The Bundesliga is littered with young talent at the moment, with a number of wonderkids on the verge of becoming world-renowned stars.
This is thanks, in part, to a footballing culture that is a far cry from the corporate, money-driven firestorm that is the Premier League.
The ’50+1′ gives German fans a much bigger say in what happens at their clubs and with that comes a bigger demand to see young talent fleshed through the ranks.
In fact, Bundesliga clubs have given league minutes to a grand total of 30 teenagers this season alone, compared to just 19 in the English top flight, with players such as Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson leaving ‘Old Blighty’ to get their first-team opportunities in Germany.
Here at Squawka, we’ve ranked each of those 30 starlets by the Bundesliga minutes they’ve received this season.
30. Meritan Shabani
Age: 19
Team: Bayern Munich
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 1
Meritan Shabani actually made his debut in a 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last season, playing 56 minutes before being substituted by Thiago.
Since then, the attacking midfielder has torn it up for Bayern’s reserve side, scoring six goals in 15 games this season, although he’s managed just one minute of Bundesliga action coming on as a substitute in December during another win over Frankfurt.
29. Jozo Stanic
Age: 19
Team: FC Augsburg
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 2
Can you think of a worse way to make your debut than at the tail-end of a 4-0 drubbing? Well, that was how 19-year-old Croatian, Jozo Stanic, made his senior bow for Augsburg this season as the Fuggerstädter went down away to Werder Bremen.
The defender didn’t seem too disappointed, though, telling the club’s official website: “It was a dream come true and it was a very nice feeling.”
28. David Otto
Age: 19
Team: Hoffenheim
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 5
With Julian Nagelsmann in charge at just 31 years of age, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hoffenheim like to give youngsters a chance – the likes of Joelinton and Stefan Posch have played a big part for them so far this season.
And one of two teenagers to get their go this term is 19-year-old forward, David Otto. The Germany U-19 international had the pleasure of coming on for the final five minutes of Hoffenheim’s 3-0 win over Hannover in February and has been tipped to get some more playing time before the end of the season.
27. Ahmet Gurleyen
Age: 19
Team: Mainz 05
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 12
The story of Ahmet Gurleyen is actually quite a funny one. Walking in at half-time during a Mainz reserve match in September, the defender was told to hop straight into the shower and head to the Opel Arena as he was being drafted into the first-team squad.
Gurleyen even managed to get 12 minutes on the pitch in a 2-1 win over over Augsburg in what was a remarkable day for the 19-year-old. He hasn’t managed another first-team appearance since, but with his first Germany U-20 cap coming last year, hopes are high.
26. Alphonso Davies
Age: 18
Team: Bayern Munich
Bundesliga apps: 3
Bundesliga minutes: 18
With the likes of Tyler Adams and Miguel Almiron making big recent moves to RB Leipzig and Newcastle United respectively, it would appear MLS is becoming more of a breeding ground than retirement home nowadays.
Another youngster to make a similar move is 18-year-old Canadian, Alphonso Davies. The winger bagged 12 goals in 81 games for Vancouver Whitecaps before making a £9m move to Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich. The Bavarians obviously have a large amount of trust in Davies, too, already giving him three brief outings from the bench.
Davies already has three goals in nine games for Canada’s senior international side and big things are expected of this brilliantly talented, dribbling machine.
25. Dennis Jastrzembski
Age: 19
Team: Hertha Berlin
Bundesliga apps: 3
Bundesliga minutes: 20
Dennis Jastrzembski has been on the scene for some time now, making appearances for both Germany and Poland’s youth teams since 2015.
The winger has also started making his impression at Hertha Berlin, too, making three substitute appearances in the Bundesliga this season, even managing to pick up a yellow card in the first of those.
24. Benjamin Hadzic
Age: 19
Team: Hannover
Bundesliga apps: 3
Bundesliga minutes: 22
A Bosnian youth team veteran with 21 caps at various levels, Benjamin Hadzic made his Bundesliga debut in Hannover’s 1-1 draw with Freiburg in December as an 80th-minute substitute.
