How did Borussia Dortmund become a factory for talent?

Head Coach Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund goes up to collected his runners-up medal after losing the UEFA Champions League final match against FC Bayern Muenchen at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

(May 24, 2013 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

Brief history

If we focus on merely achievements and numbers, Borussia Dortmund is undoubtedly one of the most famous football clubs in the whole of Europe, and the club has a remarkable reputation of having astounding numbers during their matches.

According to the club’s website, Borussia Dortmund stands for intensity, authenticity, cohesion and ambition. The club has a special place in the hearts of the club’s fans who have remained profoundly loyal in all the good, bad and ugly times for more than a century.

The club was founded in 1909 in the German city of Dortmund in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. In football talk, the club is commonly known with the abbreviation: “BvB”, which ultimately stands for Ballspielverein Borussia or in English "Borussia club for ball games." The full name is BV Borussia 1909 EV Dortmund and is definitely one of Germany’s most decorated clubs that will always be talked about for generations to come.

The club has managed to grab eight national titles, three DFB-Porkals, a Cup Winners’ Cup and an unforgettable Champions League win in 1997. Borussia Dortmund is famous for producing world-class talents like Marco Reus, Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic.

In 2003, the club fell into a financial predicament in the aftermath of excessive spending om expensive players in the transfer market. The club received financial support from arch-rivals Bayern Munich which gave them $2 million euros for paying players’ salaries. However, within a year, the club managed to repay the loan. Having gone through several challenges off and on pitch, supporters started to resent the team’s performances and were calling-out for change.

In 2008, they hired one of the most prominent managers of all times in European football named Jurgen Klopp who is the current coach of Liverpool Football Club. After making a good name for himself at Mainz, he had become the first choice for the club. Under his leadership, the first few seasons were average but eventually, Klopp, as he has come to be affectionately known, pushed the squad to incredible winning ways. He implemented a high pressing counter-attacking style which was described as heavy metal football and the club went on to take the Bundesliga title in the 2010 and the 2011 seasons.

Youssoufa Moukoko of Dortmund in action during the B Juniors Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Viktoria Koeln on August 19, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany.

(Aug. 18, 2017 - Source: Lukas Schulze/Bongarts)

Talent development

BvB takes pride in engaging youthful players and developing them to become world-class players. The end of 2019 saw the club fashionably sign a young teenager in Erling Haaland, a Norwegian who is originally from the Netherlands. In his January 2020 Bundesliga debut, the young superstar came from the bench to score a hat-trick in what has become one of Borussia Dortmund’s greatest ever comebacks in history.

The business model of recruiting raw, young talent and to nurture them into becoming superstars has become BvB’s best philosophy over the years. Since the unimpressive bankruptcy that the club experienced in 2005, in the aftermath of overspending, the executives of the club changed the strategy of recruitment. The Black and Yellow has become the best finishing school for young footballers in the entire world. In today's times, there is nowhere else in the world that a highly promising player in their late teens can go and so reliably be molded into a superstar. The smartest players, parents, and agents are aware of this notion. The youth co-ordinator for Borussia Dortmund Youth Academy explicitly stated that, “the biggest advantage at BvB is that we offer the greatest gift that young boys are looking for and it is the chance to play.” The main goal of the youth academy is to raise players that will qualify to become world-class players. The young players are kept in good shape as they are blessed with boarding facilities, healthy diets, great living conditions, and exceptional education. In the mornings, the young players go to school and later on they can carry on with proper training which does not necessarily exhaust the body’s performance.

Professionalism is a key factor at the multi-talent factory as they reach high limits in training. Their mentality is flooded with ‘winning’ it is ever so evident in the players’ performances on the pitch. For a young player, there is nothing like Dortmund City which is inundated with black and yellow colors everywhere and the training ground optimizes it. The players are graded into simple age groups namely, 12-15 years where they focus on technique, and 17-19 years where they focus on winning strategy and tactics.

The club sees training young players as a culture and the coaches are passionate to develop talent as a way of investment for the club. That is what distinguishes BVB from other clubs in Germany and in many parts of the world.

The role of Jurgen Klopp in promoting young talent

In the aftermath of bankruptcy in 2005 and not being able to pay hefty salaries of the players they had bought, performances needed a lot to be desired. In 2008, they roped in a profoundly unique coach in Klopp and under his leadership the club would revamp their youth production line, paying handsome dividends culminating in a Champions League final appearance in 2013. It was the same year in which the current Liverpool manager handed debuts to six academy products.

The German-born manager implemented an attacking football style that has its foundations in Dortmund youth, which is now being emulated by Europe’s big spenders to this day. It is said by BVB's youth coordinator that during games for the young players, their focus is not necessarily on winning though it's important, but on putting in a performance that is satisfying. At the end of each game, the young lads at the youth camp are given a sheet to fill, rate their performances and lay down their overall thoughts on how they can become better.

The youth lads are not only trained on the pitch but off the pitch with programs orchestrated to enhance their confidence in life, which inevitably plays a vital role on the pitch. There is a cultural activity done every quarter of the year that they participate in and an example is when BVB made them act out a play in English in front of 300 people. It is the kind of pressure that they have to overcome in order to play in front of 80,000 people at the Signal Iduna Park.

“A model born out of necessity and desperation has since become a hugely profitable business model for the club. In the last three years alone, Dortmund has raked in £427 million from transfers”

— Farai Maringa, FirstTouch Africa

Ousmane Dembele of Dortmund runs with the ball during the friendly match between Wuppertaler SV and Borussia Dortmund at Stadion Zoo on July 9, 2016 in Wuppertal, Germany.

(July 8, 2016 - Source: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts)

Dortmund’s successful youth products

Generally, it is obvious that of all the young players that get in the club youth camp, only a handful will make it to the top level but this is a different with BVB as they developed a reputation of being master craftsmen. The development of youthful talent has boosted the financial position of the club as they have had remarkable sales of talents over the years. One of the most incredible sales they pushed was the over €100-million sale of Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona. Dortmund have carefully put themselves in a position of attracting Europe’s elite and developing them to become renowned world-class players. Below is some of the top talents to emerge from Dortmund in recent memory.

1. Ousmane Dembele

Popularly known as the dribble king, his talents were clear to see even while he was still at a tender age at Rennes. But it was Dortmund who shrewdly signed the teenager for a mere €8 million in 2016. The Frenchman enjoyed a wonderful debut season in the Bundesliga, which attracted the attention of Barcelona, who were desperate to sign a new winger following the shock departure of Neymar for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017. Regardless of a troubled exit from Signal Iduna Park, Dembele still netted BVB a remarkable profit, with Barcelona agreeing to pay an initial €105m fee with the potential for a further €40m in add-ons.

2. Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang

The Gabonese starlet was given one of the toughest of jobs when he came to Dortmund in 2013. He played alongside Robert Lewandowski in his debut season at Signal Iduna Park and it was an incredibly rich show. However, when Robert decided to leave for arch rivals Bayern Munich, this meant the onus fell on Auba to become the center of the BVB attack, almost all on his own. Remarkably, he pulled it off, with a whopping 141 goals in 213 games making him one of Europe's elite strikers. He eventually left for the English Premier League, joining Arsenal for €62m which represented a massive return on the estimated €13m they had acquired him for from St. Etienne in 2013.

3. Ilkay Gundogan

The Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan ran the Dortmund midfield for five seasons between 2011 and 2016, having joined on a cut-price of €5.5m deal from Nurnberg when he was just 20. Manchester City was absolutely impressed with his gameplay and came to sign him in 2016. Dortmund pocketed €22.1m as profit from the sale of the striker and at his current club, he has won two English Premier League Championships, an FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.

Julian Weigl of Dortmund celebrates with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund (r) after he scored his teams sixth goal to make it 6:1 during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park on September 23, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany.

