CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Udinese Calcio |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Paolo Zanetti (appointed November 2026) |
| Stadium | Bluenergy Stadium |
| Nickname | I Bianconeri / Friulani |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Midfield Anchor | Jesper Karlström |
| Top Scoring Midfielder | Jurgen Ekkelenkamp (3 goals) |
| Marquee Talent | Nicolò Zaniolo |
| Emerging Prospect | Lennon Miller |
| Defining Trait | A midfield of leadership and unfulfilled promise, rebuilt mid-season by a new coach |
The Defining Moment
Udinese’s midfield entered the 2026/27 season as the department with the most continuity and the least certainty. Jesper Karlström remained, the Swedish captain whose leadership and experience made him a pillar of the dressing room. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp remained, the Dutch attacking midfielder who had shown flashes of quality without ever establishing himself as indispensable. Sandi Lovrić remained, a familiar face whose minutes had dwindled. Around them, the club had invested in youth: Lennon Miller, the 20-year-old Scot signed from Motherwell, and Unai Gómez, the 23-year-old Spaniard arriving with a reputation for technical quality.
The defining decision, however, arrived not in the summer but in November. Kosta Runjaic was dismissed after a defensive collapse that left Udinese conceding over two goals per game. Paolo Zanetti was appointed with a mandate to restore balance and extract performance from a squad that had underachieved. His first task was to solve the midfield equation: how to protect a fragile defence without neutering the attacking talent that made Udinese dangerous.
The defining question Zanetti inherited was the role of Ekkelenkamp. The Dutchman was Udinese’s leading scorer from midfield, with three goals in ten appearances. But his positioning as a trequartista left the double pivot exposed. Zanetti’s solution, according to those close to the club, was to consider dropping Ekkelenkamp deeper into the midfield line—sacrificing his proximity to goal for the sake of defensive solidity. It was a pragmatic choice for a coach whose primary objective was survival, not aesthetics.
This is the story of Udinese’s 2026/27 midfielders: a Swedish captain holding the line, a Dutch scorer asked to sacrifice his best attribute, a Scottish teenager learning the demands of Serie A, and an Italian talent whose fitness has always been the question he cannot answer.
Tactical Context
Zanetti’s preferred system is the 3-5-2, a shape he believes is essential for the Udinese dugout. The midfield trio is the engine of that system: one regista screening the defence, two mezzali covering ground and supporting the wing-backs. The trequartisti—Ekkelenkamp and Zaniolo—operate behind the strikers in a 3-4-2-1 variant when Zanetti wants more attacking threat, but the base structure remains a three-man central line.
The early-season numbers under Runjaic revealed a midfield that could not protect its defence. Udinese conceded 23 goals in ten matches, and the expected goals against of 1.95 per match suggested that the problems were systemic. The midfield’s screening was inconsistent, and the gap between the trequartisti and the pivot was too easily exploited by opponents who bypassed the press with a single pass.
Zanetti’s corrective measures focused on restoring compactness. The new coach’s approach emphasises “compattezza, linee corte e baricentro aggressivo”—compactness, short lines, and an aggressive centre of gravity. For the midfield, that meant asking the trequartisti to defend more diligently and considering a deeper role for Ekkelenkamp to ensure the double pivot was not outnumbered.
The Midfielders
Jesper Karlström
Karlström is the anchor of Udinese’s midfield and the one player whose presence Zanetti is unlikely to sacrifice. The 31-year-old Swedish international has been at the club since 2021, and his leadership, tactical discipline, and ball-winning ability make him indispensable to a side fighting for survival. His ten appearances and 910 minutes by late October placed him among the squad’s most-used players, and his one goal reflected a contribution that extends beyond defensive work.
His profile is that of a traditional regista: positionally disciplined, comfortable in possession, and capable of breaking up play without fanfare. At 31, he is in his prime, and his experience of Serie A’s demands offers a stability that the younger midfielders around him lack. Zanetti’s decision to retain him as a “pillar” was the first indication of the new coach’s priorities.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp
Ekkelenkamp is Udinese’s most productive midfielder and the player whose role is most contested. The 26-year-old Dutchman has scored three goals in ten appearances, making him the club’s leading scorer from midfield. His profile is that of a modern trequartista: technically gifted, capable of arriving in the box, and composed in front of goal.
