Alious
A former Tottenham Hotspur striker is drawing comparisons to England captain and Premier League icon Harry Kane, but not for the reasons one might expect. While Kane has been prolific in front of goal for Bayern Munich, scoring 10 times in just nine appearances, his former Tottenham teammate has found the net only three times in the early months of the current campaign.
However, Vincent Janssen’s assist tally outweighs his goal return, with five assists to three goals, indicating he’s adapting well to a new role. Janssen’s recent performance for Royal Antwerp against Cercle Brugge showcased his evolving style of play, reminiscent of Kane’s. In setting up Tjaron Chery’s goal, Janssen displayed Kane-like qualities by dropping deep, winning possession, and delivering a well-placed pass behind the defense. Later in the match, he again operated in a more advanced midfield position to assist Jacob Ondrejka’s goal.
Frank Boeckx, a former Jupiler League goalkeeper now working as a goalkeeping coach for Anderlecht, noted the shift in Janssen’s play. He observed that while Janssen may not be the most clinical finisher this season, he’s operating more like a number 10, similar to how he played last year but now as the lone striker up front. Boeckx drew a direct comparison to Kane’s style of play.
Janssen’s time at Tottenham was largely unsuccessful, with only two goals in 31 Premier League appearances. He left the club for just £6 million in 2019, a significant loss on Tottenham’s initial investment following his Golden Boot-winning season with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie.
Since leaving Spurs, Janssen has rebuilt his career away from the intense media spotlight. He scored 38 goals in his first two seasons at Royal Antwerp, contributing to the club’s first Belgian title in years alongside former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld. Although his goal-scoring has dipped this season, Janssen’s evolving playmaking role has allowed him to continue contributing to a team that’s challenging for the league title.
However, not everyone is convinced by Janssen’s new role. Belgium legend Franky van der Elst cautioned against Janssen drifting too far from his primary striker position, drawing parallels to criticisms Kane faced during England’s Euro 2024 campaign for spending too much time outside the penalty area.
Janssen himself has reflected on his difficult spell at Tottenham, acknowledging the challenge of competing with Kane. He admitted to struggling with Kane’s presence and feeling frustrated during training sessions. In hindsight, Janssen realized he should have used the opportunity to learn from Kane instead of letting frustration get the better of him.
This story highlights the evolution of Janssen’s career and playing style, drawing interesting parallels with one of the world’s top strikers while also serving as a reminder of the challenges young players face when competing against established stars.
Alious