(Sept. 22, 2017 - Source: Lars Baron/Bongarts)

4. Shinji Kagawa

Shinji was plucked from his native Japan for a mere €350,000 in 2010, with Dortmund taking advantage of a clause that allowed him to leave Cerezo Osaka on a cut-price deal should a European club come knocking. The attacking midfielder quickly became a fan favorite at Signal Iduna Park, scoring at a rate of just under a goal every two games and helped BVB to the Bundesliga title in each of his two seasons in Germany. Manchester United was delighted by his style of play and pulled out £17m from their billfold to secure his services. Dortmund were sorry to see him leave but happy with their substantial market gain. Just two years later after an unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford, Dortmund were able to re-sign Kagawa for just €8m.

5. Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic is one of Dortmund’s latest and arguably greatest transfer success story. The versatile American attacker was picked up at the tender age of 16 and quickly forced his way into the first teams of both his club and his country. In signing for Chelsea, Pulisic became Dortmund's second-biggest sale of all time, after Dembele. Dortmund sold him to Chelsea for £58m.

6. Mario Gotze

A product of the club's youth system, Gotze cost the club nothing and quickly became a teenage sensation. In 2013 the attacking midfielder decided to depart after Bayern Munich triggered the €37 million release clause in his contract. The lad is most famous for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil but through a combination of form and fitness issues, he never settled at the Allianz Arena and returned to Signal Iduna Park for €22m in 2016, admitting that he regretted ever leaving.

7. Sokratis Papastathopoulos

The Greek international’s sale proved another good investment when he chose to move to Arsenal. The defender starred for five years at BVB's camp, forming a remarkable partnership with Hummels to establish himself as a top-class center-half. Arsenal decided to move for the Greek and paid BVB approximately €15.9m meaning more money for the club.

8. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

The Armenian playmaker arrived in Dortmund in the year 2013 coming from Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk. He was phenomenal in attacking midfield. Three outstanding seasons in the Bundesliga earned Mkhitaryan a €41.8m move to Manchester United, and the Black and Yellow got another healthy profit on their initial investment. He later moved to Arsenal where he played delightful football alongside a former BVB player in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before being signed by Roma on loan.

Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund and Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund battle for possession during a Borussia Dortmund training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group H match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on September 12, 2017 in London, England.

(Sept. 11, 2017 - Source: Alex Pantling/Getty Images Europe)

9. Mats Hummels

In the case of Mats Hummels, Bayern Munich's loss turned out to be an infinite gain for their arch-rivals BVB. The defender was not playing extremely well as a youngster for Die Roten and was shoved off to Borussia Dortmund in 2008 for a dirt-cheap fee of just €4m. Investment in Hummels was worthwhile as he became the chief cornerstone of the Dortmund defense system. He assisted the club in acquiring two consecutive league wins, also helping them to a Champions League final in the 2012-13 season. Hummels also got his hands on the 2014 World Cup trophy with Germany before Bayern Munich came to buy him out of BVB for €35m though later returning home to Signal Iduna Park.

10. Matthias Ginter

Props go to Borussia Dortmund for the exceedingly great eye for talent. BVB discovered Matthias Ginter when he was just 20 and they got him for just €10m from Freiburg prior to the 2014-15 season. He became a master in the Dortmund defense for three years, playing more than 100 games before he was allowed to leave for Borussia Monchengladbach. BVB cleared made a healthy profit of €7m on the center-back when they released him.

Out of necessity and desperation to profound success

Jurgen Klopp the manager of Borussia Dortmund speaks with Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund prior to kickoff during UEFA Champions League Group D match between Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund at Turk Telekom Arena on October 22, 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey.

(Oct. 21, 2014 - Source: Lars Baron/Getty Images Europe)

Borussia Dortmund has now built one of the most admired structures in Europe as they continue to develop young stars that grow up to become world-class players. Borussia Dortmund manages their young prodigies with familial care. They are in regular dialogue with the parents of Sancho, for instance, and with the FA about the footballing development. In the 2019/20 season, the average age of Dortmund’s team has been 25.4 - three years younger than Bayern Munich, and almost a whole year younger than any of the 20 Premier League clubs, according to Football Observatory.

Dortmund’s business model is to essentially identify the world’s best young players, nurture them and give them game-time they would have been denied elsewhere, and then sell them on for a huge profit. Wild over-spending in the past led to the club almost becoming bankrupt and it's from that unhealthy experience that encouraged the club’s executives to look at different ways and focus on talent development to avoid excessive and unnecessary costs.

Huge credit goes to Jurgen Klopp as he spearheaded the model when he arrived from a second-division side called Mainz. The Dortmund website shows that the club stopped looking at seasoned, mid-market pros and instead concentrate their efforts on identifying "young high-potentials" who are just beginning of their careers, hungry for game time, willing to learn and crucially, much less of a burden on the balance sheet. In the 2007-08 season, the average age of new recruits had been just over 27 years. Twelve months later, it was reduced to 23.5 years and it went only further down from there, hovering between 22 and 23 over the following decade.

A model born out of necessity and desperation has since become a hugely profitable business model for the club. In the last three years alone, Dortmund has raked in £427 million from transfers, including £105m for Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), £62m for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) and £58m for Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), the latest high-profile departure.

Truth is Dortmund would rather keep their best players to become the best club in Europe but selling some great players is in acceptance of economic reality. When players start getting demand from other big clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, they are offered profoundly higher wages and as such a decision to leave by these players will be inevitable so they can earn what they deserve.

Parting Word

All factors remaining constant, Borussia Dortmund will soon be able to pay their players enough to keep them in the long term, then win titles and make a tremendous impact in European Football. The club will need to continue developing worthy talent in the academy, scouting, signing up-and-coming stars and consistently reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Their ability to develop young talent will always be talked about for several years!

EURO2020: From the heights of glory in 2014 to the dumps; Die Mannschaft struggles explained

Breaking hearts, they've been mostly known for being masters at breaking hearts and crushing dreams. Now, you have to persistently pinch us to understand that Germany being a case of broken hearts and crushed dreams is no Matrix movie, it's almost as good as reality gets. But how did we seriously get here?

(L-R) Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Oezil and Philipp Lahm of Germany celebrate a 7-1 victory over Brazil during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Semi Final match between Brazil and Germany at Estadio Mineirao on July 8, 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

(July 7, 2014 - Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images South America)

The Mineirão Incident

It might not be the beginning of Die Mannschaft's free fall but definitely a moment in history worth reminiscing, for neutrals that is. Back in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, Brazil vs Germany, eight world titles between them; it was a fixture loaded with so much promise and had the world on its feet, anticipating to watch football entertainment at its best. It was supposed to be an edge of the seat encounter decided on fine margins and would have taken rocket scientists to study the performances and understand how one side outdid the other. But what happened? The churning German machine flipped the script! Only forty-five minutes into the match, they were 5-0 up and had already scored all sorts of goals. Long range shots, finesses, headers and you name it. Mesut Ozil in particular, had picked up his magic wand and reincarnated himself as a combination of Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Captain America and you get the idea. Almost like an Avengers movie. Rumors say, one of the main talking points during their half-time talk was a directive to tone it down a little bit, in bid to be more respectful to the hosts. It's no suprise how that worked out, the likes of Andre Schurrle came in and wanted in on the act. At the end of the day, Brazil had received seven digits! A 7-1 scoreline capped it all. A classic Germany side, ruthless and unrelenting. Now five years later, it looks like they used up all their vibranium on that day and in that championship. The cookie has crumbled.

“Controversially, retiring Boateng, Hummels and Mueller in the name of “fresh faces” looked like Löw dusted the mirror only to see his face looking back, straight at him.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

The end of the line

Prior to their World Cup triumph in Brazil 2014, the Nationalelf had to dig, claw and climb several times with no success. It was almost poetic justice that they became world champions in Brazil. Under the guidance of Jurgen Klinsmann at home in 2006, Miroslav Klose scored a ton of goals and Lukas Podolski won hearts by pipping the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo to the FIFA Young Player of The Tournament Award, as Germany ran riot only to be denied by Italy in the last few minutes of a semi-final extra-time. They dusted themselves, Joachim Löw picked up the pieces and unleashed the likes of Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller in South Africa 2010. Once again, scoring goals for fun including a 4-0 thrashing of Diego Maradona's Argentina in the quarter-finals. You guessed it, history repeated itself and the then 3 time champions were outdone by a Carles Puyol header in the World Cup semi-final against eventual champions Spain. In light of all this, it’s hard to contest that the ever consistent Germany deserved to finally conquer the world in Brazil for the 4th time. However, the generation of players that had lived through the so near yet so far moments since 2006 which included Philip Lahm, Klose and Lukas Podolski; had inevitably come to the end of their lines. They had given it the sweat of their youth over the years and to expect them to give more past 2014 could have been a difficult ask. Much of Germany's early to late 2000s dominance was used up in Brazil. It went with the Lahms. Now the obviously next sensible thing would be to raise a new generation to pick up the mantle right?

