Miralem Pjanic – Lyon’s New Juninho

If it is the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford or the number 10 in Argentina that holds special, mythical significance, then the equivalent at Olympique Lyonnais would surely be that of the number 8.

For it was once worn by midfield maestro Juninho Pernambucano, the brilliant Brazilian whose style and craft, not to mention jaw-dropping free-kicks, wrote the slick playmaker’s name into Lyon legend. Think of Olympique Lyonnais now and you think of their relentless recent march to seven straight league championships in France. Before Juninho arrived in 2001 Lyon had never won the French title.

Since Juninho’s departure the number 8 shirt he wore at the Stade Gerland so gracefully has grown to take on new, added relevance. Replacing him in the minds of Lyon supporters is no simple task. The chosen heir to the throne, Lyon’s new number 8, is a young Bosnian named Miralem Pjanić. And so far he is doing a pretty good job of carrying the torch.

Signed by Lyon in 2008 at just 18 years of age, for a fee of about £7 million plus incentives, Pjanić is now beginning to show his true worth at the club. Originally intended as an impact player for coach Claude Puel to use sparingly, Pjanić’s impressive start to the season has seen the Bosnian international grow in both influence and stature, to the point where he is fast becoming a pivotal player for Lyon as demonstrated in their 4-0 Champions League demolition of Debrecen in Hungary. Pjanić was a key figure, grabbing two assists and scoring a beautifully flighted goal from a free-kick that raised memories of the old number 8.

Born in the Bosnian part of the former Yugoslavia, Miralem Pjanić was raised in Luxembourg after his family fled their home due to the outbreak of the Bosnian War. Spotted as a youngster in Luxembourg by local club FC Schifflange 95, Pjanić soon came to the attention of other clubs and was signed at 14 by French outfit FC Metz. His talents as a marauding, creative midfielder developed at a promising rate in Metz’s academy and in 2007/2008 Pjanić was fast-tracked to Metz’s first team squad while still only 16.

In 2007/2008 FC Metz were dire and relegated, but “Miré” as he is often referred to, this exciting young prospect, was talked about constantly and touted as a star of the future. “He is truly a player made for the highest level, one made for the biggest of clubs,” raved former Metz president Carlo Molinari in 2008. Comparisons were soon made with France’s own Robert Pires.

It wasn’t long before one of those big clubs swooped. Olympique Lyonnais quickly signed Pjanić very much with the future in mind. Knowing Juninho’s career at Stade Gerland was coming to an end, Pjanić was bought with the intention of bedding him to eventually take on that central attacking midfield role.

So while Pjanić’s appearances for Lyon were limited in 2008/2009, this year the Bosnian international has got his chance. And he is stepping up to the plate. Operating in that Juninho role behind the strikers, Pjanić is fast becoming the metronome that keeps Lyon ticking and has played in every league game so far making 4 starts, 3 substitute appearances and bagging one goal against Auxerre. 3 goals in the Champions League, including the match-winner against Fiorentina, and a glowing performance against Debrecen have only furthered Miré’s reputation as Juninho incarnate.

A set-piece specialist, Pjanić is part of the new breed of Bosnian talent, included in a pool of highly gifted Bosnian players like 1899 Hoffenheim’s Vedad Ibišević and VfL Wolfsburg duo Zvjezdan Misimović and Edin Džeko. Together they have helped push Bosnia-Herzegovina to the brink of their first ever World Cup. That would go down as a mammoth achievement in itself.

But for now Miralem Pjanić is just happy making relatively light work of a daunting task – carrying on the legacy of Lyon’s number 8.

http://video.rutube.ru/26533d409d7d45b13ee0125fa17d93e1

Europe, French Ligue 1, Good Player Guide, Juninho Pernambucano, Miralem Pjanic, Olympique Lyonnais