The Rapid Rise Of Cardiff And Wales' Lawlor

Following a man-of-the-match showing connected his world debut, Dylan Lawlor rightly earned plaudits from his peers, pundits and fans.

"I was truthful impressed pinch Dylan Lawlor. He was truthful good," said Craig Bellamy pursuing Wales' 1-0 triumph complete Kazakhstan.

It represents nan latest magnificent measurement successful what has been a accelerated emergence for nan 19-year-old - whose first ever quality successful elder shot came arsenic precocious arsenic February.

So who is Dylan Lawlor?

We return a person look astatine nan teenage defender and his surge to prominence.

Born successful Caerphilly, southbound Wales, Lawlor joined Cardiff City's academy astatine nan property of seven.

He has been a regular successful Wales younker squads passim nan property grades and played a portion arsenic his broadside were crowned joint-champions pinch Scotland successful nan 2021 Victory Shield.

Lawlor has enjoyed a meteoric emergence successful 2025, which saw him gain his debut for Cardiff's first squad successful nan 5th information of nan FA Cup against Aston Villa connected 28 February. It mightiness good not person happened - he had been attracting National League liking successful January but a insignificant wounded scuppered immoderate imaginable exit.

The centre-back would characteristic from nan chair successful nan Bluebirds' last Championship fixture of their ill-fated 2024-25 play astatine Norwich City wherever Cardiff mislaid 4-2 to corroborate a 24th spot finish.

But, for illustration pinch galore different of Cardiff's young guns, relegation has afforded Lawlor nan chance to impressment nether caller leader Brian Barry-Murphy - pinch nan Irishman swiftly implementing a caller style upon his presence successful nan Welsh capital.

Prior to Barry-Murphy joining, Lawlor made his Wales U21s debut against Norway and was past drafted into nan elder squad arsenic screen for nan injured Neco Williams for nan travel to Belgium.

Back astatine nine level, it quickly became evident that Lawlor suited nan ex-Manchester City Elite Development Squad coach's methods to a tee and has subsequently established himself arsenic a cardinal cog successful a broadside that are nan early favourites to sensation League One glory this term.

He has started each six of his side's convention matches this play - helping nan Bluebirds support cleanable sheets successful 5 of those outings to guarantee Cardiff beryllium top.

Again, this whitethorn not person been nan case, pinch Lawlor's representatives stating he had transportation liking from clubs crossed England, Scotland, Denmark, Austria and Spain. The Bluebirds are said to person turned down 2 "firm offers" for nan youngster successful nan summer.

Just six days aft signing a caller three-year woody pinch his location club, Lawlor sewage nan motion from Bellamy to make nan travel to Astana.

"We knew it would beryllium difficult pinch nan squad withdrawals. Dylan is simply a large positive from this week… we person gained a player," added Bellamy erstwhile discussing's Lawlor's showing successful Kazakhstan.

So what do nan stats opportunity of nan teenager's display?

According to WhoScored.com, Lawlor ended nan title pinch a 97.6% walk accuracy - nan champion of immoderate of Wales' starters.

The Cardiff ace won 2 aerial duels, made 2 interceptions and made 5 clearances - each of which were nan astir of immoderate Wales subordinate - while he besides contributed 1 cardinal pass.

It earned him glowing praise from Wales' Euro 2016 stars Joe Ledley, Ashley Williams and Sam Vokes.

Former centre-back Williams said connected BBC Match of nan Day Wales: "I deliberation we'll spot a batch much of him successful nan adjacent fewer games because he's decidedly a Craig Bellamy type of player."

Ledley lauded Lawlor's "outstanding" positional play, adding: "I thought he was magnificent. The measurement he conducted himself, it's for illustration he's been successful nan squad for galore years."

Vokes said: "He didn't looked fazed 1 bit. To spell retired location astatine 19-years-old connected his debut is simply a reliable ask, but he tin clasp his caput high."

Despite Lawlor making conscionable 10 elder appearances for nine and state truthful far, erstwhile Wales frontman Iwan Roberts feels he has already seen capable of nan defender's potential.

"He won't beryllium successful League One long," said Roberts.

"He will play successful nan Premier League. He will person caught eyes pinch his performances.

"He keeps connected getting better. It was a magnificent debut."

Lawlor whitethorn good beryllium fixed different chance to impressment successful Tuesday night's friends (19:45 BST) against Canada successful Swansea, although, having had a sensation of men's shot pinch Wales, nan remaining World Cup qualifiers against Belgium, Liechtenstein and North Macedonia will undoubtedly beryllium successful his sights.

But person to home, his attraction lies solely connected helping Cardiff summation promotion backmost into nan Championship astatine nan first effort this season.

Ex-Wales and Cardiff defender Danny Gabbidon - who has intimately monitored Lawlor's advancement - feels nan 19-year-old is only going to get amended aft his headline-grabbing Wales showing.

Gabbidon said: "You evidently look astatine what happened to Cardiff City past play and it was a difficult clip for nan club, but sometimes there's a spot of sunshine aft nan rainfall and what we've seen is simply a batch of young players benignant of been giving nan opportunity this play and Dylan's 1 of them.

"He's still young and he's only going to get better, you spot really good he performed against Kazakhstan, and he's that type of subordinate you spot measurement to nan adjacent challenge, and it conscionable seems really comfortable and easy for them.

"There's still a batch to learn, but I've been really impressed pinch what I've seen from him truthful far."