But Ekkelenkamp’s defensive contributions have been questioned. His positioning as an attacking midfielder left the double pivot exposed, and Zanetti’s consideration of dropping him deeper reflects a recognition that the team cannot afford a passenger in the defensive phase. The trade-off is clear: Ekkelenkamp closer to goal means more scoring threat; Ekkelenkamp deeper means more balance. At 26, he is in his prime, and his ability to adapt to Zanetti’s demands will determine whether he remains a starter or becomes a casualty of the new coach’s pragmatism.
Nicolò Zaniolo
Zaniolo is the talent that Udinese have never quite been able to rely upon. The 27-year-old Italian arrived with a reputation for explosive power and technical quality, but his fitness record has been a persistent obstacle. By late October, he had made five appearances, scoring one goal, his 245 minutes reflecting the physical problems that have disrupted his season.
His profile is that of a modern attacking midfielder: strong, direct, and capable of the individual moment that turns a match. When fit, he offers something that no other Udinese midfielder possesses—the ability to beat a defender in a one-on-one and create a chance from nothing. Zanetti’s first priority upon arriving was to “recover key figures both physically and mentally,” and Zaniolo was explicitly named among them. His return to training after the international break, with “all his muscles in order,” offered hope that the second half of the season could be different.
Lennon Miller
Miller is the long-term investment, a 20-year-old Scot signed from Motherwell with a contract until 2030. His eight appearances and 310 Serie A minutes by late October reflect a gradual integration, but his profile suggests a player capable of much more. Standing 182cm, he is a defensive midfielder by trade—a “destroyer” who wins the ball and reads danger—but his creativity and crossing ability mark him as more than a simple screen.
His limitations are those of youth: finishing, short passing, and decisive moments in the final third remain works in progress. But his potential is significant, and the club’s investment in him reflects a belief that he can develop into a long-term solution in the engine room. Zanetti’s consideration of him as a rotation option alongside Lovrić, Piotrowski, and Zarraga suggests that the new coach sees him as part of the immediate squad, not merely a project.
Sandi Lovrić
Lovrić is the familiar face whose role has diminished. The 28-year-old Austrian has been at Udinese since 2022, but his two appearances and limited minutes by late October reflect a player on the periphery. His profile is that of a technically competent central midfielder, comfortable in possession and capable of contributing in both phases.
His relationship with Zanetti—the two worked together previously—offers a potential route back into the starting XI. But the competition is fierce, and Lovrić’s minutes will depend on injuries and Zanetti’s tactical preferences.
Jakub Piotrowski
Piotrowski is the physical alternative in the pivot, a 29-year-old Polish midfielder whose seven appearances and one goal by late October reflect a rotational role. His profile is that of a combative, box-to-box presence, capable of covering ground and contributing in the attacking phase without being a creative force.
Oier Zarraga
Zarraga is the experienced squad option, a 27-year-old Spaniard whose five appearances reflect a limited role within Zanetti’s plans. His contract expires in June 2027, and his future beyond this season appears uncertain.
