Jan Carlo Simić Scout Report: Rising Star Defender Profile

0:00 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Today we're embarking on a truly fascinating exploration into the profile of a young talent who's already making some pretty significant ways in the world of football. We've pulled together a wealth of detailed reports, lots of deep performance data giving us this incredible, almost X-ray like window into what makes this young player tick and you know what really sets him apart. Our mission today, as always, is to kind of cut through the noise, uncover those crucial details, and give you a real shortcut to being incredibly well informed about a player who, well, we think is destined for the top.

0:36 And that shortcut is exactly what we're here for. We're going to understand the nuances of his unique playing style, really delve into what makes his standout strength so impactful, and critically identify those areas where he still has room to, let's say, sculpt his game. You're about to get a really comprehensive understanding of a player who could very well be dominating headlines for a long, long time. Let's dive in. Absolutely. So let's begin by putting a name to this promising talent. We're talking about Jan Carlos Simmich.

1:07 Simmich. Yeah, he's a 20 year old Serbian national, which is interesting because he was actually born in Germany. Right. That dual background. Sometimes it adds an interesting layer, doesn't it? Different influences maybe? Could be tactical ideas, different approaches early on. But what's particularly significant, I mean maybe even astonishing for someone his age, is his early recognition at international level. He made his senior debut for the Serbian national team on September 5, 2024. Just think about that.

1:38 Wow, 20 years old senior debut. Exactly. For a player who was just, you know, barely out of his teens, to already be representing his country, the highest level, competing against seasoned pros on that stage, it speaks volumes. It really does. It's not just talent, it's trust. It's trust from the coaches, it's his demonstrated ability to perform under, well, immense pressure. This is massive milestone. It immediately flags him as a special talent. High ceiling. It just accelerates that learning curve way beyond what most players get at that age.

2:07 And when we talk physical attributes, he stands at 1.86 meters tall. Good height for a center back. That's not just advantageous, it feels pretty critical these days. Immediately brings to mind potential in aerial duels. Oh, absolutely. And it's more than just potential. It's a weapon. Yeah, how so? Well, that height gives him a natural significant edge in those critical aerial contests. Think about it, Commanding the central space, dealing with long balls, crosses. Right asserting himself against strikers.

2:37 Exactly. But it translates offensively to which we'll get to corners, free kicks. He becomes a real target, causes chaos and just that overall physical presence, you know, screening attackers, holding ground. It's a fundamental attribute for a defender in almost any system, a powerful platform. And no surprise with that kind of presence, his main spot is right in the heart of the defense Center back. But what's really intriguing, the reports highlight his adaptability. He's noted as comfortable on both the right and the left side of central defense.

3:07 Which is becoming so valuable. Tactical flexibility for the coach, definitely. And this versatility, it's often underpinned by another key attribute. He seems to have a strong two footed preference. OK, so not just right footed. Well, some reports lean towards right, but others explicitly state both suggesting a high level of comfort either way, and that ability using either foot is a massive, massive advantage for a defender today. How does that play out practically? Think about it, he's pressed hard on the left side of his box instead of a predictable, maybe weaker foot clearance or a risky turn back inside.

3:43 You can just open up and ping it with his left. Precisely a calm, driven pass to escape pressure. It gives him flexibility in tight spots, makes him less predictable, and crucially, it just enhances his whole ball playing game, his decision making under pressure. It's a real hallmark of the elite modern defender, being able to dictate from deep brake lines, find teammates no matter the angle or the press. So we've got the physical tools, the early international recognition, but his journey, it hasn't been from nowhere, has it?

4:13 Before his current club, he was at AC Milan. Yeah, AC Milan, top tier European giant, steeped in history, developing world class talent, That's a proper Crucible for a young player, Absolutely. And making a Syria debut, actually scoring a goal at just 18 while at Milan, that speaks absolute volumes. 18 in Syria for Milan. Wow, it really does. Milan isn't a club where chances are just handed out right. You earn them against fierce competition, established pros, other top youngsters. For him to do that at that age in such a tactically demanding league.

4:44 Where every mistake is analyzed. Exactly. It's a clear sign of his high potential, his ability to perform at elite levels, very, very young. That kind of early experience under that pressure, it's just invaluable. Accelerates development exponentially, forces adaptation. He's already tasted that intensity. So today his journey continues at RSC under elect Move there July 23, 2024 and he signed a long term contract committed until June 30, 2029. Right, five years. That's a big commitment. It really underscores Andrew likes belief in him, his future impact.

5:18 It's not a short term punt, it's a strategic investment. They clearly see him as central to their plans, a cornerstone maybe. Do some stability to presumably. For sure lets him develop without constant contract pressure or transfer talk. And his market value noted at 8 million as of July 2025 that reinforces the perception valuable asset substantial upside. 8 million for a 20 year old center back. Yeah, it signals he's already seen as one of the most promising in his position in Europe. Clubs expect that value to climb as he matures.

