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A comprehensive Youth List for Germany needs to have some regulations and explanations from the author first:
First of all, I took only players from clubs of the 1st & 2nd Bundesliga, rejecting those from the lower divisions and from foreign clubs (like Volz (Arsenal), Hitzlsperger (Villa) etc.). Then, I’ve decided to include also players, who are maximum 22 years of age and who have not experienced an A-international for Germany (unlike Deisler, Kehl or Metzelder). Further I put my main concentration on how often these players are performing for their clubs, though someone with regular appearances has definitely had a better chance here than someone, who doesn’t play regular first-team football on Bundesliga-level. This means that some, who are representing Germany in youth-international matches have been rejected in favour of those, who are not representing Germany in youth-internationals, but are more regularly playing games week by week. At the end I prefered not to put up a ranking in favour of a listing of 20, because I felt a ranking would have been too much harmed by personal view than necessary.
Name: Benjamin Auer
Position: Center Forward
Born: 11th January 1981
Current club: Borussia Moenchengladbach (1st Bundesliga)
Comment: The toughest decision out of my whole selection was whether to include Auer or not. Finally I’ve decided to put him in here, mainly because of his five goals in the U20 World-Cup that took Germany through the first round, his record in youth international fixtures and because he is the most prominent player of that German team. Currently Auer has not played a single match this season due to an injury he picked up in the last match of Germany’s U20 in Argentina. This serious knee-injury has probably prevented him from disappointment as otherwise he might have continued with being just second fiddle at his club, whose coach thinks Auer is not yet fully ready for regular 1st Bundesliga, but who always insists that Auer is his man for the future. When it comes down to his strongest points, I’ve to say that Auer is a true marksman and proven goalscorer with a nose for situation and the determination to put the ball beyond the keeper, when he is in the box. He has a good first touch, ball control and does properly in the air. As he has worked much on becoming a useful team-player since he signed for his club one and a half years ago, he may still have to work on his speed, which is currently not more than average.
Name: Hanno Balitsch
Position: Defensive Midfield
Born: 2nd January 1981
Current club: FC Cologne (1st)
Comment: Balitsch became the most expensive player of the last German U20-team, when Cologne paid his club Mannheim nearly DM 4 million for his services. At Mannheim he had emerged to a key regular in defensive midfield. Mannheim, a team, which had to bury their promotion dreams to the top-flight just minutes before the end of their last match of the season. Anyway, gifted Balitsch was ready to take the challenge of 1st Bundesliga, but so far hardly played matches for struggeling Cologne as he picked up injury-problems. Balitsch is a future hope in defensive midfield, someone who has the ability to build up a game from there and also to prevent the opponent side to build up their kind of game. In addition to his view he holds a nice ball-control and utmost he seems to be a real working-horse, too. If he gains back his fitness he had at Mannheim last season, he is certainly someone to break into the Cologne line-up with ease.
Name: Daniel Bierofka
Position: Left Midfield, Left or Right Winger
Born: 07th February 1979
Current club: TSV 1860 Munich (1st)
Comment: The son of a former Bundesliga-player (his father Wilhelm played 27 Bundesliga matches for 1860 in the late ‘70ties) has paved his way through the youth academy of Bayern Munich, before local rival 1860 snapped him up for a minor fee. Although he has lacked continuity in his performances, he has really had an inspirational first season for 1860 in the Bundesliga. Performances that pushed the impression that he may get his first call up for Germany on A-level very soon, while he has had to overcome injury-problems, too. Bierofka is a lightning fast winger, who tends to dribble in one-on-one situation and can also finish situations, something he learned in his years in the youth. As 1860 has just had a change on the coaching position, time will tell if the new coach can teach Bierofka to play constantly well.
Name: Tim Borowski
Position: Defensive Midfield
Born: 2nd May 1980
Current club: SV Werder Bremen (1st)
Comment: Who ever remembers Dieter Eilts, the man who played significantly well for Germany at EURO 96, will have to keep the name of Borowski in mind as Borowski was the one that forced Eilts to retire quickly this season. East German born Borowski is a tall and hard working defensive midfielder with a view, who reminds of Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann. Unlike Hamann, Borowski actually looks a bit too immovable in his upper part of the body and with his legs, but otherwise he holds a hard and precise shot. The fact that he is currently in negotiations about his outrunning contract with Werder has caused interest from fellow Bundesliga clubs in his services, although it seems unlikely that he will leave Werder next summer.