Unai Gómez and Giorgi Chakvetadze
Gómez, a 23-year-old Spaniard, and Chakvetadze, a 27-year-old Georgian, are the alternative trequartisti. Gómez’s nine appearances and one assist reflect a player still adapting to Serie A, while Chakvetadze’s seven appearances suggest a rotational role. Both offer creativity from advanced positions, but neither has established himself as a consistent starter.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Udinese Midfielder Serie A Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurgen Ekkelenkamp | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Jesper Karlström | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Unai Gómez | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Lennon Miller | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jakub Piotrowski | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Giorgi Chakvetadze | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Nicolò Zaniolo | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Sandi Lovrić | 2 | 0 | 0 |
TABLE B: Udinese Midfield Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ekkelenkamp Goals | 3 | Team’s leading scorer from midfield |
| Karlström Appearances | 10 | Ever-present under Runjaic |
| Miller Serie A Minutes | 310 | Gradual integration |
| Zaniolo Minutes | 245 | Injury-disrupted season |
TABLE C: Midfielder Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesper Karlström | Sweden | Djurgården | Regista, leader, tactically disciplined |
| Jurgen Ekkelenkamp | Netherlands | Ajax, Hertha Berlin | Trequartista, goalscoring, technical |
| Nicolò Zaniolo | Italy | Roma, Galatasaray, Aston Villa | Powerful, direct, injury-prone |
| Lennon Miller | Scotland | Motherwell | Destroyer, developing, ball-winning |
| Sandi Lovrić | Austria | Lugano | Technically competent, squad option |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Udinese’s midfield reflects a club that invested in potential and leadership, but struggled to find the balance between the two. Karlström provided the former; Ekkelenkamp and Zaniolo offered the latter, when fit. The result was a department that could score goals—Ekkelenkamp’s three and Zaniolo’s one were valuable—but could not protect a defence that was collapsing around it.
The early-season evidence under Runjaic suggested that the midfield’s attacking output was masking its defensive deficiencies. The 23 goals conceded in ten matches told a story of a structure that was too easily bypassed, and the expected goals against of 1.95 per match confirmed that the problems were systemic rather than individual.
Zanetti’s appointment represents a reset. His consideration of a deeper role for Ekkelenkamp, his emphasis on compactness, and his prioritisation of recovering Zaniolo’s fitness all point to a midfield that will be asked to sacrifice individual expression for collective solidity. Whether the personnel can execute that vision—particularly Ekkelenkamp, whose best attribute is scoring—remains the defining question of Udinese’s season.
The Verdict from the Camp
SOS Fanta, on the midfield hierarchy:
“In midfield, Karlstrom is a pillar, difficult for the new coach to do without, even for a question of leadership. Little remains for fantasy, while alongside him everything is wide open: Lovric is an old acquaintance of Zanetti, there are also Piotrowski, Zarraga and the promising Miller. Here the hierarchy is truly yet to be written, the latter is a player the club is betting heavily on and could have more space than before.”
DAZN, on Zanetti’s tactical adjustment:
“Among the first corrective moves could be the retreat of Ekkelenkamp onto the midfield line, returning him to the position he covered last year. It is true that this would move him away from the opponent’s goal (he is the top scorer with three goals), but it would guarantee greater balance and coverage to the defensive trio.”
Scouting report on Lennon Miller:
“A defensive midfielder who wins the ball, reads danger and breaks up opposition attacks. Leads on Tackling, Defensive positioning, Aggression. Only two Serie A U23 midfielders make more interceptions.”
Where Next?
Udinese’s midfield priority is clear: Zanetti must find a way to balance Ekkelenkamp’s goalscoring with the defensive solidity that the team so desperately needs, and he must hope that Zaniolo’s fitness holds long enough for the Italian to contribute consistently. The Swedish captain, Karlström, remains the foundation, but he cannot cover for everyone around him.
The development of Miller is the most intriguing subplot. If the Scottish teenager can adapt to Serie A’s demands and earn a consistent starting role, Udinese possess a midfielder capable of serving the club for years. If he cannot, the reliance on the aging Karlström and the inconsistent Lovrić becomes even more precarious.
The January window may offer an opportunity to add a defensive midfielder, but Udinese’s financial constraints and the summer’s net positive balance suggest that significant investment is unlikely. Zanetti must work with what he has: a Swedish anchor, a Dutch scorer asked to sacrifice his best attribute, and a supporting cast whose collective balance remains unresolved.
For now, Udinese’s midfielders are a unit built on leadership and contingency: a captain who cannot be replaced, a trequartista whose role is being rewritten, and a cast of young talents and injury-prone veterans whose contributions will determine whether Zanetti’s reset succeeds or the season collapses into a relegation battle.