5:48 It's a concrete indicator of his quality and potential. OK, so we've established the foundation. Physical tools, early experience, high valuation. But let's get into the real engine room of his game. What defines him on the pitch? This idea of being a modern ball playing center back right? It's a phrase we hear all the time. But what does it actually mean for how he impacts the game beyond just a label? It's way more than a label. It means he's far more than just a traditional stopper. You know someone whose job is just to clear the ball.

6:19 Right. Not just head it and kick it. Exactly. He's integral to the team's offensive rhythm right from deep in their own half, almost like the first playmaker. He actively likes to build play, prefers short composed passes to keep possession, draw opponents out, createspace further up. So he helps control. Folks control the tempo. Initiates attacks with purpose and precision, not just reacting, not just hooping it long. It genuinely transforms the defensive line into the first line of attack, dictating the flow from the first touch.

6:50 And the numbers back this up they. Really do. His passing accuracy stands out 87.0%. That's impressive. 87%. And he completed 13193 passes this season, averaging almost 44 successful passes per 90 minutes. That is an incredibly strong foundation for a defender. 44 passes per game, that's a lot of involvement. It is, and that kind of accuracy. You often see it in midfielders, maybe not center backs. At that volume, it tells you he's consistently involved, remarkably reliable with the ball, even under pressure.

7:23 Not just simple sideways stuff, but consistently contributing to possession. So accurate, yes, but what about the intent behind those passes? Is he just keeping it safe or is he actually trying to unlock things from deep? The reports say he's very good at passing the ball forward and breaking lines. Precisely. That's the key difference. His forward passing isn't just incidental, it's deliberate, effective, a core part of his game. His progressive carry and pass metric? 232 total instances this season, averaging 7.33 per 90.

7:52 OK, Break that down for us. Progressive carry or pass? It basically means anytime he moves the ball significantly closer to the opponent's goal, often bypassing defenders. So at 7.33 per 90 shows, he consistently advances the ball into more dangerous areas. So he's bypassing midfield lines. Effectively, yeah. With a single action he can take opponents out of the game, create numerical advantages higher up. It's vital for that difends to attack, transition, bypassing aggressive presses. And even his long passes, 93 accurate ones this season, show his range, his vision, switching play, finding a winger, stretching the defense.

8:27 We also see this figure XT from passes at .10 per 90. For those maybe less familiar with advanced stats, what does expected threat from passes actually tell us? Right XT expected threat. It's a smart metric. It quantifies how much a pass increases the probability of a goal scoring chance. It measures how much a pass improves the team's chances of scoring, basically. So .10 per 90 for a center back is that good? It's quite high, yeah, Extremely significant. Often you'd expect that from a creative midfielder, maybe even an attacker.

8:58 It shows he's not just playing safe, he's actively generating attacking value from deep. His passes consistently move the ball into positions that make scoring more likely. It demonstrates real offensive intelligence. Even from defense, he's completing valuable passes. Shows he understands space, how to exploit it. OK, so passing is key, but it's not just passing. He's characterized as calm and composed with the ball and maybe surprisingly for a defender, a strong dribbler for his position. This really isn't your traditional no nonsense center back is he sounds comfortable under pressure.

9:36 Not at all. That's a key distinction. Really sets him apart, his comfort, carrying the ball out especially. He gets a high press. It's a highly prized modern attribute. So instead of just clearing it. Exactly. Instead of clearing or passing into a tight spot, he can actually dribble past an opponent. Allevia pressure, sure, but crucially open up totally new passing lanes that weren't there a second before. A tall center back dribbling past midfielder that must throw off the opponent. Completely allows the team to transition much more smoothly.

10:05 Break that initial press, get on the front foot immediately. It shows immense confidence. Real technical ability under duress. Very calm, very deliberate. And there's data on this dribbling. Yeah, it's not just an observation. 11 successful take ONS this season with an impressive 64.7% success rate. 65% success rate on take ONS for center back. It's genuinely exceptional. Many wingers would be happy with that efficiency. It means opponents can't just press him easily. He has the tools to beat them.

10:37 Advance the ball, create an overload maybe? And this carrying, it's not just about escaping pressure. It directly leads to offensive actions. We see six carries led to chance and even one carry led to goal. Right. That's remarkable for his position, a direct impact. What does that tell us? Those numbers are highly significant. Shows he's not just holding possession or escaping danger, he's actively progressing the ball into genuinely dangerous areas, directly contributing to scoring chances. That one Carrie led to goal.

11:06 I mean he literally drove forward, beat players and directly created the goal scenario. That's a highly sought after rare trait. Shows that forward thinking proactive mindset from deep. It's an offensive dimension few defenders have. Transforms him from just a defensive asset into a genuine attacking catalyst at times. OK, this next part sounds almost contradictory, doesn't it? A defender who's a well a prolific goal scorer seems to stretch, but he has a real goal threat. Yeah, it gets really interesting here.

