Player Focus: Finnbogason Made in His Manager's Image

Marco van Basten's return to management last season posed more challenges than King Eurystheus. Heerenveen, who he joined after three years in managerial exile, managed one win from their first eight games. It looked like another doomed tenure; he would eventually turn things around finishing eighth. As we enter October things couldn't be more different.

A year, as they say, is a long time in football. Heerenveen find themselves in third – level on points with FC Twente and PSV above them – winning half of their games. It wasn’t until round 18 that they registered their fourth victory last season, a week before breaking up for winter.

The atmosphere now compared to twelve months ago is different. No longer are they suffering from an identity crisis, which plagued the first few months of Van Basten's reign. He inherited a team, in the summer of 2012, that lost three influential players – Bas Dost, Luciano Narsingh and Oussama Assaidi – it's taken a while, but it seems they've been forgotten (in a good way).

Dost, who left the Eredivisie as the Golden Boot winner, in particular is no longer spoken about – Alfred Finnbogason, his successor, has ensured that. The Icelandic striker has benefited from the tutelage of Van Basten, the most prolific number nine of his generation: technique and finesse intertwined in unadulterated ruthlessness. His goalscoring return of 24 goals from 31 Eredivisie games last season was only bettered by Wilfried Bony and Graziano Pellè, who both had their most prolific season.

Although the Eredivisie season is still in its infancy, he’s put everyone – including every defender – on notice. The first player to reach ten goals, tailed by Pellè, he’s been responsible for 48% of Heerenveen's goals (averaging 5.1 shots per game). His gradual evolution: unerring in front of goal, determined to be become renowned for scoring in the unlikeliest of situations, could see him attain the title of number nine par excellence.

Every game Finnbogason cuts an impassive figure; focused, void of distraction and with every fibre geared for a single purpose. Once that mission is done the child in him escapes but just as quickly his mask goes back up and the cycle starts again. To say goals are an obsession would be an understatement. It's compulsive.

Finnbogason’s game, however, is not only about scoring. He is what Van Basten (the master) would call the quintessential 'Dutch number nine'; where there's just as much demand in being a good playmaker as well as finding the back of the net. His all-round game – awareness, vision, movement and link-up play – stands out. He’s exceptional in allowing those around him into the game as a focal point, including from midfield and wide areas.

In way of repayment they play to his strength, which is his clinical finishing; currently boasting a 27.8% conversion rate. Though he only makes the tenth most passes per game at the club (23.6), he averages the most key passes per game (2.3) and is joint first when it comes to assists (3), level with Hakim Ziyech and Rajiv van La Parra. Finnbogason also just so happens to have the highest WhoScored rating (8.39) of any Eredivisie player.

His failure as manager of Ajax still remains a shadow over Van Basten’s head. It threatened to end a once promising managerial career. He arrived to a hero’s welcome soon after the conclusion of Euro 2008 after a mixed four-year stint as manager of the Dutch national team came to end in Basel.

The snake pit that was Ajax became overbearing. Increased scrutiny from the fifth column took its toll, defeat at Sparta Rotterdam evaporated any hope of playing Champions League football and proved to be the final straw. "How in God's name is it possible that we can't beat Sparta when it really matters?" he bemoaned. "Is it even fun to be manager anymore?" He lasted 309 days, offering his resignation after that game.

In a personal evaluation since, Van Basten stated his management style was heavily based on intuition and regretted leaving his post as a youth team coach at Ajax after one year in 2004. "My career took off quickly," he told de Volkskrant. "I missed the education you need. In this regard Frank de Boer has done better."

There's no jealousy when he muses over De Boer’s unbridled success in such a short space of time. Instead he reveres him as a model for any aspiring coaches. The assertion great players don’t always make good coaches is one that has often been levied at him. Though he agrees, he still wants a fair crack at the whip. "Having such a background can be a benefit to your credibility," he stressed. "But what matters is how I perform."

In his topsy-turvy managerial career he's shown glimpses of tactical prowess, which have come to the fore again. Not many can say they've studied under Fabio Capello, Rinus Michels, Arrigo Sacchi and Johan Cruyff. Much of his philosophy is drawn from them. Last season he experimented with a 5-3-2. "With the players we have it’s the best composition and system to use," he said. This season he's reverted to a more classical 4-3-3.

Everything seems better now. Van Basten is finding solace, optimism and renewed confidence. He's more relaxed, understanding and accepting of the limitations of his squad. Van Basten, for much of his fourteen-year playing career cut short by a troublesome ankle injury, only knew success – surrounded by players of high calibre. As a manager in the early years he made errors such as being a disciplinarian when it wasn't required; if players didn't live up to his high standards things would go downhill fast.

Heerenveen are flying but Van Basten is realistic about their championship credentials. "We are Heerenveen not Ajax or AC Milan," he told FOX Sports after the Friesland derby win over newly promoted SC Cambuur – the first time the fixture has been played since April 2000 – that's not to say the club from Friesland won't go all out, but some would say it’s clever management to control any burgeoning expectations. It could work to their advantage.

When Finnbogason was asked about the potential of challenging for the championship he replied "why not?" However becoming champions after finishing eighth the season before is no easy task, especially when you consider at there are at least three to four stronger teams. However, a new era of egalitarianism – which has led to competiveness throughout the Eredivisie, with no better example than the fact that the current top eight are separated by just two points – has Heerenveen, who have shown consistency (leading the scoring charts with Twente on 21 goals), dreaming of a strong finish.

Inconsistent team selection was a criticism levied at Van Basten during his brief stay in Amsterdam, but that can't be said this time around. He's used nineteen players, though only twelve have made seven appearances or more; including their front six: captain Marten de Roon, Ziyech, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Luciano Slagveer, Finnbogason and Van La Parra.

It’s accelerated cohesion. A lack of European football this season means they have no midweek games – bar the odd Cup match – which is a similar situation to Feyenoord during the 2011/12 season. Heerenveen have no distractions, making teambuilding and concentration on the league a lot easier. Under club icon Foppe de Haan they finished second fourteen seasons ago. Something similar would not only be a huge success for the club, but also Van Basten. It would exorcise past demons and convince those who still doubt him.

Will Finnbogason be the next Eredivisie number 9 to make it big? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.