Hadzic has had another two six-minute cameos since then, managing to notch an assist in his last outing against Borussia Dortmund in January, despite Hannover losing 5-1.
23. Leon Dajaku
Age: 17
Team: VfB Stuttgart
Bundesliga apps: 2
Bundesliga minutes: 26
17-year-old forward Leon Dajaku has already scored four goals in 15 caps for Germany’s U-17 and U-18 sides and was given his Stuttgart debut in the 75th minute of a 3-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in December.
That appearance accounted for 15 of his 26 Bundesliga minutes so far, with time well on his side to get more experience.
22. Luca Plogmann
Age: 18
Team: Werder Bremen
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 37
It’s not often you see a fourth-choice goalkeeper getting onto the pitch, but Luca Plogmann at least has that claim to fame.
With Stefanos Kapino, Michael Zetterer and Jaroslav Drobný all injured, Plogmann found himself on the bench in Werder Bremen’s Bundesliga tie against Frankfurt.
Jiri Pavlenka then went and got himself injured giving away a penalty, handing the 18-year-old a wholly unexpected chance. Plogmann didn’t manage to save the penalty but was praised for his calm and composure in helping his side see out a 2-1 win.
21. John Yeboah
Age: 18
Team: Wolfsburg
Bundesliga apps: 2
Bundesliga minutes: 54
No relation to Tony, John Yeboah already has 21 caps to his name across Germany’s youth levels.
The 18-year-old winger is really turning a few heads and was given 54 minutes of Bundesliga action across to appearances for Wolfsburg back in November.
20. Antonis Aidonis
Age: 17
Team: VfB Stuttgart
Bundesliga apps: 2
Bundesliga minutes: 81
Antonis Aidonis is highly-rated across German youth levels and already has 81 minutes of Bundesliga football to his name for Stuttgart this season at the age of 17, even picking up his first start against Wolfsburg in December.
Rated he may be, but that pass completion rate of just 38.1% will need some work if he is to fit the bill of a modern-day centre-back.
19. Palko Dardai
Age: 19
Team: Hertha Berlin
Bundesliga apps: 5
Bundesliga minutes: 85
Son of 61-time Hungary international and current Hertha Berlin manager, Pal Dardai, Palko Dardai has made five sporadic first-team appearances so far this season, notching up 85 minutes in the process.
It really is a family affair at Hertha, with Palko the oldest of three brothers on the books at present.
18. Paulinho
Age: 18
Team: Bayer Leverkusen
Bundesliga apps: 9
Bundesliga minutes: 89
Despite not providing a goal or assist in the Bundesliga during his nine substitute appearances so far, big things are expected of Paulinho following his £17.5m-move from Vasco in the summer.
Most of the winger’s real chances and success have come in the Europa League so far, where he’s had three starts and one goal. Watch this space.
17. Leandro Barreiro Martins
Age: 19
Team: Mainz
Bundesliga apps: 1
Bundesliga minutes: 90
With six international caps and some form of top-level football already under his belt, Leandro Barreiro Martins looks set to become the shining light for Luxembourg.
The midfielder played the full 90 minutes of Mainz’s 5-1 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen earlier in February but posted a passing accuracy of just 56%, the lowest of any outfield starter during the game.
16. Rabbi Matondo
Age: 18
Team: Schalke
Bundesliga apps: 2
Bundesliga minutes: 105
Fails to make an impact at Manchester City, moves to the Bundesliga to get minutes and picks up his first international cap. Sound familiar? No, we’re not talking about Jadon Sancho just yet, this is the career path of Rabbi Matondo.
Matondo was excellent for the Man City youth team but with the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez ahead of him in the pecking order, a first-team chance was unlikely.
Schalke parted with a fee that could reportedly rise to £11m for his services in January, with Matondo already seeing 105 minutes of Bundesliga action.
