Top five youngsters of the 2014/15 Bundesliga season

Top five youngsters of the 2014/15 Bundesliga season [VIDEO]

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This season serves as another great reminder of the excellent youth work that is done in the Bundesliga. Producing skilled players is one thing, but equipping the young lads with the makings to actually break through the ranks and become an established name another. In 2014/15, Germany’s top flight once again proved to be the go-to place for rookies. 

5. Julian Brandt (19), Bayer Leverkusen

Since joining Bayer Leverkusen in early 2014, the young attacking-midfielder is doing all the right things and was on the cusp of becoming a regular starter in a star-studded side in 2015. The German talent has featured in 25 league encounters this season, scored four goals and assisted another two. One of the most notable Julian Brandt-moments this campaign was his winner against Bayern Munich on matchday 31, a powerful right boot from the edge of the box that left Manuel Neuer perplexed and without a chance. Next to the league business, he also enjoyed his first Champions League minutes this campaign. The 19-year old has become an indispensable asset in Roger Schmidt’s blueprint for next season, and it is unlikely that a player of his skills is going to fly under the radar of national coach Joachim Loew for much longer.

4. Mitchell Weiser (21), FC Bayern Munich 

In his second year with the Bayern Munich first team, Mitchell Weiser has racked up 15 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side and his confidence is visibly building up with each fielding. And how could it not? Guardiola appears to be big on the young winger, so much so that at times he even started at the expense of no less a person than Mario Goetze, the costly BVB acquisition that has been touted as Germany’s football talent of the century.  Weiser has been able to increasingly clinch more playing time towards the end of this season and take his game to the next level: His runs are incisive and quick and when some of his ball acrobatics come-off, it is easy to see why Guardiola has grown fond of the 21-year old. Contrary to rumours prior to the season, it now seems a contract extension is back on the cards.

3. Johannes Geis (21), FSV Mainz 05

Both performance and market value of Johannes Geis have skyrocketed this year, putting him on the map for bigger clubs like Borussia Dortmund, who are keen to find an Ilkay Guendogan successor before long. A quick look at Geis’ grasp of the beautiful game and intelligence on the pitch speaks for itself and explains why Dortmund are eyeing the young holding midfielder whose price is now pegged at around €12 million. Geis has featured in all 34 matchdays this season, scored four goals himself and facilitated the same amount through assists. As if that was not enough, he has quickly become the man in charge of standards and stunned plenty of goalkeepers, dispatching lethal free kicks and corners. In short, at age 21 Geis has morphed into the brain and heart of Mainz 05. If the Club resign themselves to letting him go, they are going to make sure the reimbursement will immensely alleviate the pain of losing this young talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_MZpuy7CCI

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2. Hakan Calhanoglu (20), Bayer Leverkusen

Much like Brandt, Hakan Calhanoglu is by no means is a brand new discovery of the 14/15 season. However, the Turk too is still outrageously young and the transition from former club Hamburger SV to Leverkusen has without a doubt made Calhanoglu even stronger. Working with – frankly speaking –  better teammates on the pitch and getting regular starts in the Champions League has honed the playmaker’s skills and made him much more than the deadly set-piece expert he already was. His right-foot is exceptional and hands-down the best technique Bundesliga fans can admire at the moment. But it does not end there – his overall play has become faster since Leverkusen and he in essence looks the best Calhanoglu we have seen so far. Not too long ago, during his Hamburg days, Calhanoglu was sneered at when he stated he wanted to become the next Christiano Ronaldo. Somehow the scorn has fallen silent.

1. Timo Horn (22), 1.FC Koeln

Take nothing away from the young and gifted outfield players this season, of which we had ample, but no one deserves this year’s top spot more than Cologne’s goalkeeper Timo Horn. In a league that abounds in talented and home grown shot stoppers,  Horn still managed to stand out of the bunch on account of his phenomenal efforts between the FC Koeln sticks. Koeln, who were promoted to first flight football just a year ago, had surprisingly little to do with this season’s relegation battle and fans of the cathedral city will subscribe to the sentiment that this is largely courtesy of Horn. The Cologne born goalkeeper accomplished to finish 13 matches with a clean sheet and conceded less than any other custodian in immediate vicinity in the final league table. Horn has the perfect physique for his job and time and time again pulled off saves that stumped the opposition. If he is able to conserve this form in the long run, bigger clubs will be knocking on FC Koeln’s door soon enough.

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