How did that go?

(L-R) Timo Werner of Germany, Mats Hummels and his team mate Mario Gomez react during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Korea Republic and Germany at Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.

(June 26, 2018 - Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Europe)

The champions' curse

It's a thing. After Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Azzuri failed to go past the group stages in 2010 and even totally missed out on the 2018 Russia finals for the first time in 60 years. So did Spain, after winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the coveted World Cup in South Africa 2010, for only their first time, they ran out of steam in Brazil 2014. Infamously humiliated by the Netherlands in the group stages as they lost 2-5 and like Italy, bowing out before the knock-out rounds. We all thought Germany's proven consistence would break the duck but "the champions' curse," proved stronger. Joachim Löw's men were also kicked out of the 2018 World Cup group men were also kicked out of the 2018 World Cup group stages by Mexico and Sweden, even losing to lowly ranked South Korea in their final group match. Clearly, their misfortunes post 2014 could be excused by the champions' curse. Maybe the fire just dies out after winning as complaceny sets in. But is that all?

Square pegs, round holes

Forget the superstitions for a minute, Germany's issues can also be equally attributed to the way they've been setting up. The National Eleven gaffer clearly tried coping the winning formula from 2014, setting up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, employing the same personnel, howbeit with a few tweaks in one or two positions that had been vacated by those who had retired. He forgot to give a more keen eye to the upcoming talent and also fix some problems which had been overshadowed by the glory of 2014. For instance, one of their problem areas right now, the left-back position dates back to Brazil 2014. Löw had to use Benedikt Howedes, a natural center-back as a make shift option in that position. It worked then but was no permanent solution. Dortmund's Nico Schulz is the latest to be tried in that position, who has done well but likes to go forward more than is necessary. It is quite ironic that a second fiddle Germany team won the Confederations Cup in Brazil 2014 whereas the main side failed to progress past the group stages of the World Cup. The younger side had their own of the World Cup. The younger side had their own culture and rhythm which helped knit them as a unit. Borrowing the likes of Goretzka and Timo Werner to take up roles in the main side wasn't going to work straight away. The German technical team were naïve to think that Werner would just be the next Klose or Podolski and churn out goals. He would be the first Werner and it could have worked better if they studied his individual style of play and gradually fitted him into the team. That idea of direct transfer and replacement of talents is one of the reasons why players like Reus, Werner, Goretzka and Sane have done well at club level but not so much in a German shirt. In short, it's not a lack of talent to fill the shoes of the 2014 champions that they lack. They are just failing to organize and get the best out of them.

German national football team coach Joachim Loew gives a press conference on the eve of the friendly match against Italy in Milan on November 14, 2016. / AFP / GIUSEPPE CACACE

(Nov. 13, 2016 - Source: AFP)

No one is above the Löw?

How do you question someone who has steadied the ship for close to 13 years and on most occasions produced results? It's very unlikely. Such is the case of the national team coach, Joachim Löw. An argument to phase him out together with some more experienced campaigners who departed cannot clearly be unfounded. Somehow, it’s almost treasonous in German circles. Essentially, a new team and generation work better with new set of eyes to identify it. That's what Kovac is doing at Bayern and Favre at Dortmund to keep the continuity. Controversially, retiring Boateng, Hummels and Mueller in the name of "fresh faces" looked like Löw dusted the mirror only to see his face looking back, straight at him. Nomatter how he has switched formations and personnel, the results have barely changed. Just recently, the Dutch embarrassed them to a 4-2 loss in the 2020 Euro Qualifiers. That was after they finished last in the League A of the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament. Since October 2017, they won just 8 of 21 matches, losing a record 6 times in 2018 alone. They only beat a nation ranked 18th or higher once in that period. It's like they're stuck in a tailspin. For how much longer though and could Löw still be the man to turn it around?

When backstage, takes centre stage

It's a compound of issues surrounding the Germany national team, and not least the off-the-field debacles. In that same period where their struggles kicked in, Mesut Ozil, the five-time German footballer of the year retired in bizarre fashion. The mercurial playmaker released a long statement explaining how he felt racially discriminated against by the DFB who also spoke back sharply with a few other national players going for or against Ozil. It all started hinting at the possible division and unrest in the German camp which could have been a key factor also contributing to the poor results. Just recently, Bayern Munich President, Uli Hoenes spoke out threatening to stop sending their players for national duty if the veteran goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer was removed from the number 1 spot. Seriously, where does that happen? Barcelona shot-stopper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen has gained worldwide acclamation for Superman-like reflexes and sweeper role for the Blaugrana but still remains the second choice to the 32- year-old. Even after the former missed out the bulk of 2017-2018 season due to injury, only managing 3 Bundesliga appearance in before the World Cup, Neuer still surprisingly got the nod ahead of Ter Stegen. The German football house clearly needs to be put in order.

Serge Gnabry

Image Credits: Skysports

Rays of sunshine in dark clouds

We have talked all about the doom and gloom surrounding the National Eleven, but one thing we have learnt throughout history is that German Football is an institution. Quite capable of reinventing itself and bouncing back to glory. After crashing out of the 2002 and 2004 UEFA European Championships group stages, they remarkably revived to make the next four semi-finals. In addition, players like Serge Gnabry who has scored 11 times in his 10 caps for Die Mannschaft, the unblooded Jann Fiete Arp, Leroy Sane, the uniquely huge and quick Nicklas Sule and Joshua Kimmich are still 24 or younger and can only get better. More interesting to me is the creative Kai Havertz, one interesting to me is the creative Kai Havertz, one tipped not to directly replace Mesut Ozil but help carry on the creative mantle, seems quite special. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder became the youngster player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances and at 20 years of age, more is definitely coming from him. They are down and out, but still uniquely endowed with the talent and experience to conquer the world yet again.

The only real question is when? The German fans would be hoping its sooner rather than later!

Bundesliga Breakout Stars of the Season: Which players are poised to have breakout seasons?

Here is our list of some of the most promising rising football stars in German. We believe they’re going to make their names bigger in the 2019/20 season.

Jann-Fiete Arp of Hamburg celebrates after he scored a goal to make it 3:1 during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart at Volksparkstadion on November 4, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany.

(Nov. 3, 2017 - Source: Martin Rose/Bongarts)

1. Jann-Fiete Arp, German

Age: 19

Club: Bayern Munich

Position: Centre forward

 Robert Lewandowski has been the best of them, still is. The leading foreign scorer in German football is 30 years old now and there’s no better time to start looking for his successor than now. Bayern Munich have done just that by signing Fiete Arp from Hamburger SV. He might have scored only 3 goals in 35 appearances since his Bundesliga debut in 2017 but his demeanor and style of play suggest he is a future Germany national team star. The 2019/20 campaign will be his debut season with the champions.

 2. Ademola Lookman, England

Age: 21

Club: RB Leipzig

Position: Winger

Tim Weah #11 and Josh Sargent #13 of the United States celebrate after a goal by Sargent in the second half of the friendly soccer match against Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Chester, Pennsylvania. The United States defeated Bolivia 3-0.