Name: Fabian Ernst
Position: Defensive Midfield or Sweeper
Born: 30th May 1979
Current club: SV Werder Bremen (1st)
Comment: When Fabian Ernst started his career with Hanover 96 in the 3rd (regional) division he was praised as one of the main talents of the country within weeks. While still at school, Ernst secured himself the regular spot as sweeper of Hanover (next to his former classmate at school, Schalke striker Gerald Asamoah). After promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga Ernst left Hanover to try his luck at SV Hamburg in the top-flight, but he experienced that although Hamburg was successful, he didn’t played regularly there. Though he took the chance Werder Bremen gave him with their offer in the summer of 2000. There he has made his way into the 1st Bundesliga, participating as a defensive midfielder. The strongest point of the game of the former Germany U21 skipper is his reliable vision as well as his valuable positioning.
Name: Maik Franz
Position: Centre Back
Born: 5th August 1981
Current club: VfL Wolfsburg (1st)
Comment: This young defender has been one of the players, who disappointed many professional clubs during last years German Cup, when the fourth-division minnows of 1.FC Magdeburg made their way into the quarter-finals with victories versus FC Cologne, Bayern Munich and others. Next to Marcel Rozgonyi (now with Schalke 04), Maik Franz was one of those few who took personal advantage of these matches and who were able to get a pro-contract this year. Although he started as an outsider at Wolfsburg, the crisis of the club (who slipped down the table immediately after the start of the season) forced Franz into the first-team, where he is now a regular manmarker and one of those who will be a candidate for the new-built U21 of Germany. Describing Franz, you have to make sure to mention that he holds the speed and power necessary to follow his opponent where ever he has to. He is also able to tackle, but he can certainly stop playing too rough. Refering to technical abilities or the ability to build up a game, you shouldn’t expect too much of him as he is certainly able to learn much there, but as this is neither part of his current position nor his game, he may cause disappointment on this actually. He may also need to control his temper in a better way as it has been visible that experienced players are playing tricks with his nerves.
Name: Paul Slavo Freier
Position: Midfield or Striker
Born: 26th July 1979
Current club: VfL Bochum (2nd)
Comment: Although he has had to overcome some problems with his form recently, the Bochum-player is probably the best utility youngster around. Born in Poland he came to Germany with his parents soon afterwards and young Slavo has decided to play for Germany on international-level. He has recently passed the U21. As he is able to perform every position in offensive or defensive midfield as well as in the attack, Freier has took comfort of this experience and gained utmost reliability from that what made him a regular for the tiny club from the Ruhr-area in the last two years, although he couldn’t stop the relegation of his club this summer. His passing is well structured and his ball-control is fine, though, paired with his versatility, it seems only a question of time until he changes Bochum for a club in the top-zones of the 1st Bundesliga.
Name: Manuel Friedrich
Position: Centre Back
Born: 13th September 1979
Current club: FSV Mainz 05 (2nd)
Comment: Manuel Friedrich and his club, FSV Mainz 05, are the real surprise packages in this years 2nd Bundesliga as neither Friedrich nor Mainz were tipped for success at the start of this season. While the tiny club (escaping relegation to the 3rd division late, last season) has become a top-club of the 2nd Bundesliga so far, Friedrich has emerged as a cornerstone in the Mainz defence. The tall defender holds a good heading ability and good tackles as well as the view to be a commanding pace-setter in the defenseline of the small club, who is certainly a candidate for promotion. Next to his defending abilities, Friedrich has also become a regular goalscorer for his club, netting goals especially after set-pieces.
Name: Clemens Fritz
Position: Forward
Born: 07th December 1980
Current club: Karlsruher SC (2nd)
Comment: Being chased by various clubs since he had his breakthrough at third division club Rot-Weiß Erfurt in 1999/2000, Fritz stayed at Erfurt until he moved on to Karlsruhe this summer after the former 1st Bundesliga-side won promotion back to the 2nd Bundesliga. So far Fritz has become an influential regular for Karlsruhe, netting goals regularly and also setting up team-mates in scoring positions. I would like to compare the East German forward with former Celtic-player Andreas Thom, who is similar in size. Unlike the former Celtic-star, Fritz is better when it comes down to score goals, but he is as versatile as Thom was. Fritz can play on both wings, in offensive midfield and even next to a box-striker in a two-men attacking scheme. The 20-year old has good pace and he is also strong in one-on-one. Though that I would describe him as a sharp penknife, always able to drive defenders insane with his game and ideas. He certainly needs to mature as he sometimes wants too much and he has also to learn a lot, of course, but his anticipation of situations is absolutely impressive.
Name: Timo Hildebrand
Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 5th April 1979
Current club: VfB Stuttgart (1st)
Comment: From time to time it’s able for a young goalkeeper to get first-choice on top Bundesliga-level early in his career. So did Timo Hildebrand overtake Austrian shot-stopper Franz Wohlfarth between the sticks of Stuttgart when he was just 19 years of age and until today nothing has changed for the tiny keeper. In addition, moneyless Stuttgart has put trust in his services and replaced not-so-loyal Wohlfarth with Thomas Ernst, who is known for being a true deputy. The financial situation of Stuttgart has also played a part for Hildebrand, whose weakest point is that he isn’t very tall (like Stefan Klos of Glasgow Rangers) and therefore people are trying to push the impression that he has enormous problems with corners, box-control and mainly everything connected with jumping high enough to get the ball under control. But, surprisingly, Hildebrand has improved a lot there and though he is currently underestimated by many so-called experts for that. His strongest feature is certainly that he holds a nice anticipation, very good reactions and a decent kick.