15. Josh Sargent
Age: 19
Team: Werder Bremen
Bundesliga apps: 8
Bundesliga minutes: 139
Christian Pulisic may take most of the limelight for the USMNT right now, but Gregg Berhalter will be keeping a close eye on the progress of 19-year-old striker Josh Sargent.
The teenager already has seven goals in 12 appearances at youth level for Werder Bremen and hasn’t disappointed when called up to the first team, scoring twice in eight Bundesliga outings so far and boasts a one in 69.5 goals per minute ratio.
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14. Ahmed Kutucu
Age: 18
Team: Schalke
Bundesliga apps: 6
Bundesliga minutes: 212
Ahmed Kutucu only made his Schalke debut in December 2018 but the Turkish forward is already making quite the impression.
Kutucu has two goals in six Bundesliga appearances, with another in the DFB Pokal to boot. His latest goal came against none other than Bayern Munich and although that was in a 3-1 defeat to the German champions, it more than proves he can rub shoulders with the best.
13. Mickael Cuisance
Age: 19
Team: Borussia Monchengladbach
Bundesliga apps: 9
Bundesliga minutes: 241
Now we’re getting into the really big hitters. Mickael Cuisance has 53 caps right across the French youth levels, made 26 appearances in all competitions for Gladbach last season and has featured in another 241 minutes of Bundesliga football so far this term.
Cuisance is equally proficient in charging through midfield with the ball as he is acting as a tackling screen in front of the back four and the German club, as well as his natives back in France, really believe he will be the next big star off the production line.
12. Jonathan Burkardt
Age: 18
Team: Mainz
Bundesliga apps: 4
Bundesliga minutes: 262
18-year-old Jonathan Burkardt has come right through the Mainz youth system and into the first team with four Bundesliga appearances so far this season.
Although he hasn’t featured for the club since a 4-0 defeat to Monchengladbach in October, Burkardt is tipped to be one of the hottest prospects in the Bundesliga at the moment and already has nine goals in 14 caps for Germany’s youth teams.
11. Kevin Goden
Age: 19
Team: Nurnberg
Bundesliga apps: 5
Bundesliga minutes: 273
Kevin Goden made his Bundesliga debut in a two-minute cameo during Nurnberg’s 1-1 draw with Mainz back in September, but it’s since December that he’s really started to stake his claim.
The 19-year-old defender made four Bundesliga appearances between December 3 and February 2, also playing the full 90 minutes in Nurnberg’s 2-1 DFB-Pokal defeat to Hamburg shortly afterwards.
10. Matheus Cunha
Age: 19
Team: RB Leipzig
Bundesliga apps: 16
Bundesliga minutes: 359
Matheus Cunha tore up the wings in Switzerland with Sion last season, scoring 10 goals in 29 league games. Now, the 19-year-old Brazilian is making his way in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, making 16 appearances in the competition so far.
During that time, Cunha has scored and assisted one goal, but it his is seven goals in 13 Europa League and DFB Pokal appearances that has really turned people’s heads.
9. Ozan Kabak
Age: 19
Team: VfB Stuttgart
Bundesliga apps: 4
Bundesliga minutes: 360
Signed from Galatasaray in January, 19-year-old defender, Ozan Kabak, has taken to life in the Bundesliga like a duck to water.
The 50-time Turkey youth international has averaged 3.3 aerial duels won per game for Stuttgart so far and already has 360 league minutes under his belt.
8. Louis Beyer
Age: 18
Team: Borussia Monchengladbach
Bundesliga apps: 6
Bundesliga minutes: 496
Another young defender making his way in the Bundesliga, Louis Beyer looks set to be a tackling machine at right-back.
The Germany U-18 international has averaged three tackles per game during his six league outings for Borussia Monchengladbach so far this season,
7. Reiss Nelson
Age: 19
Team: Hoffenheim (on loan from Arsenal)
Bundesliga apps: 15
Bundesliga minutes: 541
Easily the biggest name on this list so far, Reiss Nelson took to the Bundesliga like a house on fire at the start of the season.
