In Italy’s south, the beautiful city of Lecce is known for its towering historical buildings like the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Porta Napoli and the Duomo.
But there’s now another towering figure in the Pugliese town. He plays in Lecce’s under-18s side and is already making a name for himself.
Jason Vescan-Kodor will be relatively unknown to Australian football fans, but standing already at 190 centimetres tall and still potentially growing, the boy with the body of a man cannot be missed on the field
Vescan-Kodor was a juniors player at one of Romanian’s biggest clubs, Dinamo București, before signing in 2021 for another Romanian club, CAO Oradea.
Oradea in turn loaned him to Sport Team Bucharest, where his performances at youth level caught the eye of clubs around Europe.
Catalin Sarmasan is an agent who manages a lot of the players at Oradea, and he organised trials in Italy for three of the most promising juniors, which included Vescan-Kodor.
The lanky striker had positive sessions at Sampdoria and Torino, with both clubs being happy with his performances. However, there was no contract offer from either.
The third time in Italy was a charm though, with the talented Vescan-Kodor putting pen to paper on a deal to play for Lecce.
(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Lecce has undertaken an in-depth scouting analysis of Romania during the last few years, and the country has been identified as one with generational football talent starting to filter through.
Vescan-Kodor becomes the fifth Romanian player signed by the club in recent times.
Lecce have benefited from his hot form in the national under-18s championship, where they are fourth on the table and six points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
The side’s star striker has found the back of the net against Sassuolo, Bologna, Roma and Sampdoria, the club he’d earlier trialled at.
A return of four goals in six matches has made the Romanian one of the best strikers in his age group in Italy. He’s currently second in the race for the golden boot.
Used exclusively as a striker in Lecce’s under-18 side, Vescan-Kodor is at the pointy end of their usual 4-2-3-1 formation and plays exactly the same role when the side alters to a 4-3-3.
His height has become a handful for defenders at this age level, with Lecce often relying on his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
Vescan-Kodor is not your typical target man either. Athletically he is able to move around the pitch with ease, he has the technical skills of a much smaller player and he can finish comfortably with both feet.
It has been a long time since Gheorghe Hagi’s exploits at the 1994 World Cup. Romania failed to qualify for the 2020 Euros and will not be at the upcoming Qatar World Cup either.
But as mentioned earlier, Romania is starting to witness a football renaissance through the next generation of young talent.
The country has arguably the best group of underage goalkeepers in Europe, with a host of elite clubs ready to pounce.
Other young players in defence and the midfield are starting to progress through the ranks nicely, but Romania does have a problematic position: striker.
Vescan-Kodor may well be the answer to that riddle for Romania – that is, unless Australia acts quickly to secure his services.
The beanpole striker qualifies to play for the green and gold through a parent.
After coming through the Romanian youth system, the chances of Vescan-Kodor representing Australia appear to be slim, but he is yet another player that Australia should be trying to convince to wear the green and gold shirt.
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
Aust is a near certainty for the next expanded WC. Italy is not and neither is Romania. Volpato needs to realise that.or someone needs to bring it to.his attention. WIth aust these youngsters could play several wcs with the alternative they will likely play none
LEO COSAMO NOTARANGELO
Guest
Would the Haji academy be a worthwhile/better experience for an Australian kid than the NPL user pays/ethnicity farce.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Only one fact mentioned - presently there are no Australians in the EPL. Pepuion, Francois and Kuol are contracted to EPL teams and may be in their teams soon. Soutter, who is “not good enough for Scotland”’would have been there except for his injuries. And hopefully the easier pathway through the Scottish Premiership opens up more opportunities in the future.
WMM
Guest
It doesn’t change the fact Australia has no players playing the EPL and Scotland does, it also doesn’t change the fact that the 3 players you mentioned couldn’t get a game for Scotland and that’s why they’re playing for Australia. The simple fact is they’re not good enough to play for Scotland, otherwise they would be
Grem
Roar Rookie
And of course Soutter, Boyle and Cummings would love to go to a World Cup and I’m hoping they’ll all be there. They chose the team more likely to make that happen - the higher ranked team. And I love their commitment and passion to the badge. Lyndon Dykes was not wanted by Australia and took his chances with Scotland - didn’t work. Australians are now heading to the Scottish Premiership so it is easier to get to the EPL - easier to get seen, trial and get visas and of course more money. It’s not for the higher quality football. The top team will play in the Champions League and we saw how the best team in Scotland performed against Real Madrid the other day. I believe Melbourne City would have performed better.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Faroe Islands, Israel and Austria - the only tough team was Denmark that finished clear first. With your extra chance you lost to the Ukraine, they are ranked lower than Peru, who we had to beat. Scotland would struggle in the 30 plus degrees of the Middle East and then you’d have teams like Japan that are ranked higher than the Ukraine as well, but of course that would be easy!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Faroe Islands, Israel and Austria all look pretty beatable. Only Denmark as a strong team and they were clear first with Scotland well behind. Then you had to beat Ukraine who are ranked lower than Peru, who Australia beat. I’d be interested to see the Scottish team performing in 30 plus degrees heat in the Middle East. Australians are now moving to Scotland to play because it makes the next step to the EPL easier. Easier to trial, easier to get visas, etc. I would fancy Australia’s chances against any team ranked near then or lower than them, as Scotland is. I think Soutter, Boyle and Cummings wanted to play in a World Cup and Australia was their best chance. I think Lyndon Dykes would never have played for Australian and played for Scotland in hope they might get through.