(May 27, 2018 - Source: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images North America)

Premier League or Nigerian fans are familiar with this one. The witty winger who finished high school as an A student in England started getting noticed at Charlton Athletic before being snapped up by Everton in 2017. His appearances at the Toffees were limited despite his electric pace and slick dribbles. It all started to make sense when a loan move to RB Leipzig in 2018 revived his good old Charlton Athletic scoring self, bagging 5 goals in 11 matches. Over the summer, the German club relentlessly pursued a permanent move for the young forward and got their man. The youthful RB Leipzig side could be where he finally makes his mark and it might even be more bitter-sweet for a section of the Nigerian fans who felt hard done by when he turned down the opportunity to represent the Super Eagles. The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup winner is still yet to get a senior international England call-up.

3. Dejan Joveljic, Serbia

Age: 20

Club: Eintracht Frankfurt

Ademola Lookman of Everton looks on during the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United at Goodison Park on September 16, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 15, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

Position: Centre forward/ Winger

 Frankfurt just loves them Serbians, don’t they? Out goes Luka Jovic to Real Madrid and they sign another one for €4 million. Dejan will be making his Bundesliga debut in the new campaign and after getting it right on Jovic, there is no reason not to believe Eintracht are also spot on the young striker. He made his name at Serbian top flight team, Red Star Belgrade scoring 11 goals in 21 appearances between 2016-19. To understand his style of play, think his compatriots Jovic, Aleksander Mitrovic and Argentine Mauro Icardi.

 4. Josh Sargent, United States of America

Age: 19

Club: Werder Bremen

Position: Centre-forward

Dawid Kownacki of Sampdoria celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team during the Coppa Italia match between UC Sampdoria and Spal at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 4, 2018 in Genoa, Italy.

(Dec. 3, 2018 - Source: Paolo Rattini/Getty Images Europe)

Scored his first Bundesliga goal on his debut as a 76th minute substitute, with his first touch in December 2018 for Bremen. What a way to introduce yourself to the world. The Missouri groomed player became a subject of scouting by some of Europe’s elite clubs during his youth days and appearances in tournaments such as the 2016 Nike International friendlies. He got his move to Werder Bremen in January 2018 and featured for their U-23s before his senior debut. When you consider Timothy Weah, Chris Richards, Cristian Pulisic and now Sargent, you would be forgiven for getting excited about the future of USMNT.

 5. Dawid Kownacki, Poland

Age:22

Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf

Position: Centre forward

 At 16, the Polish fans called him, “the new Lewandowski.” In July 2017, Italian Serie A club Sampdoria signed him on a 5-year deal and then later on loaned him to Bundesliga side Dusseldorf in January 2019 with an option to buy. After a slow start to life in Italy with only 5 goals in 35 matches, Dawid has scored 4 in 10 since moving to German. He looks like he is rolling back his youth years when he bagged an astounding 25 in 33 for Poland’s youth teams. The Pole was named in the nation’s 35-man preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The 2019/20 is a big season for him and we will be watching.

 There you have it folks, that’s just five youth stars we will be keeping a keen eye on. Who are you looking forward to watch? Let us know in the comments.

Can Dortmund challenge Bayern?

CUTTING TO THE CHASE

Dortmund are actually favorites to win the 2019/20 Bundesliga title.

Seven Bundesliga titles on the spin, Bayern are an embodiment of dominance and breath invincibility don’t they? Well, not quite. At least not in the upcoming 2019/20 campaign where they could be second favorites to win the title. Dortmund lurked behind them last season, all the way to the final day and this time facts and figures do suggest that they might just walk away with their first Bundesliga championship since 2012.

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Ajax and FC Bayern Munich at Johan Cruyff Arena on December 12, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Dec. 11, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

THE 2018/19 BUNDESLIGA SEASON RELOADED

If you happen to not have paid proper attention last season, we got your back. A simple refresher course on the 56th Bundesliga season says that Borussia Dortmund were on top of the league from September 2018 up until March 2019! They indeed bottled it in the end, but there is a lot from their campaign that signposted probable future successes. The Black and Yellows matched the record Bundesliga champions stat to stat, bettering them on more occasions than one. The two German giants finished the season with a total of 10 clean sheets each and just 2 points separating them. This was not a Juve and Napoli title race which in many forms suggested that the Old Lady was the good old African folklore’s hare racing with tortoises. It was like the Manchester City and Liverpool beef, that’s just how close it was. The Bavarians did score more goals and conceded just 32 goals compared to Dortmund’s 44 which explains their title triumph, but were however pretty much second best in everything else.

Unsurprisingly the top six match attendances in the entire league were recorded at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, the Yellow Wall and their ear busting decibels choir are indeed a bit more than just fanatics. Even more, Die Borussen boasted of the most entertaining individual ballers in German, with 4 of the 8 season’s players of the month going to their players and 2 Rookie of the month accolades collected by the high flying Moroccan full back, Achraf Hakimi. None of the champions’ youngsters won the rookies’ award and only Leon Goretzka captured the player of the month of the award. Of course the top goal scorer was Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, undoubtedly the best in the league, but the second and third top marksmen were Dortmund’s Paco Alcacer and captain Marco Reus. What else, the top assist provider was also the teenager, Jadon Sancho.

We could really take the entire day doing this but my point is perhaps a bit clear now. Dortmund were literally breathing down the Reds’ necks. It’s also true that Bayern topped the most important stat, the points tally, but what we get from Dortmund’s performance last time out was the message of intent. They are open for business. But is that everything?

Borussia Dortmund players celebrate victory at full-time after the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 18, 2018 in Brugge, Belgium.

(Sept. 17, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

 WHO WANTS IT MORE?

Stats aside and leaving records in their stacks, them who emphatically answer this question eventually emerge as champions, in any part of the world. That’s a question which us writers can have fun circling on but properly answered on the field of play. I could argue that Dortmund being in the transition phase last year under then new head coach Lucien Favre hardly ever saw themselves being that close to Niko Kovac’s men, who had finished 29 points above them in the 2017/18 season. They overachieved. Their plan to adapt to the new manager’s philosophy, play well and secure champions league football might have changed the moment they realised Bayern were just really bad in the opening stages. Losing 3 of their opening 12 matches.

Still thinking along those lines, Dortmund could have tried to run away with it, constantly looking over their shoulders whereas the champions desperately summed up their winning juices to save their blushes and pulled off a miraculous comeback, losing only once from match-day 13 up to the very end. In other words, I could say Bayern wanted it more last season, but out of contempt and hurt from being so near and yet so far, it could be the other way this time around.

But that’s just my thought pattern. What do the facts say? Who has done the business in the transfer window to lay down a solid title claim?

“This was not a Juve and Napoli title race which in many forms suggested that the Old Lady was the good old African folklore’s hare racing with tortoises. It was like the Manchester City and Liverpool beef, that’s just how close it was.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch

HAVE THEY DONE ENOUGH IN THE TRANSFER WINDOW?

Lucas Hernandez. of Atletico Madrid smiles during a training session ahead of the UEFA Super Cup match against Real Madrid CF at Lillekuela Stadium on August 14, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia.

(Aug. 13, 2018 - Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Europe)

Bayern Munich

To be fair, in as much they are the champions and have been for the past 7 seasons, the Bavarians are still pretty much in their own rebuilding phase. Former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac has had only one season with a squad he didn’t sum up and still recovering from the departure of the infamous duo, Robben and Ribery who once terrorised European defences under the alias, Robbery. The Croat actually did so well to recover from a shocking start and then clinch the title in his debut season. It was clear they needed to at least address their aging defence and find suitable replacements for the French and Dutch legend if they were to continue their impressive title winning run.

Coutinho, Hernandez, Pavard and Perisic

The 29-time champions from Munich clearly prioritised getting two full-backs and a prolific left winger heading into the 2019 summer transfer window. They got their full-backs, some of the best there is in international football right now. Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez registered on Bayern’s radar all the way back to the summer of 2018 when France lifted the world cup gold in Russia. The pair were ever so reliable and crucial to Didier Deschamps’ world cup winning squad, in both tracking back and going on the offensive. In fact, the 23-year-old Pavard scored the 2018 FIFA World Cup Goal of the tournament, his first ever international goal for Les Bleus. Lucas Hernandez had cemented his place in the Atletico Madrid starting line-up, arguably the defensive masters of Europe who conceded. No wonder these two commanded hefty figures to be priced away from Stuttgart and the Spanish giants. Niko Kovac and Bayern Munich are however getting value for their money, they can now sleep easier knowing the knocking on David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich have more than enough covers.