The 19-year-old Arsenal loanee scored six goals in his first seven league outings for Hoffenheim and looked to be firmly following in Sancho’s shoes with his success in this league. Things have slowed up a little and Nelson hasn’t scored since, but the talent is obviously there and Unai Emery will be keeping a keen eye on the second half of his loan.
6. Linton Maina
Age: 19
Team: Hannover
Bundesliga apps: 10
Bundesliga minutes: 609
Fresh off the Hannover production line, Linton Maina made his first-team debut last season and has added 10 Bundesliga appearances to his collection so far this term.
The 19-year-old German is a fighter, not a lover, and is at his best when winning the ball with a crunching tackle before lying off a short pass to keep possession. His 22 caps for Germany’s youth teams point to a big future.
5. Dan-Axel Zagadou
Age: 19
Team: Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga apps: 10
Bundesliga minutes: 847
Anybody who has watched the Bundesliga this season will know that, for the most part, Borussia Dortmund have been absolutely brilliant.
Die Schwarz-Gelben play beautiful football, spreading the pitch wider than the Cheshire Cat’s grin and moving the ball with speed and ultimate authority.
One of the key tenants to that approach has been the ball-playing ability of centre-backs Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou, who has posted an impressive 88.6% pass completion rate in the league this season.
The 19-year-old has the composure of a 100-cap veteran, the strength of a packhorse and the youthful exuberance of, well, a 19-year-old. Zagadou has 847 minutes and counting in the league this season for the Bundesliga leaders.
4. Ibrahima Konate
Age: 19
Team: RB Leipzig
Bundesliga apps: 17
Bundesliga minutes: 1,440
The French are really producing some talented defenders at the moment, with the Bundesliga as the main benefactors.
Ibrahima Konate already has 17 Bundesliga appearances to his name for RB Leipzig this season, clocking up 1,440 minutes along the way.
Leipzig have the tightest defence in the German top-flight this season, conceding just 19 goals in 22 games so far, in no small part thanks to the efforts of Konate.
3. Jadon Sancho
Age: 18
Team: Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga apps: 22
Bundesliga minutes: 1,448
Here he is, the one you’ve been waiting for – the 18-year-old golden boy of English football, Jadon Sancho.
Cheesy introductions aside, Sancho has been phenomenal this season, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in the Bundesliga alone – a direct goal involvement every 90.5 minutes.
That form has seen the wing-wizard pick up four Man of the Match awards, as well as his first three caps for England. The sky really is the limit.
2. Kai Havertz
Age: 19
Team: Bayer Leverkusen
Bundesliga apps: 22
Bundesliga minutes: 1,874
With 92 first-team appearances for Bayer Leverkusen since 2016, Kai Havertz is something of a teenage veteran.
The 19-year-old old playmaker is pretty much the only forward-thinking teenager who can hold a candle to Sancho in the Bundesliga at the moment, scoring nine goals and providing another two assists.
Want a through-ball threading to your striker? Havertz is on it. Want a No.10 who can dance his way through the opposition defence? Kai’s your man.
Whether it’s patient build-up or a ferocious counter-attack, Havertz seems to be the ultimate midfielder. The only drawback for Leverkusen right now is the inevitable whispers of a move to Bayern Munich.
1. Evan N’Dicka
Age: 19
Team: Eintracht Frankfurt
Bundesliga apps: 21
Bundesliga minutes: 1,879
Coming in at number one and meaning there are no fewer than three French centre-backs in the top five of this list is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan N’Dicka.
Les Bleus will have no fear of Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti eventually advancing into their 30s, with N’Dicka making 2.4 tackles, 4.6 blocks and winning 2.7 aerial duels in the Bundesliga this season.
It’s only a matter of time before a big move presents itself for N’Dicka and if he, Zagadou and Konate keep developing at this rate, don’t bet against Didier Deschamps taking back-three tips from Antonio Conte in the not-too-distant future.
The post RANKING: Game time received by every teenager in the Bundesliga this season appeared first on Squawka News.
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