Scouting Report: Sebastian Coates (Nacional)

With the first of a new mini-series, in which I'll be taking a look at many of the top footballing prospects around the world, today we turn our attention to South America and a young Uruguayan defender, who could soon be plying his trade for one of Europe's premier clubs.


Sebastian Coates (Nacional)



Nationality: Uruguayan

Date of Birth: 7 October, 1990

Position: Centre-Back

Height: 196cm

Career Stats:

2009- Nacional: 62 Apps, 5 Goals


Following in the footsteps of national team captain Diego Lugano and his centre-back partner Diego Godin, 20-year-old Uruguayan Sebastian Coates looks set to become the next star defender from Nacional to make a name for himself in Europe. Measuring close to 6ft 6in and weighing around 90kg, young Coates is a tall, physically imposing presence in the centre of defence, who possesses a surprising burst of pace for a player of his size and has even shown himself to be highly composed and skilled with the ball at his feet. Having broken into Nacional’s first team in early 2009, Coates has established himself as a regular in the starting XI over the past two seasons, even being singled out as one of the side’s most influential players by team management, helping guide the side to the 2011 Championship Playoffs with his commanding play at the back. What’s more, Coates does not possess that reckless streak, which South American defenders are so often criticized for, instead looking calm and collected in pressure situations and very rarely making clumsy errors. However, perhaps the one characteristic of his which truly stands out is his fantastic positioning; his ability to anticipate the play and find himself in the right position to cut out a through ball or make a well-timed challenge. Certainly, in footballing terms, Coates is the full package at centre back; a complete defender, in the mould of Inter Milan’s Lúcio or even his fellow Uruguayan Lugano, whom he is often compared to back home.
On the international stage, Coates has been a regular in Uruguay’s recently successful U-20 side and his impressive performances in the League and Copa Libertadores have even earned him a call-up to the full side. Called into the squad for the first time for the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, in November 2009, Coates unfortunately did not managed to make an appearance but continued to be talked about as a possible inclusion for Uruguay’s squad in South Africa over the coming months. He did not ultimately make the final 23, as coach Tabarez decided that it was too early for the youngster to be making such a big step, but one can definitely expect Coates to become a fixture in the side in the not too distant future, as Uruguay look to make it to Brazil in 2014, the site of their historic upset in the 1950 World Cup, and improve upon their impressive display in South Africa.
As the holder of a Spanish passport, Coates also has a potentially far easier route to Europe than many other players coming out of South America, and such a valuable commodity should be yet another incentive for any club wishing to bring the young Uruguayan across the Atlantic. Reports in January even claimed that AC Milan had already negotiated a deal to bring Coates to the San Siro this summer and, although those rumours are far from confirmed, it simply goes to show what a hot commodity the Nacional defender is currently. Whether it be in the coming months, or sometime early next year, expect Coates not to stick around Montevideo much longer. He could very well be plying his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues before too long.

That's it for today but stay tuned, as I'll have more profiles up in the future of yet more talented youngsters, who should be making their mark on the footballing world very soon.