i find this abt the boy. it gives us a little insight into the player.
Although he has sprung to international attention this summer, having been named ‘Young Player of the Tournament’ at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, Coates has been a well known talent in South American circles for a couple of years now. Coates joined Montevideo side Club Nacional in 2004, aged 13 and has progressed up through the ranks at the club, before eventually making his professional debut in early 2009.
By this point, the tall, rangy centre-back was already making ripples, having played for both Uruguay Under-17′s and Under 20′s, before his professional debut. In fact, Coates made his debut for the Under-20 side in 2008, aged just 17 and without a competitive start to his name. At 196cm (6’5″), his height and stocky build (90kg) obviously separate the defender from many of his peers, but Coates also possesses remarkable balance, speed and technique for someone of his stature. He is no lumbering oaf!
A regular in the Nacional first-team since his debut, Coates won silverware in his first season, as Nacional won the 2008-09 Primera División title and Coates even made a late charge for inclusion in the 2010 World Cup squad, having been called up for a World Cup Play-Off v Costa Rica in November 2009. However, given his lack of international experience, Coates was left at home come the final squad selection. A regular in the Under-20 side by this point, including playing in the 2009 South American Youth Championships and the Under-20 World Cup of the same year, it was only a matter of time before Coates elevation to the big time occurred.
Instead, 2011 was to be the breakthrough year for the young talent, nicknamed Luganito (after Uruguay legend Diego Lugano). Selected for the Copa América, Coates was thrust straight in at the deep end due to illness to Diego Godín and injury to the experienced Mauricio Victorino. Making his international bow in the tournaments second game, and then appearing in every subsequent encounter, displaying a maturity and composure that belied his lack of experience at this level.
Style of Play
At 196cm and 90kg, Coates is an enormous physical specimen and is certainly not afraid to use this to his advantage, but he is also a fine tackler and competent with the ball at his feet. It is to his credit that during the Copa America, he came up against the likes of Humberto Suazo, José Paulo Guerrero, Gonzalo Higuaín and Lucas Barrios and yet, alongside Lugano, was part of a defence that only leaked two goals throughout the campaign.
Obviously, given his size, Coates is strong in the air and thus, is a threat in the opposing penalty area from corners, with a decent scoring record at club level and went close to opening his international account on a couple of occasions during the Copa América competition. With his technical ability on the ball, Coates is also not adverse to bringing the ball out from defence and aiding his midfielders in playing a short, passing game. It is this technical ability and composure under pressure, combined with his physical attributes, that separates Coates from many of his peers
In defence, Coates is no nonsense and takes a safety first approach to his play. However, there is nothing crude about his style, with the Uruguayan youngster cutting a surprisingly elegant figure, a fact aided by his excellent positional play. It is a striking component of Coates game that he is able to spot danger early and deal with the dispossessing of an opponent with little extravagance.
Comparisons with Diego Lugano are natural, given the nationality of the players concerned, but Coates is not as ready to push the limits of fair physical play as his compatriot, instead utilising his positional awareness and tackling technique to deal with opponents in a far smoother manner. Comparisons with Brazilian Lúcio are closer to the mark, although Coates is unlikely to charge forward in the trademark style of the Seleção defender.