Even more, these two signings give the champions additional tactical flexibility with both Hernandez and Pavard able to play as central defenders or by just deploying them as full-backs, giving room for both Kimmich and Alaba to also play in the midfield. They are indeed some real wildcards!

However, they didn’t have it all going their way in the window. Yes, they got the highly experienced Ivan Perisic from Inter but it’s no secret that that the 30-year-old winger wasn’t their first choice. Perhaps the best transfer move for Bayern in the 2019 summer window came in the form of a gift from FC Barcelona, but a gift motivated by desperation and lack of vision rather than generosity. FC Hollywood won’t care though, as Coutinho offers the sort of dynamism, flair, and experience that could help the club transition some of the creative responsibilities that recently retired legends Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben handled for Bayern over the previous decade. While Coutinho’s move to Munich may be temporary in the form of a loan-to-buy option from Barca, the kind of quality he brings with him is a rarity in all of the Bundesliga.

Leroy Sane of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Gabriel Jesus during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Manchester City and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Etihad Stadium on December 12, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Dec. 11, 2018 - Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)

Missed target: Leroy Sane

Former Arsenal boy Serge Gnabry did a pretty good job in trying to replace Arjen Robben on the left flank, scoring 10 goals and serving up 6 assists in the 2018/19 season. The same can’t be said of the other wing, highly talented French international Kingsley Coman, remains an unreliable option with his injury woes still to come to a close. In contrast, The 23 year-old managed only 7 goals and 4 assists, which is not good enough for a side whose style of playing hinges on the wingers’ ability to create goals and score some. That is why Manchester City winger, Leroy Sane perfectly suited the profile. Just like Ribery, he can hug the touchline, take-on players, run them down and deliver the end product. I mean, the numbers just speak for themselves.

Bayern’s predicted starting XI

The 23-year-old has managed a total of 32 goals and 36 assists during his 3 years at the English Champions. And his stock keep rising. Just this last campaign, Leroy managed an astounding 15 goals and 14 assists in only 27 appearances. He is young, he is efficient and German. Exactly just want the Bundesliga champions could ever dream of. He was reportedly interested in switching allegiances but the move fell out after he suffered a horrific ACL injury in City’s FA Community shield final against Liverpool in pre-season. They could still come back for him in the summer but they have to do without him at least for now. How may that really affect their title chances coming into the new season?

They got the Croat, Perisic who has Bundesliga experience with Dortmund and Wolfsburg but his numbers aren’t as good. He was excellent as he helped Croatia reach an unprecedented world cup final, but 9 goals and 4 assists in 40 appearances last season pales in comparison to Sane’s record. Let’s look at how Niko Kovac could set up his side in the 2019/20 campaign.

Bayern’s predicted starting XI

This is pretty much the formation and personnel that Kovac employed to turn over their misfortunes, except ofcourse the possible inclusion of Pavard, Hernandez and Perisic. Hernandez could be slotted right beside Nikolas Sule in central defence for the departed Mats Hummels, who rejoined you guessed who, Borussia Dortmund. It’s a great side but would have been perfect with Sane in it. It’s just unfortunate that success at this level seemingly requires perfection nowadays.

Their direct challengers are however looking interesting, maybe even close to perfection.

Borussia Dortmund

The Yellow and Black bottled the league last season. It was actually theirs to lose after sitting pretty on top of the standings from September 2018 all the way to March 2019. They could have been fairly satisfied though considering their circumstances. One of the main reasons why thy fell short was simply their defence. They kept as much clean sheets as Bayern but conceded 12 more goals. Their attack was quite frightening but as the old adage goes, “strikers win games but defenders win you championships.” They knew it, we all knew it and they have solved it.

Germany player Julian Brandt in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Germany and Sweden at Fisht Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Sochi, Russia.

(June 22, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

Brandt, Hazard and Schulz

As if they really needed more attackers, they got them anyway. Proven Bundesliga aces and in abundance. The 22-year-old American, Cristian Pulisic departed for Chelsea but they look to have roped in a better option judging by their Bundesliga stats. Eden’s young brother, Thorgan Hazard scored 10 and registered 10 assists compared to Pulisic’s 4 goals and assists. You can sure bet that the former Borussia Moenchagladbach attacker will slot straight into the left wing position. They didn’t really need Julian Brandt, the 23-year-old who got a 2018 Germany world cup ticket ironically ahead of the bespoken Leroy Sane, but the kid scored 8 and served up 12 assists in all competitions. Why not get him if you can? His mobility will allow Favre to deploy him on either wings or pivot with Alex Witsel ahead of Thomas Delaney in midfield. He is their own wild card who pretty much guarantees that Dortmund now have the bulk of the league’s best attackers from the last campaign.

Other than polishing up their attack, Lucien Favre finally has the German international left-back, Nico Schulz to solve their most pressing problems from last campaign. All of Axel Zagadou, Acharf Hakimi and even midfielder Raphael Guerrero were tried on that left side but with no success. Most of their conceded goals could have no doubt come from that area. In the 26-year-old former Hoffenheim player, Dortmund now have German’s finest who has all the attributes of a modern fullback, taking on players just as good as he can take them out. Here’s a number for you, Schulz averaged an astonishing 4 crosses per game last season! In other words, problem expertly solved.

It gets even more interesting.

Main target acquired: Mats Hummels

Dortmund’s predicted starting XI

With their main centre-backs being 20 and 23-year old Zagadou and Manuel Akanji respectively in the last campaign, you can surely understand why they fell short defensively. They are highly talented individuals but you do need that something extra; experience, experience and experience. Defending is kind of like wine, the older they get, they better they become. At least until their legs fail them when ages catches up.

In Matts Hummels, Dortmund now have just that. The 30-year-old has won 6 Bundesliga titles and most remarkably the 2014 World Cup with Germany. Having their former captain back from their title rivals to show the younger players the way and add some more steel, is about as good an offer anyone can get. He will likely partner with Akanji in central defence. Without a doubt, Dortmund have solved all their ills from last season. If they were just 2 points behind Bayern without these additional proven attackers and Bayern’s own experienced defender; how far can they go this season?

Let’s just take a moment and look at how they could line-up.

Borussia Dortmund’s predicted starting XI

It’s still pretty much a tussle on the centre-forward position between Mario Gotze and Paco Alcacer but the former was more prolific last season, scoring 18 goals from just 11 appearances. Tell me without blinking that, this cannot be a title winning team.

OTHER EXCITING TEAMS TO WATCH

Well, realistically, it’s hard to see anyone else outside these two win the 2019/20 Bundesliga title but honourable mention goes to RB Leipzig. The youthful and fast rising side finished 3rd last season and more impressively had the highest number of clean sheets record, 6 ahead of Bayern and Dortmund. They could take points off some of the giants and will in no doubt feature in some of the most exciting matches.

Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Leverkuesen and Borussia Moenchengladbach will also be very much likely in the race for a top 4 finish.

MY VERDICT

My bias has been clear throughout the piece, I feel Dortmund have a better starting team and would be title favorites in that regard. Obviously, Bayern seem to have more depth when you look at their bench and that could be all that matters when you consider things like probable injuries.

One undisputable fact is that Bayern are no longer as invincible and that contest between them two, just makes the league a bit more interesting.

Who do you think will take it all? Tell us in the comments below.

Kevin Prince Boateng’s shocking move to Barcelona explained

You know you are a liar if you say you saw this one coming! Yes, Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Ghanaian legend Kevin Prince Boateng from Sassuolo in the 2019 Winter Transfer Window. The versatile forward will be joining the club on an initial €2m loan for the remainder of the season with an option to buy mooted to be in region of €8 million. But why are we really surprised by this move?

