'Shut up and play': Llansana remains himself, on and off the pitch
THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2026, 14:15 - lajoya
OTHER At R.S.C. Anderlecht Enric Llansana is gradually becoming one of the most notable personalities in the dressing room. The defensive midfielder is known for his robust duels, fiery character and outspoken opinions on the pitch. That recently earned him a telling remark from a referee.
Llansana says he was once told during a match: “Hey Enric, shut up and just play.” He can laugh about it now, although he admits that arguing with officials sometimes flares up in him more than he would like. According to him, that temperament partly comes from his Spanish roots. “I have trouble with injustice,” he says.
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Continue reading The former AFC Ajax player was once nicknamed the “tackling king” in the Netherlands, after former international John Heitinga described him as one of the best tacklers in Ajax's youth setup. Llansana looks back fondly on that period, when he learned a great deal from South American teammates like Edson Álvarez and Lisandro Martínez. He was especially struck by their aggressive style of defending. Off the pitch Llansana is proud of his Spanish background.
Although he increasingly feels Dutch, Spanish culture remains important in his life. He's particularly taken with the cuisine: tapas, paella and jamón ibérico are among his favorites. When it comes to food, he does draw clear lines. He says he wouldn't eat herring for all the money in the world, and Hawaiian pizza is equally unlikely to appear on his table. Once again, the Anderlecht midfielder delivers a striking remark that fits his spontaneous personality perfectly.
