James Mangan '24 Recruiting Profile

I am a versatile midfielder, primarily playing as a defensive midfielder but my aerobic abilities allow me to play the box to box role very well. I am   a very hard working, determined and competitive player who will always give my all on the football pitch. My main strengths are my ability to remain calm and retain the ball and to play progressive balls to break the lines. Other strengths include my fitness, ball control, accurate passing, quick thinking on the ball and ability to win the ball back quickly. I am also strong with both feet, although my right is slightly dominant. All these strengths contribute to my ability to keep possession for my team, break defensive lines and play with vision. Physically, I am the fittest player on the team, as evidenced by club fitness tests and GPS tracking data. I am able to keep running right until the 90th minute and often cover the most ground during a match. I work hard in the gym, where I follow a programme specifically designed for me, which has improved my strength to hold opponents off and increased my speed and power. I have a strong tactical understanding of the game. In this, I have had the advantage of training under high level coaches at different clubs. I am a versatile player and have willingly stepped in to play numerous positions such as up front or at full back when my team required. I have played in a few different clubs in different countries, having moved around due to my parents’ jobs in the Ministry of Defence. This has given me experience of different football cultures and styles of play. I have always integrated well into new teams, on and off the pitch, demonstrating resilience and an ability to adapt and succeed. Mentally, I am always determined to win, and I never stop running and fighting for my team. I always ensure I work as hard as I can to give my team the best chance to win and to give me the best chance of having a career as a footballer. Alongside such a large portion of my time dedicated to training and competing in matches, I have been able to maintain high grades in the classroom. I believe these attributes will allow me to be an extremely successful student-athlete.