Hakon Evjen – AZ Alkmaar’s gifted attacking midfielder
Hakon Evjen is following the trend of Norwegian talents following the footsteps of their footballing fathers as Erling-Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard have both had their careers honed by their footballing fathers. Hakon’s father, Andreas was not overly strict with his sons, but he recognised Hakon’s talent at the age if 1. Andreas threw a ball hard for his toddler to volley it back as he nurtured his son in Harvik before he joined Bodo/Glimt. His rise was rapid as after making his debut last year, he won the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year before joining AZ Alkmaar. AZ Alkmaar signed Evjen in September last year as there were murmurs of excitement from the Dutch analytics community and the Norwegian has shown early promise since joining in January.
Evjen was not only continuing his family lineage by being footballer but also by being a footballer for Bodo/Glimt. His uncle Thomas played for the same club becoming a cult legend by earning promotion for Glimt to move into the Norwegian elite series in the early 1990s while his father continued the tradition by playing for the same club. Both Evjen and his father have worn the captain’s armband for the club as the older Evjen made 148 appearances for the Norwegian outfit. Evjen eventually became the most expensive departure for the Norwegian club when he joined AZ this season.
Hakon and his twin brother Henrik were both talented footballers growing up before Henrik struggled with back injuries before he quit football and joined the Norwegian military. AZ have a lineage of talented Norwegian footballers with Fredik Midstjo and Jonas Svensson as essential starters. Manchester United and Manchester City both scouted Evjen heavily but the youngster showed astute judgement in choosing AZ to earn starting minutes as he deduced that City did not have a clear plan for his development. Evjen has played for Jong AZ as he has begun to gain minutes for the first team coming off the bench against RKC Waalwijk and a start away to PEC Zwolle.
The Norwegian is a lanky presence as he manages to muscle his way away from his markers and win aerial duels. His first touch is exquisite as since the age of 1, he has shown a penchant for trapping high balls, especially in tight spaces. Even when he is positioned in the wide areas, he is always drawn to the central positions, looking to receive the ball in the central pockets. In AZ’ system with overlapping wingers and Myron Boadu dropping deep, this allows Evjen to move into the nine-space to receive passes and lay off for teammates. In a match against Volendam for Jong AZ, he was positioned in the wide areas with little opportunities to move into the centre.
Evjen struggled to have an influence on the game as he lacked an understanding with Ferdi Druijf and Mohamed Taabouini as he tried to switch from the right flank to the left flank but that had little effect on the game. The Jong AZ coaching staff were impressed with his aptitude for defensive work and he managed to work some elegant combinations in tight spaces on the right flank. It was an unimpressive start to his AZ career, but Arne Slot was always eager to see if the Norwegian’s talent would translate to the Eredivisie. After AZ’ victory against Ajax, Slot seemed to be taken with Evjen as a creative press resistant option in midfield.
At home to RKC Waalwijk, he came off the bench to replace Calvin Stengs as it was an apt substitution. Stengs has been a creative force for AZ Alkmaar this season and will be subject to interest when the transfer window opens in the summer, Evjen proved in a few minutes that he would be prepared to step into his shoes. Evjen moved into the central spaces like Stengs and he received passes in the pockets, maintaining the same attacking tempo of the man he replaced. He also dropped deep to receive the ball from centre-backs, showing press resistance to turn past his opponent and connect play in the opposition half.
He perfectly illustrated his ability and intelligence when AZ were working play out from the back as the centre-back worked a pass to Midstjo who traded passes with Owen Wijndal and Jordy Clasie. Once Clasie passed the ball back to Midstjo, Evjen dropped into space in the centre to receive the ball from his compatriot to play a ball into the wide areas for Svensson before surging into the half-space and receiving a pass from his right-back to drive the ball into the opposition half and cut back for Myron Boadu who ballooned the opportunity over. Evjen participated in transitions before making innate movements and decisions in the final third to create high quality opportunities.
Against PEC Zwolle and LASK Linz, Slot moved Evjen into attacking midfield in a more attacking setup to bring more creativity and nuance in the final third. He made clever runs past Boadu in the nine space while also allowing Boadu to drop deep. Evjen’s incredible first touch allowed him to control long balls in the higher areas of the pitch and use his stocky frame to hold the ball up and lay off passes to teammates. Evjen is intelligent at shielding the ball and getting angles on markers to maintain possession and release the ball.
Against PEC Zwolle, Evjen had a moment where he received the ball from Stengs in the ten space, the Norwegian youngster turned and worked a one-two with Clasie as he drove to the opposite flank with a marker in his path as his marker charged towards him as Evjen spun around his marker and rolled the ball to a teammate with his right foot on the swivel. Evjen showed grace and intelligence in making innate moves in the ten space as he regained possession using body angles to lay off to teammates. Midstjo then worked a pass for Stengs as the 20-year-old Norwegian prospect made a run in behind to receive the ball on the break and cut back for Boadu who was fouled in the box for a penalty.
In the ten space, Evjen showed his ability as a presser constantly winning possession by recognising passing patterns and pushing up to regain possession at the perfect time and making crucial interceptions. In aerial duels, Evjen could get angles on markers to shield the ball and allow himself time and space to control the ball and shift it onto a teammate. He can also transition out of defensive situations well by nudging himself away from markers and using a beguiling turn of pace to drive into the opposition half showing stout decision making to play the ball to a teammate. Even when he intercepts the ball in higher areas, he can drive into the box to string play together and create opportunities.
“I can't wait to see Evjen, because we already have two very good Norwegian players. I saw that Håkon was named both player of the year and young player of the year in Norway , so we expect a lot from him, but we have to give him some time. It is always difficult when you are so young and moving abroad. He comes in to a really good team, so he should show up, and we're excited to see how things go with him,” said Slot to Norwegian news outlet VG before AZ’ Europa League match against Manchester United.
Evjen has already put together an accomplished career in his home country as he looks like a strong purchase for AZ. He will challenge De Wit for the central attacking midfield role in the future while he can provide the same creativity and nuance in the final third as Stengs. Evjen has settled well with Svensson claiming he would become like a ‘little brother’ to him as the Norwegian teaches himself Dutch through Dutch rap music. Evjen continues to show AZ’s mastery in recruitment in Scandinavia as the 20-year-old has shown the potential to develop into one of Eredivisie’s more exciting players.