Name: Andreas Hinkel
Position: Wing-back or Winger
Born: 26th March 1982
Current club: VfB Stuttgart (1st)
Comment: Like Timo Hildebrand, Andreas Hinkel has got his chance very early on Bundesliga-level and he has shown that it was worth giving him this opportunity. More than Hildebrand has gained profit from the fact that Stuttgart’s financial situation is bad, Hinkel has also gained his profit from the fact that Stuttgart wasn’t able to buy defensive players this summer, though Hinkel was given the chance on the outer right in the 4-men-backline of the South German club. During this current season, the youth-international has proved that he is beneath Brazilian center-back Marcelo Bordon as the most reliable part of Stuttgart’s defence. Time is on his side and if he goes on like he has so far, he will be a future German international.
Name: Bernd Korzynietz
Position: Right Winger or Right Midfield
Born: 08th September 1979
Current club: Borussia Moenchengladbach (1st)
Comment: Although the Franconian has had some problems with his form is recent weeks, he needs to be included here as he has been a constant regular for his club since two years now. Signed in 1999 it took some weeks for Korzynietz to settle and to get into the first team of Gladbach, but then he was a key man in their 3-men attacking scheme, taking benefit of the role the club played in the 2nd Bundesliga and of his team-mates. Describing his way of playing, you have to keep in mind that he has various tasks to fulfil, something his tactical position as a winger may not indicate first. Although Gladbach sticks with a proper 4-3-3, especially the two wingers have to work much for the defense of the team. Though Korzynietz’s biggest advantage is his speed and the determination to work and fulfil the defensive demands. He tries to outplay his opponent in one-on-one a bit too much in offensive situations on the wing. He should take a look into his crosses, which have become a bit rare recently. Another part to improve is to score as wasting good opportunities has become usual for the right-foot player.
Name: Denis Lapaczinski
Position: Centre Back or Sweeper
Born: 26th September 1981
Current club: Hertha BSC Berlin (1st)
Comment: Life is getting hard for the former Reutlingen defender, who had his breakthrough after his former club got promoted into the 2nd Bundesliga. Reutlingen coach Armin Veh put his trust in him and though Lapaczinski lead the defenseline of the team during their first year back in professional football. The lanky defender did his role that well that it didn’t take long for big clubs to have an eye on him. Finally he made what he thought was a dream move to the German capital. But so far he has yet to be regularly playing in the 1st Bundesliga. Rating him from his breakthrough year he holds a nice view, is able to lead compatriots as well as doing promising tackles. And he knew how to score goals. Furthermore he is better than average in the air and with more first-team experience, he should be able to be a future star for Hertha & Germany. For the moment he maybe has to accept a year or two on loan as his future at Berlin looks a bit too blocked.
Name: Christoph Preuss
Position: Wing-back or Right Midfield
Born: 4th July 1981
Current club: Eintracht Frankfurt (2nd)
Comment: Looking onto the club-careers of those 22 players that represented Germany at the U20 World-Cup in Argentina, this stormy lad has certainly had the best run of all. Preuss took advantage of his career in the German youth when he secured his regular spot at Frankfurt, who were relegated from the 1st Bundesliga this summer. The disasterous run of results and performances Frankfurt did there helped Preuss to get into the first-team soon after the Youth World Cup. Although he has had to overcome some injury-problems lately, Preuss can be rated as a key man for Frankfurt’s promotion-campaign. Talking about his personal game he’s a hard working two-feet wing-back with the ability to go far into the opposite half, putting up decent crosses and gaining even more maturity with every single match. A future A-international, who, for me, looks more promising than former Bayern & Juventus midfielder Stefan Reuter ever did.
Name: Christian Rahn
Position: Left Midfield
Born: 15th June 1979
Current club: FC St.Pauli Hamburg (1st)
Comment: This Hamburg-born left midfielder was one of the rising stars in last years 2nd Bundesliga, where his current team surprisingly ended up promoted, a success, which has had much to do with his own season. Rahn looks and plays similar to Schalke 04 Jörg Böhme. Rahn’s main feature is his incredible left-foot and the things he is able to do with it (set-pieces etc.). Next to his left-foot he is also a fast player, able to fill out the whole left flank of the pitch with his speed. Just like Böhme of Schalke, Rahn’s performances can turn from good into bad with the blink of an eye and though he lacks to play well constantly, something he may learn after this season, when he changes his club to join local rival SV Hamburg.