WMM
Guest
Australia’s qualifying pathway to the World Cup is a lot easier than Scotlands and the FIFA rankings don’t really paint the full picture. And as I’ve pointed out before, the Scottish National side has far more players playing in the EPL than Australia does. The truth is, If Jason Cumming, Souttar or Boyle could hold down a regular starting place in the Scottish national side, they wouldn’t be playing for Australia
Rollo Tomasi
Guest
A guy named Hugo Alvarado started scouting diaspora-talent for El Salvador's national team about a decade ago; pure labour-of-love out of his own pocket. Long story short, he's since helped unearth a multitude of eligible players across Europe and the Americas that have gone on to be senior-capped..he's now fully-employed by the national FA in this capacity. So I find the mere suggestion of inability on F(F)A's part to do likewise to be decidedly-incredulous..
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the roar has had dykes watched on multiple occasions over the year, but they never pulled the trigger on a contract offer - the wanderers and sydney fc had a passing interest in the player when he was on fire at redlands im not sure many people know this, but dykes did actually trial with the roar - his fitness at the time wasn't up to the level the club were looking for (im led to believe they were after a 'roaming' type of big striker at that point in time, whose mobility would be an asset in the final third)
Brian
Guest
We are not exactly blessed with players getting any minutes at a club like Roma. Indeed no one else is. Volpato is unlikley to ever break into the Italian side so if he wants to play at a World Cup why wouldn't he consider Australia.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
That is the dream isn't it? To have a domestic competition that is strong enough to go toe to toe with any other from around the world? I also think it promotes something that we really lack as a footballing nation, and that is a specific style of play or football identity. And no, I don't count "the little Aussie Battler" spirit as a legitimate way to one day win a WC.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
to do it correctly, the FA would need to spend alot of dollars. in the balkans alone, you've got close to 40 players eligible for australia - this is before you start looking at surrounding countries like bulgaria, romania, russia, estonia, greece, turkey etc (so potentially close to 80 players that have some form of family connection to australia) you're going to have to start contracting intermediatrys that have relationships directly to the club - due to all the politics of the region and clubs being very reluctant to let players go majority of teams use software to keep a track on playes, but i've always believed its better to judge a player in person.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’d much prefer Cummings - a good swap.
Will
Guest
I wonder if Football Australia should get someone to become their full time scout for players overseas especially in Europe? There is clearly more talent out there which we dont know about that are eligible to play for the Socceroos. Good story.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
mourinho is well known for wanting his players to follow his instructions explicitly - that means crossing your t's and dotting your i's i would not be surprised if he dragged him for that, bove is more disciplined defensively and offers alot more protection
AGO74
Guest
I watched the 2nd half of that Roma game this morning. Very entertaining game. Ludgorets equalised at 2-2 with less than 15 to go but got absolutely dudded on an innocuous very Italian like dive on half way VAR (all I can say is thank goodness Italy aren't at World Cup otherwise their games would take 4 hours with all the VAR). Interesting though - the goal which Ludgorets got dudded on (and which I think may have put them through before it was disgracefully ruled out) was due to Volpato not tracking back with full intent. As a result his opponent who scored was able to have a free shot on goal with no pressure. Got hooked a couple of minutes later for Bove who I think is a similar type of player to Volpato. Tactical by Mourinho? Or delivering a msg to the kid?
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
different agendas are at play with multiple people around him like i said nothing against the player, technically he was very good as a junior and teenager in australia - his technical skills cannot be faulted, other aspects of his personallity perhaps, but not technically Being in the pocket of totti at a club like roma, will see him given chances regardless - but he has to take every opportunity that is thrown his way. i saw he came off the bench this evening in the europa league and got a good 30 min run out, before actually being replaced himself lol - this should be his target for the rest of the season (coming off the bench each match for 30+ mins) next season is the crucial one, i'd be seeking a loan to a smaller serie a (maybe one of the new ones that get promoted next year - looks like frosione or genoa) where he is almost guaranteed to start
Grem
Roar Rookie
The current Scotland team that sits ten places below us in FIFA rankings and will be watching the World Cup in front of their heaters?
WMM
Guest
Saying Lyndon Dykes couldn’t make the A league says more about the problems with talent identification in Australia than it does about the players ability. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but The fact that he played in the SPL, the Euros and the English Championship tells a different narrative to the one you are trying to spin.