Player Focus: Lasse Schöne Epitomising Team Philosophy at Ajax

"Football is a team sport" might be a mundane response, yet it is a wholly accurate one in explaining Frank de Boer's success: four successive championships over the past three-and-a-half years. There's a touch of egalitarianism – "our strength is that we are not dependent on one person" – with no player being more important than any other, however that's only true up to a point. Even in this Ajax squad there are firsts among equals: most notably Daley Blind and Lasse Schöne. 

Blind's rise has been well documented, but equally fascinating is Schöne's ascent. Today he's one of the first names on Ajax's team-sheet, but that wasn't always the case. When he arrived on a free transfer from NEC in 2012 he knew that with Christian Eriksen and Siem de Jong around the chances of playing in his 'favoured' position (attacking midfield/ 'number ten') were slim. His versatility meant he became a utility man, deployed across midfield, usually as the 'controller', before regenerating into a wide-forward. "It suits me," he recently said. "I'm more up front and my strengths lie in the final phase of attack". Schöne's interpretation is reminiscent of Frank's twin Ronald – less hugging the touchline more looking for space infield – the numbers back it up, he's producing more key passes (3.0) than crosses (2.0) per game.

An integral component in the Amsterdammers in-house style, a remnant of their totaalvoetbal lineage, is what De Boer calls "positional play" – basically once a player vacates a 'position' his teammate drops in maintaining the overall shape (2-3-2-3, 3-1-4-2 or even 2-1-4-3) – this allows Schöne, who often meanders off the flank (for example in setting-up Davy Klaassen's goal at AZ recently), to become an extra playmaker. "I have a certain amount of freedom which pleases me". Ajax's system, where individuals are left to their own problem-solving devices, has extracted the best from Schöne. "I've surprised myself," he told Algemeen Dagblad. "I have made steps. Like the whole team. We are a real team, which is perhaps even more important than our individual qualities."

It starts with the manager. De Boer, the guardian of the 'Ajax school', has his greatest strength in getting those under his tutelage to buy into his approach without taking away their individuality. "Frank de Boer is like no other," Schöne adds. "His vision is extremely clear and has the gift of keeping everyone content whether they're on the bench or playing". In essence they're without a focal point as a result of the slick collective spirit De Boer has forged. With their defence, midfield and attacking lines playing so close to each other it comes as no surprise to know last season they ranked first in terms of passes per game (536) and possession (62.6%).

Consequently the 'number six' role, currently performed by Blind, is the most paramount. The occupant, who must strike the right balance between energy and discipline, is the kernel around which the rest of the side's panache is constructed. He is the architect, stationed just in front of the centre-backs (at times becoming a third defender), primarily involved in building their attacks as well as being tasked with retaining and recycling possession. In 2013/14, Blind averaged 3.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 72.1 passes per game. "Of course it seems simple what Daley does, but that is often the most difficult," De Boer says. "You're at the top level if, in pressure situations, you still can make the right choices and remain calm, which he's doing very well at the moment."

Schöne is making a persuasive case as their second most important player. Appreciation for him has been gradually increasing; an industrious and infectious work rate – inspiring those around him – and a knack for being involved in decisive goals have won supporters over. His stellar performances (14 goals and 10 assists in 40 games) last season saw him bestowed as the clubs 'player of the year', becoming seventh non-Dutchman and second Dane (after Jesper Grønkjær in 1999/2000) to receive the accolade. He has solidified his newfound status with 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 competitive matches this season, while he also picked up a WhoScored rating of 10 in a MOTM display in the aforementioned game away to AZ.

But a week can be a long time in football. Seven days later in Amsterdam against rivals PSV he registered just 6.54, despite recording the joint-most dribbles (4) and shots (4) in the game. Ultimately an individual error from Schöne would lead to Phillip Cocu's men taking the lead after they had earlier trailed 1-0. One meagre showing – although the team played well overall and the result could have gone either way – cannot overshadow what has largely been a strong past year for the Danish international who, one would hope, has the capacity to bounce back.

"The championship is a marathon not a sprint," as Arsène Wenger once quipped, and De Boer knows that only too well. He is the first Ajax manager since mentor Louis van Gaal to make the most of their unique culture of bringing players through 'De Toekomst', the clubs fabled academy, from which more than half of their players have graduated. With the brand of football the Hoorn native passionately demands engrained into the majority of those who start for Ajax (averaging six a game), and personnel like Schöne who have bought into the philosophy, a record-breaking fifth successive championship is not beyond them.

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