Name: Tobias Rau
Position: Left Midfield or Left Winger
Born: 31st December 1981
Current club: VfL Wolfsburg (1st)
Comment: Like Maik Franz, Tobias Rau has also took advantage of the lack of results Wolfsburg had in the first part of the current season. With established players failing to play well, the coach turned his attention to players like Rau and as they did well then, they’ve emerged to a more or less regular place in the starting eleven. Signed from local third-division rival Eintracht Braunschweig, where lanky Rau was an influential figure in the first-team, the player has had various offers from other Bundesliga clubs this summer, but opted for Wolfsburg because it’s closer to Braunschweig. On the pitch he holds an improvable technique as well as crossing the ball decently. Furthermore he is a fast player, whose speed should enable him to get past his opponents if he isn’t stopped by tackles. He will be getting his games with Wolfsburg in the future and, of course, also with Germany’s new U21.
Name: Christian Tiffert
Position: Left Midfielder or Striker
Born: 18th February 1982
Current club: VfB Stuttgart (1st)
Comment: After playing regularly on 2nd Bundesliga-level for Tennis Borussia Berlin, Tiffert moved to Stuttgart after his club was relegated to the 3rd division because of financial problems in 2000. At Stuttgart he has now took benefit from the fact that Stuttgart is not made of money and not able to buy expensive foreigners, though the coach has to put his trust into the development of young prospects. Meanwhile Tiffert has learned to play various offensive positions and not only the position as a left midfielder he was at Berlin. Like many players of his age he is a technical forward with speed. But (as various other prospects, too) he harms himself too much because of is temper, which can be seen as the main weak point of Tiffert next to continuity. Therefore it is interesting too see if he can take advantage of the fact that he will be getting regular first team appearances in the 1st Bundesliga. This should be enough to experience when slowing down is the safest option.
Name: Christian Timm
Position: Winger or Offensive Midfield
Born: 27th February 1979
Current club: FC Cologne (1st)
Comment: A product from the youth-system of Borussia Dortmund, Timm was snapped up by Cologne nearly three years ago for a nominal fee and has been influential for Cologne since then. Last spring he was in the spotlight of Bayern Munich, who desperately wanted to sign Timm, but failed because the player felt he would have had no chance to get a regular place there. Though Timm has extended his contract with the Rhein club, whose coach is certainly something like his mentor. While known for constant injury-problems he has missed almost every game this season and the fact that Cologne slipped down to the relegation-zone indicates how the club needs his pacey game. Originally based in offensive midfield, Timm has emerged to a tricky winger, who can get past the defenders with ease because of his speed and view for situations. He, too, is able to convert chances, solves one-on-one well and so his problems with various injuries (knee etc.) are the only real handicap for the right-foot player, who has been already watched by Arsenal in the past.
Name: Tobias Willi
Position: Wing-back, Right Midfield or Right Winger
Born: 14th December 1979
Current club: SC Freiburg (1st)
Comment: The career of Tobias Willi has been constantly promoted by Freiburg coach Volker Finke, who is known for working well with young players. Playing regularly for Freiburg’s first-team in the last two years, the development of the midfielder has been overshadowed by the rocket-like career of team-mate Sebastian Kehl, who is already an international for Germany. Nevertheless Tobias Willi has also made his way, although his speedy game is too often limited by outbursts, especially when his opponent controls Willi’s efforts by winning the majority of those one-on-one situations Willi likes to have. Next to his powerful and fast runs on the right he can cross the ball perfectly into the box. Something Willi is certainly missing is experience and the ability to slow down at the right moment.
Name: Michael Zepek
Position: Centre Back or Sweeper
Born: 19th January 1981
Current club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1st)
Comment: Michael Zepek is without doubt the most promising defender in Germany for years and so he is the player, who has been capped most by Germany on youth level. During the past years he has proved year-by-year that he holds an outstanding quality and though various clubs inside and outside Germany have chased him in the past. But he always rejected offers even when Karlsruhe went down to the 3rd division in the summer of 2000. He and his agent always insisted that it’s better for him to get regular third division football there than being a surplus of reqiurement somewhere in the 1st or 2nd Bundesliga. Finally Bayer Leverkusen won the race for his services on a long-term contract, currently giving him what he always feared: No regular first-team matches and just the experience in their reserve-side. Talking about Zepek’s game he is really looking experienced and matured. His biggest feature beside tackling and positioning is his view and the ability to lead a defence. He is also reliable in the air. When his development goes on as expected, he will be an international star in the future. In my view he would be already a regular in the Bundesliga, if he would play somewhere else than Leverkusen. But with Brazilian Lucio and Jens Nowotny forming the best defence in the whole country, it’s hard to break into the first team for the youngster.
NOTE: The players are sorted and listed by surname. All data & comments were last updated on 2001-11-20.
Thomas Zocher
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