11:35 For a center back focused on stopping goals, Jan Carly Simmich possesses a surprising and frankly excellent goal threat. Not something you usually lead with for a defender. Indeed, it's a truly unique aspect of his game, and it fundamentally changes how opponents have to prepare prepare for set pieces against his team. So the numbers. In the 2024-2025 season, 24 league matches, three goals overall league in Europe league 32 matches. Still, three goals averages .09 goals per 90, and the reports consistently highlight he's in a high percentile for non penalty goals among defenders.

12:12 That's crucial. Meaning they're not penalties, they're from open player set pieces. Exactly shows his contribution comes directly from attacking faces. It's not just a bonus, it's a tactical advantage. Forces opponents to dedicate extra resources to mark him. Stretches their defense. Maybe creates chances for others even if he doesn't score. And what's really striking is how those goals were scored. All three this season came from set pieces, and all three were headers. That points to a very specific potent strength, like having an extra aerial specialist.

12:40 It absolutely does. Being dangerous onset pieces adds this unique, incredibly valuable dimension. It suggests excellent timing, a powerful leap, finding space in crowded boxes, all crucial for heading. So he's a threat offensively but also helps defensively. Onset pieces too. Exactly that dual threat quality provides an extra attacking outlet most defenders just don't have. His aerial strength, which we said helps defend his own box, translates that power directly into a goal threat at the other end.

13:09 Forces opponents to adapt their marking on corners. Free kicks often means pulling a marker off someone else just to deal with him. Now moving on slightly, we encountered some interesting slightly varied beta points about his assists across the different reports. Ah yes, the assist numbers. Gives us a moment to think about how data can sometimes differ slightly. But what's the real take away for you, the listener from this? This is where we need to be precise, but also understand how stats work.

13:36 Different sources, maybe slightly different definitions of what counts as an assist, can lead to these minor variations. So one report said one assist in 8 Europa League games. Another summary said 0 assists overall, but then a detailed analysis listed 3 assists. Exactly. So the discrepancy is there, but what it indicates for us the listener isn't the lack of contribution. It actually points towards his overall attacking intent and output being notably high for his position, regardless of whether the official tally ends up being 01 or three.

14:09 So the key take away is the involvement. It's a consistent involvement, yes. He's clearly involved in offensive build up, consistently has an eye for goal creating situations. He's not static. He actively participates in moving the ball into dangerous areas, contributing to the final attacking sequences. It shows he's not just a passer, but a facilitator too. That's the important part. Right, OK, so as with any young player with high potential, even someone is promising as Giancarlo, there are always areas for growth.

14:37 It's not the finished article yet. Of course not. No players at 20. While he paints this picture of a really modern defender, there are still brush strokes to add. Our deep dive highlighted a couple of key aspects for him to develop as he matures, aiming for that absolute elite level. Yes, and this is crucial for his long term trajectory. The main areas identified are his one V1 defending and his tackling technique. OK, core defensive skill. Core skills, yeah, both pinpointed as aspects that can enhance his defensive solidity, his consistency in today's game with attackers getting faster, more agile, more technical, mastering those close quarter one V ones is paramount.

15:17 A momentary lapse there could be very costly high leverage area for improvement. And the stats reflect this a bit. They seem to His tackling volume is notably low, only 15 total tackles this season, averaging .47 per 90 minutes. Less than half a tackle per game on average. Yeah, compared to maybe a ball winning midfielder making 3 or 4 or even more aggressive center backs, it's definitely on the lower side, yeah. Which makes you ask, is that a tactical choice by the team or an area for him to refine individually?

15:44 Could be either, right? Could be it might suggest a need to engage more proactively in duels, or maybe refine his technique so he wins a higher percentage of the tackles he does attempt. You know, timing, body shape, avoiding fouls. Becoming more efficient there would make him even more complete. The reports also mentioned he could be better at clearing danger from the box. His low clearance numbers, 98 total about 3.76 per 90, suggest a need to maybe sharpen instincts in high pressure zones. Clearing the lines.

16:15 Sounds like a core responsibility, especially when things get frantic in the box. It does, and this raises a really important question bringing tactics into it. Is this a fundamental weakness or partly a consequence of the system he plays in? Know so well? In possession based teams, high defensive lines, clearances and high volume tackling might be less frequent by design. The philosophy is keep the ball, win it back. High up defenders are often encouraged to play out, not just booted. Right clearing concedes possession.

16:43 Exactly. Yeah, they don't want defenders just clearing under minimal pressure. However, regardless of system, there are moments of pure chaos, right? A scramble in the box, a fast counter where you can't keep possession. That's when a decisive, effective clearance is absolutely essential. So it's about knowing when to play and when to clear. Pretty much. These are certainly areas of one V ones the tackling efficiency, the decisive clearances in chaotic moments that could enhance his overall defensive impact, especially in those high pressure zones in his own box where one action can prevent a goal.