His playing positions

Kevin-Prince Boateng of US Sassuolo pulls the ball into the goal during the serie A match between US Sassuolo and Genoa CFC at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on September 2, 2018 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images Europe)

Kevin Prince Boateng is one of the most versatile players that we have seen in recent years. In the early stages of his career, he played in all of the midfield positions that you can think of. He anchored the stew in England with Portsmouth and Tottenham before being given the creative responsibilities in Italy and Germany with teams like AC Milan and Schalke FC. Just recently, he was deployed as an out and out striker at the Spanish club Las Palmas.

I do not see him adding anything to the already packed midfield of the Blaugrana who have Arthur and Coutinho taking turns to prove themselves in late cameos off the bench. Even in front, Ernesto Valverde has the experienced Luis Suarez and arguably the world’s greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi, who also plays as a forward. This would only mean that the African player will have to settle for a second fiddle role to the latter. He could be a competent substitute forward.

His age

The former Ghanaian international shined at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa with his nation. His performances left fond memories in our minds which make it surreal to even think that that was 9 years ago. On the 6th of March this year, Kevin Prince Boateng will be turning 32 years of age. The tall and aggressive all-rounder might not be past his prime yet but is close to the retirement package days which raises questions as to why he would join Barcelona now. He has lost some of his pace and will not be the ferocious threat he was at Milan under Allegri, but will have to complement it with his experience. He has been kicking the ball up and down the soccer pitch for close to 15 years now and can surely manage to do the basics in the remainder of this season.  

“Kevin Prince Boateng is one of the most versatile players that we have seen in recent years. In the early stages of his career, he played in all of the midfield positions that you can think of. He anchored the stew in England with Portsmouth and Tottenham before being given the creative responsibilities in Italy and Germany with teams like AC Milan and Schalke FC.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The Club

Kevin Prince Boateng is a well-known Real Madrid fan who once shared in an interview in 2017 that he would prefer to play for Real Madrid than Barcelona. He even went on to express his frustration that he had not gotten to the club of his dreams because he had not been hard on himself enough to improve his game to reach a level required at the Spanish club. Knowing all this, surely, the Barcelona fans would not be happy about having a Madridista on their books considering the rivalry between the two clubs. In his defense, Boateng said, “Don’t ask me about Real Madrid... is just the past! I only want to focus on Barcelona and I hope to score at Bernabéu for the next Clasico.”

We can say a lot about this transfer but there’s one fact to be acknowledged by all. Boateng has played for many clubs in Europe, now 11 to be exact, and has always delivered. It says a lot about him and the many African players who have done it before him. Make sure to follow him during his time at Barcelona.

FT 2019 Preview: Dortmund's youth ending Bayern’s Bundesliga dominance

“Nineteen-year-old Dan-Axel Zagadou and twenty-year old Abdou Diallo, the French internationals of Ivorian and Senegalese descent respectively are also part and parcel of the Bundesliga leaders defence that is linked up to the attack with those who need no introduction. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

After winning six straight Bundesliga titles, from the 2012/13 season to the most recent one, Bayern Munich had almost rendered the German top flight, a predictably boring contest. But now, half way through the season as the league paused for the festive break, with Dortmund six points ahead of the champions, there is hope for a twist of fate.

Lucien Favre’s men have been outstanding, outscoring everyone and nothing short of spectacular as they lost only once in seventeen Bundesliga appearances. There is a reminisce of Jurgen Klopp’s Die Borussen who won back to back championships between 2010-12, also reaching the UEFA Champions League final. It comes as no surprise with strikingly similar features accompanying the current team, young blood all around the pitch and a few immaculate seniors providing the balance. More interestingly is one of their young full backs, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Three assists in three champions league matches and three more in twelve Bundesliga appearances is not bad for the 20-year-old defender on loan from Real Madrid. In fact, transfer rumours suggest that the German club will go all the way to tempt Los Blancos to sanction a permanent move for the youngster. He really is one of the best young full backs in the world right now, has been important in Dortmund’s electric form and will continue to be as the new year unfolds. Nineteen-year-old Dan-Axel Zagadou and twenty-year old Abdou Diallo, the French internationals of Ivorian and Senegalese descent respectively are also part and parcel of the Bundesliga leaders defence that is linked up to the attack with those who need no introduction. The eighteen year-old Jadon Sancho and USMNT’s Christian Pulisic who is twenty and soon to depart for Chelsea. The team also had a “midas-touch” effect on former Barcelona forward, Paco Alcacer who misfired at Camp Nou but became a scoring freak at Signal Iduna, scoring a remarkable twelve goals in seven matches. Even the prodigal son Mario Gotze, returned and got rejoined with former pitch-partner, captain Marco Reus.

Make sure you have Dortmund on your watchlist for 2019, they are definitely paving the way for many other great things to come.

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #4 Baba Rahman

Baba Rahman of Schalke looks on during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Schalke 04 and OGC Nice at Veltins-Arena on November 24, 2016 in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia.

(Nov. 23, 2016 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Bongarts)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

LB – Abdul Baba Rahman

Abdul Baba Rahman can be seen by many as a victim of the vicious Chelsea loan system which rarely yields opportunities to the youngsters. The Ghanaian left-back is currently on-loan at Joel Matip’s old club, FC Schalke 04 where he has played only three matches this campaign. When looking at Maurizio Sarri’s style of play, a quick defender with an ability to play quick short passes looks destined to be treasured by the Italian coach in his Chelsea setup, but that’s not yet the case. It has not been the case either for the previous manager Antonio Conte who vetoed moves for Marcos Alonso and even acquired Emerson Palmieri to play ahead of the African defender in the left-back spot. Although Baba Rahman is just 24, the youngster needs a clear picture of the future plans of the club. If he is not careful, he could fall into the trap that swallowed youngsters like Lucas Piazon, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tammy Abraham, and Tomas Kalas whom are unlikely to feature in a Chelsea jersey anytime soon.

Verdict: He should sit down with Chelsea and find out if he is going to be a part of their future plans. If not, he must be allowed to leave this coming summer.  

Reminiscing the globetrotting career of Kevin Prince-Boateng

“After playing for ten European clubs across the Bundesliga, English Premier League ,and the Italian Serie A, he is still going and doesn’t look like he will hang his boots anytime soon.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

There is so much to talk about when it comes to the career of the peculiar Ghanaian, Kevin Prince Boateng. Who does not remember his days at AC Milan when he played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and crew or his heroic efforts at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa where Ghana proudly carried the weight of the entire continent on its shoulders. The half-brother to the German footballer, Jerome Boateng, has enjoyed an illustrious career but it was not all rainbows and unicorns. The player came from humble beginnings and faced many setbacks to be where he is today. This is the untold story of an African child and star, Kevin Prince Boateng.

Humble Beginnings

Kevin-Prince Boateng of AC Milan wears th jersey against racism during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AC Siena at San Siro Stadium on January 6, 2013 in Milan, Italy.

(Jan. 5, 2013 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)

The Ghanaian international was born in Germany and started his career at Hertha Berlin. He was not quite an early bloomer as he made his first team debut at the age of 20. He later moved to Tottenham in a deal reported to be worth £5.4million. His success at the club was limited and got loaned to Borussia Dortmund in 2009 where he had a decent showing in front of the Dortmund fans. Financial constraints meant that the club could not secure his services on a permanent basis which later saw him moving to Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Days

It was at Portsmouth that he started showing signs of a potential World Cup player despite his issues with anger management. Although he led his club to the FA Cup final, he also went on to injure Michael Ballack’s ankle in retaliation to a slap that he claimed to have received from German international who was at Chelsea at the time. That is the incident that made him unpopular among the German fans. Kevin Prince-Boateng then moved to Genoa in 2010 who immediately loaned him to AC Milan who made it permanent a year later.

The Big Move

The move to Milan is what brought attention to an attacking prodigy that had been flying under the radar. In the past decade, not many Africans were being trusted in that Number 10 role that players like Mesut Ozil have made a name for themselves in. It's quite difficult to remember one who played in that position aside from Kevin Prince. Since then, only Younes Belhanda and Ziyech are the notable Africans who have played as an attacking midfielder in Europe. Boateng  became a highlight reel at the club where he won the Italian Serie A in the 2010/11 season before following that up with the Super Coppa Italiana later that year.

