Player Focus: Tonny Vilhena - Feyenoord's Latest Young Prodigy

When it comes to youth development the Dutch are often seen to be at the forefront, a reputation that takes pride of place, so much so that youth academies – both professional and amateur – are annually nominated for a 'Rinus Michels Award'. The winner of the professional prize four years running has been Feyenoord.

Their academy, Varkenoord, has come a long way since being reinvigorated by club icon Wim Jansen, first as manager then as technical advisor. The first team's resurgence under Ronald Koeman has coincided with an average of seven graduates in their starting line-up; a policy that is starting to pay handsomely.

Koeman arrived in the summer of 2011 and has since handed professional debuts to no fewer than 8 academy graduates. The value of camaraderie, especially for a developing team – familiarity breeds cohesiveness – cannot be underestimated. There's no better example than the relationship between winger Jean-Paul Boëtius and midfield dynamo Tonny Trindade de Vilhena, two of the brightest at Koeman's disposal.

Boëtius and Vilhena, both 19, rose through the ranks together – along with Karim Rekik now at PSV on loan from Manchester City – so there's a shared experience, but it's not just about them, surrounding them is a trio of gifted players to also emerge from the clubs academy: Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij and Jordy Clasie (with a combined 27 appearances for Oranje). This quintet is Feyenoord's very own version of Real Madrid's fabled 'Quinta del Buitre'. At the core is Vilhena, like Emilio Butragueño, the first among equals.

A precocious talent, Vilhena's potential is scary. Naturally blessed, he possesses all the attributes to play from box-to-box. His fleet of foot and pace succulently compliment his sharp brain, allowing him to play between the lines while a low centre of gravity (standing at 5ft 9") enables him to ride the sternest of challenges as well as making him an efficient dribbler. With the ball Vilhena has also proven to be an adept passer, quick and incisive, averaging 33.4 passes per game.

In some ways he embodies the modern midfielder: dangerous when drifting out to the flanks courtesy of elegant playmaking – he’s created 17 chances this season and picked up 4 assists - and industrious through the middle with a keen eye for goal. Last season Vilhena became the youngest Feyenoorder to score twice in a league match breaking Henk Duut's record, which stood for 31 years. He's not matched that in this campaign scoring 2 goals (from 33 shots) spread across 18 games, with his latest coming in Feyenoord's recent 5-2 win at FC Utrecht.

His tenacity, however, is his greatest strength and a trait that will stand in him good stead as he matures. Boëtius, when asked to describe what type of player Vilhena is, compared him to Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard. "Defensively and offensively he is strong." Others see shades of Edgar Davids. This season he continues to be Feyenoord's 'pit bull' with an average of 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game.

At the moment Vilhena occupies an advanced central midfield role in a regular 4-3-3, where his influence continues to grow. However, when Koeman opted for a 4-2-3-1 against Willem II (February 2013) his preferred choice was to play the Maassluis native as the deep-lying forward or 'number 10'. His balance and understanding with Graziano Pellè, leading the line, was poetic.

His all-round game caught the attention of then Dutch U21 manager Cor Pot last year, who took him to that summer's European Championships. Louis van Gaal, an admirer, has since called him up during World Cup qualification but he's yet to win a senior cap. The chances are he will sometime in 2014, most likely under Van Gaal's successor Guus Hiddink.

With so much happening so fast Vilhena remains grounded. Although he has admitted to reading and listening to everything said about him, he doesn't allow it to distract him; even something positive from a club great such as Willem van Hanegem, who strongly believes the midfielder is close to being acknowledged as 'world class'.

As with many footballers his future is shaped by his past. Growing up Vilhena never had an idol. The closest, of sorts, was Patrick Kluivert, who he remembered watching during Euro 2000 as a five-year-old. The aspiration is to be the first Vilhena not the next Davids or Gerrard. This attitude endeared him to Koeman who knows from experience what it is like to be a prodigy.

Vilhena's stature at youth level was immense; a key component in the Dutch U17s successful defence of their European title in 2012, scoring the winning penalty in the shootout against Germany. Before his senior debut – aged 17 – in late January 2012 away to VVV supporters of Feyenoord would regularly hear testimonies of a wonderkind that will one day sit atop of the world.

It's been gradual but he's now a permanent fixture in Feyenoord's midfield alongside Clasie and Lex Immers. Koeman's management of the player to date, battening down expectations, has been exemplary. Everything about him screams a player destined to be among the very best as long as he follows the right path and he couldn't be in a better place to develop. He still goes through dips in form, which will be eroded as time passes.

Those associated with the club know the chances of him being a one-club man are highly unlikely; a move abroad is certain – Juventus and Arsenal have been linked in the past – in preparation he recently left super agent Mino Raiola to join 'Stellar Group Limited' chaired by Jonathan Barnett. "He's one of our greatest talents, but still a diamond in the rough," sporting director Martin van Geel said after Vilhena signed his extension in January 2013. "He can still make strides in his development here. His fantastic mentality will help him."

Feyenoord currently sit fourth in the title race. The chances of a first championship since 1999 seem distant, but Koeman will keep fighting until it's mathematically impossible and no player will encapsulate it better than Vilhena.

Could Vilhena work his way into Van Gaal's plans ahead of the World Cup? Let us know in the comments below