegated for the first time in their history, there were huge expectations placed on the Die Rothosen squad. Ultimately they came up short, finishing fourth in Bundesliga.2.
Mangala, however, got the experience he needed. He played 34 games in all competitions for the German giants and proved himself to Stuttgart. It was timely, too, as the club were relegated again from the Bundesliga after they lost in the play-off to Union Berlin.
Yet his performances for Hamburg had not gone unnoticed. Lyon were interested in the midfielder and submitted a reported £10million bid. L’Equipe also claimed Arsenal and Roma declared the admiration for the player too. The midfielder, however, opted to sign a new contract at the club and hasn’t looked back since.
What’s Mangala’s style of play?
A dynamic, swash-buckling and all-round midfielder, Mangala is most commonly known for his silky technical attributes, intelligent passing and all-action characteristics. He’s a prominent player in Stuttgart’s midfielder providing them with much needed spark, cutting thrust and a propensity to dominate when at full flow.
While Mangala holds the characteristics to just distribute the ball from deep areas, he is much better and more fluid when he is given the license to dribble up the field in order to relieve the pressure on his team or to instigate an attacking action leading to a clear-cut opportunity.
Once he wins the ball from his opponents which he does with great regularity, he is then very well suited to bypassing instant pressure and then distributing it to his more forward-thinking teammates. This ability, especially from deep areas, or in the middle third of the pitch, is similar to Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic who is well known for breaking through the opponent’s press thanks to his slick close control and and swift turn of pace. Orel Mangala holds very similar characteristics.
So far this campaign, Mangala has managed to complete 2.7 dribbles per 90, and also cover 127.4 for progressive distances. He is an able dribbler, a trait which is hugely significant to Stuttgart’s style of play. He can turn defence into attack in an instant, it’s an invaluable trait to possess.
Orel Mangala is also a fine progressive passer. Stuttgart aren’t known for their possession-based play but when Mangala is on the field, they are always capable of using it to devastating effect as they did against their rampant 5-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
While Dortmund may have had most of the ball, it was Stuttgart who when they did eventually have possession, they cut through Dortmund’s defence at will either through some devastating through balls or players well-versed in dribbling past players in order to create openings and opportunities.
It was Mangala who did just that for the second goal, scored by another bright player in their squad and their top-scorer this campaign, Silas Wamangituka. Once Mangala knicked the ball off Raphael Guerreiro, he then drove into the penalty box, swiftly got by Guerreiro and then picked his moment to square it for Wamangituka for Stuttgart’s second goal of the game. It was a goal truly encompassing of the Belgian’s qualities in possession.
Mangala registered 2 key passes in that win over Dortmund, 86.7% passing accuracy, 2 key dribbles, 2 interceptions and 1 key tackle providing a reminder of the kind of style he provides his teammates. The Belgian was everywhere in that game, also showing just why he is an all-action, all-round type midfielder. It’s also been a regular feature throughout the campaign so far. Mangala has provided 3.00 passes into final third per 90, 3.31 progressive passes and 0.38 key passes to go along with his 2 assists so far this campaign.
Mangala’s comfort and precision on the ball makes him versatile and its why he has more than capable of fulfilling a number of positions on the pitch. But its at the base of midfield, as an anchor protecting the back-four or as a marauding box-to-box player where he is at his sparkling best.
While playing in this role, the midfielder is given the responsibility to break up play, halt-counter attacks and also provide the team with strong stability throughout, Mangala performs such to devastating effect. 1.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 clearances and also adds a knack of pressuring his opponents in order to win the ball, registering 3.31 successful pressures, 5.69 of them within the middle third of the pitch.
Forecast for the Future
Wherever Orel Mangala ends up after he serves his time at VFB Stuttgart, he’s certainly capable of making another telling contribution. If the Belgian midfielder can improve his rapid and impressive development at the club, there’s no reason why Europe’s elite could be ringing a few calls to Stuttgart who will be willing to sell, unless his price his met.
That price won’t be cheap seeing as he still has a few years left on his current contract.
One things for certain, Mangala must stay grounded. As Stuttgart aim to establish themselves in the German Bundesliga this season, the 22-year-old holds a very significant role to play in their progress, so he can’t afford to become distracted by unnecessary rumours that may hinder his focus and also ultimately his impressive development.
Also, there’s no reason why the midfielder cannot break into Roberto Martinez’ Belgian squad this summer for the Euros or even after it as there will surely be plans to fine-tune and include talented youngsters on the Belgium roster. Orel Mangala is amongst that list, and a player who possesses such a bright future.
He’s at the correct stable club in Stuttgart to further his learning and development, and providing they achieve their objective staying in the Bundesliga come the end of the campaign, he could well feel that one more year at the club may prove invaluable.
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