17:16 It's about effectiveness when the situation demands a more direct defensive action. OK, switching back to offense briefly, while his goal scoring is a massive plus, a real standout strength definitely. The reports also suggest he can create more chances for teammates that his final third. Contributions like shot creating actions and key passes are limited. Seems like the next step for his attacking game. It absolutely is, especially when you consider how good he is at carrying the ball and playing those progressive passes.

17:45 And again, there's that slight data variance on key passes. Four in one place, 11 in another. Right. But even if we take the higher figure 11 key passes for a modern ball playing defender who initiates attacks, carries the ball forward so well, there's definitely potential to translate that progression into more direct shot creating actions for others. What's a shot creating action executive? Any offensive action could be a pass, a dribble, even drawing a foul that directly leads to a shot on goal so he gets the ball into good areas.

18:15 The next step is making that final, decisive pass or action that directly sets up a teammate. So what does this tell us about his ability to really influence the attacking third beyond his own goals? How does this fit his profile? And for you the listener, think about this. For a player so good at progressing the ball, how might he boost his role in directly setting up goals? Well, it implies that while he's excellent at progressing the ball, getting into those threatening positions, maybe his final ball decision making or the execution of that final pass in tight spaces upfield could be refined.

18:48 Sharpening that final product. Exactly. His expected threat from carries is strong. As we said, he gets into good spots with the ball, increases the chance of a goal just by moving it forward, but converting that strong position into tangible clear cut chances for teammates. The perfectly weighted through ball, the pinpoint cross, the decisive cutback. That's the next crucial step in his offensive evolution. How might that happen? Coaching tactics. Could be a mix, practicing specific passes under pressure, improving vision and congested areas, maybe refining his positioning when he does join the attack.

19:24 For a coach, maybe it's encouraging more risk with the final ball, or giving him specific roles in set plays beyond just being a target. It's about pushing him to be a creator, not just a progressor, to fully unlock that potential. So let's try and bring this all together, OK? Ultimately, young Carlos Simmich is profiled very clearly as a quintessential modern ball playing center back. That sums it up well. His core strengths, that composure building from the back, the surprising attacking output, especially from set pieces, They make him best suited for a specific type of team, right?

19:55 Yeah, the report suggests A possession based team with a high defensive line and controlled build up. That's where his current skill set really shines. Where he can dictate from deep be the foundation of their attacking philosophy, and his move to Anderlacht, a club often favoring that style, seems to under score that tactical fit. So wrapping this deep dive up, what does all this mean for a club maybe looking to invest in a defender like him? And maybe more importantly, what does it signify for Cimage's own future, his career path?

20:27 He represents a truly promising, highly sought after profile for clubs wanting that progressive, technically sound defender, someone who can build their play from the back. But with those areas for development still there. Absolutely. Yeah. As we discussed, he needs to keep refining the one V1 defending, improve tackling consistency in those duels, but his existing foundation is incredibly strong. That composure, the ball progression, the aerial strength, the goal threat. Exactly. That combination paints the picture of a defender who already seamlessly blends those desirable modern ball playing qualities with that essential traditional defensive grit.

21:04 He's not just a player for today's game, but he has the raw tools, the early elite experience, and a clear trajectory to be a significant, maybe even top tier figure for years to come. He's undeniably one to watch very closely. His evolution will be fascinating. What an incredibly detailed look. Yeah, I'm Carlos Simmich. He really stands out, doesn't he? A fascinating blend of, well, youthful maturity, exceptional ball playing ability, and that unexpected Mac for scoring goals. Well, he definitely has those clear areas for development.

21:34 Specific defensive aspects, maybe That final creative passes foundation is incredibly strong. You can see the potential. He's already operating at a high level and the areas for growth seem identifiable, which maybe makes his path to the elite even clearer. His combination of those highly valued modern qualities with that underlying essential defensive grit makes his a truly intriguing prospect. He really embodies the evolving role of the central defender today, where it's not just about stopping attacks but initiating them with precision and impact.

22:04 Yeah, he's a testament to how the game is changing. Valuing those comprehensive skill sets? Definitely. And as football keeps pushing boundaries consistently prioritizing a defender's ability to build attacks, break lines, even generate threat from deep, that might just become the new standard for elite center backs. Could well be. So here's a final thought for you to Mull over. How might a player like Giancarlo Simmich, with his progressive skill set and that unique attacking flair, ultimately redefine what we come to expect from a top tier center back in the years ahead?

22:37 Will his blend of skills become the new archetype, pushing the boundaries of the position even further? Something to think about. That's all for this deep dive. Thank you for joining us.