Fight against Racism

Kevin Prince Boateng and Jonathan Mensah of Ghana challenge Jozy Altidore of the United States during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between USA and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 26, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa.

(June 25, 2010 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe)

Several Milan players were the targets of racial chants from a section of the Pro Patria crowd in a friendly match back in 2013. The former Ghanaian international reacted by kicking the ball into the stands before leaving the pitch, and his teammates followed him off.

Life after Milan

Boateng has always been on the move as he has played for FC Schalke, Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sassuolo since his departure from Milan in 2013. He, however, had a brief spell when he returned to the Italian club in 2016 but it was short lived as his contract was canceled by the club by mutual consent. Kevin is still pretty much an active footballer wearing the Sassuolo colors and turned 31 in March. After playing for ten European clubs across the Bundesliga, English Premier League and Italian Serie A, he is still going and doesn’t look like he will hang his boots soon.

What’s your favorite memory of Kevin Prince-Boateng?

FT Hidden Gems Series: The short-gun, Ademola Lookman

Most of us might be familiar with the name Lookman because of the latest headline about him snubbing the chance to represent England for an African team. Aside from that, there is little known about the teenage prodigy that has been shaking the ground in the minor age groups but is still giving a headache to his current coach at Everton FC. Ademola Lookman is one of the many players in world football that we zoom into their career to understand what they are about.

Background

The 20-year old started his professional career at Charlton Athletic where he made his senior debut as a forward. In 2017, he was snapped up by Everton in a deal reported to be around £11 million which topped the world transfer news. The player has since been used as a winger to date. Before that, Ademola had attended St Thomas the Apostle College where he attained 3 A* and 5 As before pursuing his passion for football. As football fans, we appreciate the support from his family who encouraged him to pursue sport as a professional career ahead of academia. In the African context, it is not quite often that parents embolden their children to play soccer especially when their kids are A students like Lookman. Just a couple of years down the line, their faith in his decision is starting to pay off. Lookman has since played for the first team at Everton as well as RB Leipzig on a short stint this year.

On his attributes

Lookman started off as a striker as mentioned earlier. His goal scoring record in the U18 and U21 teams warranted him a position in the first team at Charlton where he eventually starred at a young age. He scored on his full debut before adding a brace in his second appearance just 10 days later. He managed a total of 10 goals in the 45 appearances he made for the club before moving to Everton. This rings a bell to how Marcus Rashford started off his career at Manchester United where he banged in goals for fun in his first UEFA Europa League, English Premier League and  FA Cup debuts. Much like Rashford, a change of management meant that the Lookman had to adapt to a new position at Everton.

Ademola Lookman of Everton is challenged by Arthur Masuaku of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United at Goodison Park on September 16, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 15, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

The young forward was turned into a winger under the wings of two Everton managers in Roberto Martinez and Sam Allardyce, who deployed him mostly on the left side in the absence of the injured Yannick Bolasie. Lookman was mostly used later on in the match when Everton needed to waste time in the dying minutes and needed a fresh player capable of holding the ball at his feet. Little did they know that the young forward would grab his opportunity and start knocking on the door for a start in the Everton team. Sam Allardyce realised that the young player needed to gain some experience before making the next step in his career, and sent him on loan to RB Leipzig in Germany where he shined. Lookman came on as a late substitute against Borussia Monchengladbach and scored a late winner on his debut. He ended up scoring 5 goals in 11 appearances before the end of the 2017/18 season. The German club were dazzled by his direct play as he always demanded the ball before making forward runs which produced the goods for the club. Even from playing on the flanks, he still managed to score goals which is an attribute that many teams are lacking in the present day. It is not surprising that Leipzig tried to secure another short-term acquisition of the youngster to help their team especially in the summer in which they lost their Guinean starman, Naby Keita, to Liverpool.

Lookman can also play as a makeshift wing-back. He has the workrate and the pace needed on the byline which you can see in a player like Ashley Young who plays for Manchester United. However, it would be limiting his contribution if deployed in such a defensive position because he is far more dangerous when he is further up the pitch.

“Lookman was mostly used later on in the match when Everton needed to waste time in the dying minutes and needed a fresh player capable of holding the ball at his feet. Little did they know that the young forward would grab his opportunity and start knocking on the door for a start in the Everton team.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

On his decision to play for Nigeria ahead of England

Being born in England to Nigerian parents meant that the winger was eligible to represent a country of his choice between the two. He first turned down the advances made by Gernot Rohr, the Nigerian coach in 2017 because he had his mind set on playing for England in the FIFA U20-World Cup. One year later, it is a different story altogether.

Ademola Lookman of England gets past Dragos Nedelcu of Romania during the International Friendly between England U21 and Romania U21 at Molineux on March 24, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England.

(March 23, 2018 - Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)

Recent reports on European football news suggested that the youngster realised that his chances of playing for England are blocked by quite a number of promising youngsters like Josh Onomah, Demarai Gray and Ryan Sessegnon. This explains why he intends to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria instead of England whom he has represented at youth level.

Also, the fact that Victor Moses announced his retirement from international football means that there is a position up for grabs in the first team which Ademola Lookman would be looking to grab and make his own. With Everton’s Henry Onyekuru also lurking, it will by no means be a walk in the park.

Achievements:

1. FIFA U20-World Cup 2017 (he scored 3 goals in the tournament

2. LFE Championship Apprentice of the Year 2015/16

What’s next for the Nigerian?

Lookman has fallen down the pecking order at Everton now that Marco Silva is the new head coach and acquired the services of Richarlison for £50 million pounds from Watford. The Brazilian plays in the same position as the young Nigerian and seems to have the confidence of the manager. Maybe Lookman has to keep his head down and wait for his chance at the club after he failed to secure another loan move away from Everton before transfer deadline day.

Another option could be to leave for another club that will give him a chance to prove that he deserves a place in the Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad for the 2018 Africa Cup of nations which will be hosted by Cameroon. Lookman has a bright future ahead of him and FirstTouch would want to benchmark his career to that of other football legends like Didier Drogba, George Weah, etc. when he eventually hangs his boots.

FT African Legends Series: Austin Jay Jay Okocha [Nigeria]

As we continue with the FirstTouch African Legends series, we drift to the western part of the continent and reminisce the career of whom I consider being one of the greatest dribblers that ever played professional football - Mr. Austin Azuka “Jay Jay” Okocha. I think it’s no coincidence that he and Zimbabwe’s Peter Ndlovu were born in the same year - they were perhaps born for the same purpose in their respective countries. In my mind, Peter Ndlovu, the first black African footballer in the English Premier League was a goal scoring machine while Okocha was a rabid entertainer.

The Beginning

Born in Enugu, Enugu State in Nigeria, Okocha started playing football on the streets with what he described in the following statement, “As far as I can remember, we used to play with anything, with any round thing we could find, and whenever we managed to get hold of a ball, that was a bonus! I mean it was amazing!" I mean, if the guy could control let’s say a mango with his feet, how about a proper soccer ball with a 68-70 cm circumference and a 22cm (8.56 inches) diameter. Perhaps that’s why he was ever so comfortable with the ball. He got the first touch of professional football in 1990 when he joined Enugu Rangers at just 17 years of age. He immediately made a big impression with his slick movements and became guilty of handing some experienced players a run for their money and a taste of the dust, once in a while.

Club career in Europe

Okocha’s big break came later that year when he visited West Germany on holiday after the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He stopped by a third division side, Borussia Neunkirchen’s training ground with a friend and asked to join in, only to find himself getting pinned to a contract after mesmerizing the coach with his arm-like legs that caressed the ball effortlessly. In the following year, he would join FC Saarbrucken before completing a move to the top flight Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt where he linked up with the Ghanaian striker, Tony Yeboah. He appeared 90 times for Frankfurt and scored 16 goals, including the 1993 goal which attracted the Goal of the season recognition by numerous magazines after he had rounded some players in the box twice and slotted the ball past the infamous German international goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn. Jay-Jay then moved to Turkey after Eintracht Frankfurt got relegated, he had a feud with the manager Jupp Heynckes before relegation. Whilst in Turkey, Okocha attained citizenship status as “Muhammet Yavuz” and scored 30 goals in only 62 appearances with a number of them being direct free kicks.

In 1998, French Ligue 1 side, Paris St-Germain broke the bank and paid £14 million for Okocha who became the most expensive African player at the time, in a four-year deal. Other than his continued displays on the pitch, Okocha also mentored the Brazilian football icon, Ronaldinho - who in my opinion rivals him when it comes to dribbling. After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he joined English Premier League side, Bolton Wanderers whom he helped survive relegation and also steered them to their first cup final in nine years as Captain, where they finished runners-up to the 2004 Football League Cup. He did score some memorable goals and became a crowd favorite. Bolton fans would wear t-shirts with the inscription, "Jay-Jay – so good they named him twice." He was stripped of the Bolton Captaincy in 2006 after speculation of him moving to Qatar intensified. Jay-Jay eventually left Bolton that year for Qatar, where he played one season before returning to England in Hull City colors on a free transfer. He hung his boots after a short spell with the Tigers where he scored no goals in eighteen matches as a result of fitness and injury challenges. He still was a part of the Hull troops that won the first Premier League promotion in their 104-year history.

The Super Eagles Years

Okocha won Nigerian hearts in only his second cap for the country. After losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast on his debut in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Jay-Jay came on strong against Algeria where the Super Eagles came from one goal down to secure a 4-1 victory in a must-win match that secured their first ever FIFA World Cup qualification. The match was pretty much an Okocha-show. He also won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the Olympic Gold Medal at USA 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, as part of the Nigerian team dubbed Dream Team.

The step-over king’s antics on the pitch cannot be rightfully described in words. He even indirectly led to the sacking of Zimbabwe’s famous football commentator, Charles Mabika after he got his dribbling displays stuck on replay underscored by unapologetic juicy commentary with the words, “Just look at Okocha,” - on national television when the Super Eagles visited Harare for a friendly.

In April 2015, Okocha expressed interest in becoming the president of Nigerian Football Federation, a dream he happens to be chasing as we speak. Feeling nostalgic? Check his displays in the video below, where at 43-years of age, he turned a Joseph Yobo testimonial match to a Jay-Jay Okocha Exhibition in May 2016.

Do you think his cousin, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi could follow the footsteps of the veteran?

Abroad: Naby Keita earns new nickname at Die Rotten Bullen

The Guinean’s time at German side, Red Bull Leipzig is fast expiring while his popularity is fast growing. The Syli Nationale player was once again the star of the Die Rotten Bullen show as they dispatched Hannover 96 by 3-2 away from home. Naby Keita’s consistent performances have won him hearts and earned his nine-year-old team some money when they agreed a transfer deal understood to be in the region of £66 million with Liverpool in August 2017.

The story coming from German is that Bundesliga has given him a new nickname with the aid of autocorrect.

“Thanks to the magic of autocorrect, Naby Keita has earned the nickname ‘Baby Keith”

— Bundesliga official twitter account

From now onwards, fans are expected to shout the 23-year-old’s nickname whenever he touches the ball, starting the UEFA Europa League first leg Quarter-Final match, where they beat Olympique Marseille by a goal to nothing.

Can you imagine how Liverpool will line up next year, with the African connection of Salah, Mane, and Keita in their ranks?

Champions League Quarter-Final Overview: Sevilla vs Bayern Munich

Key Points

• Bayern will be brimming with confidence after demolishing Dortmund in Der Klassiker over the weekend.

• Sevilla may feel hard done by their result against Barcelona after conceding two late goals from a winning position of 2-0.

• Heynckes will have seen what happened to Mourinho and Manchester United last round after leaving Seville with what was seen as a cautiously optimistic 0-0 draw.

Fortune favors the bold they say. But whether or not the Bavarians have been bold, it’s debatable. What’s not debatable is that they have been favored somehow, perhaps by the gods of the UCL draw. Bayern Munich played Turkish side Besiktas which they embarrassed 8-0 on aggregate and now they play Manchester United's hangman, Sevilla, who have looked inconsistent at best this season. In truth, they can actually beat anyone on their day. The Manchester club had to force a 0-0 draw at Sevilla after some superb shot stops by goalkeeper David De Gea and two late strikes by Ben Yedder at Old Trafford ensured the red devils would fall again at the hands of a Spanish opposition.

Over the weekend, Sevilla almost humbled UCL and La Liga title favorites to their first defeat of the Spanish League only to make some mistakes in the final 4 minutes and walk away with a point. I am tipping Bayern Munich to walk away with this one but it won’t be as easy as most people anticipate.

Bayern hunting for their Treble

Bayern’s domestic dominance is so thorough that the UEFA Champions League is more significant to the club and its fans. They are chasing the dream of winning the treble again which they managed to win back in 2013. Where is this buzz coming from, you may ask? This is because of the fact that the man who led them to glory in that year, Heynckes, is the very same person who took over from Ancelotti this season and has brought back the confidence and the swagger to the dynamic Bayern Munich team. Heynckes marked his last season in football with a famous treble for the German champions before he retired. The club had to beg him to come out of retirement and help their club one more time since they could not find a more suitable replacement for Ancelotti. They have not been disappointed. The coach has since seen his club dominate with a league title almost certain to be sewn up in early April while a cup semifinal is a few weeks away. They have now focused their attention towards dispatching Sevilla in the quarterfinals of the UCL. The club is looking to build up on their last win against local rivals Dortmund whom they humiliated in a 6-0 win on Saturday. Sevilla however, are also focused on fixing their defensive problems after surrendering a 2 goal lead to Barcelona and were on-course to become the first team to beat the Catalans in the league this season. Both teams have been performing well this season and this will be an interesting clash. Will Heynckes succeed in claiming another treble this season? Only time will tell.

Abroad: Liverpool bound Naby Keita sinks Bayern Munich

Guinean ace, Naby Keita canceled out Sandro Wagner’s open and set up RB Leipzig’s second goal to snap Bayern Munich’s 18 match unbeaten run in the German League. RB Leipzig are in contention for a champions league spot currently sit sixth on the Bundesliga, two points adrift of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. They will most likely miss Naby next season who will join Klopp’s charges in a £51 million move this July. A possible African connection of Keita, Salah and Mane presents a tantalizing prospect for the Merseyside club and viewers all over the world.

Legends: Jay-Jay Okocha Inducted Into the Bundesliga Hall of Fame

The magician, with feet like Ronaldinho graced the German top flight between 1992-96 where he scored 18 goals and registered 13 assists in 90 games for Eintracht Frankfurt . That’s not what he was mostly known for though, he was a crowd favorite both at home and abroad who will always be remembered to care more about entertaining himself and the fans than putting numbers on the scoresheet. He has now joined the Bundesliga Legends Network, the 11-man legends network that will be flying the Bundesliga flag across the world.

Batman in Town!

About a year ago, the English Premier League was in awe of the performances of Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane who had joined the team from Southampton. He graced the stench supporters of the Merseysiders who had lacked quality in the final third after having lost Suarez, Sterling and losing Daniel Sturridge to injuries. Now the 2017/18 season brought more excitement to the League through the team’s acquisition of a gem in Mo Salah who has surprised most by his goals. But that is not the end of it. Arsenal have brought their own.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (nicknamed the Batman for his heroic antics) is a prolific goalscorer proven in the German Bundesliga where he outscored Robert Lewandowski before his move to Arsenal. Aubameyang’s move created a buzz and brought hope to the Arsenal side that have been struggling in recent months if not years. He showed early signs of what he is capable of when he chipped Jordan Pickford as he scored Arsenal’s fourth goal against Everton. We hope the striker lights up the league as his predecessors in Mahrez, Mane and Salah in recent years.