It is hard to remember Kai Havertz was still in the U19 squad last season: The Bayer 04 pro now receives the gold Fritz Walter medal as the best U19 player in Germany. The Werkself youngster is the youngest-ever player in the history of the Bundesliga to make 50 appearances in Germany's top-flight. Kai set the record at the age of 18 years and 307 days in a 4-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 30 of the 2017/18 campaign.
"In terms of his ability and technique, he is outstanding at times. He will continue to develop over the next few years and become a great player if he maintains his current mentality. Kai has the talent and potential to become a world star," said Julian Brandt in praise of his team-mate after the game against Frankfurt. Havertz, who played for Bayer 04 in the Champions League in 2016/17 at the same time he was studying for his Abitur exams, has now made 54 Bundesliga appearances and been involved in 22 goals. Seven goals and 15 assists – an outstanding return for a midfielder.
Havertz, who joined Leverkusen from Alemannia Aachen as an eleven-year-old in 2010 and went on to win the U17 German Championships with Bayer 04, will be awarded the gold Fritz Walter medal on 9 September in Heidelberg at the international fixture between Germany and Peru. Two years ago, the DFB awarded Kai Havertz the silver Fritz Walter medal with the U17s. Back then, Benjamin Henrichs won the gold medal with the U19s.
Other Bayer 04 players to win this award were Jonathan Tah (U19, 2015) and Julian Brandt (U18, 2014). Brandt also picked up the silver medal in 2013 with the U17s – as did Levin Öztunali with the U18s in 2014. Dominik Kohr earned bronze with the U19s in 2013 and in 2012 with the U18s. Before that, Bayer 04 players Kolja Pusch (bronze in 2010 with the U17s), Marcel Risse (bronze in 2008 with the U19s), Richard Sukuta-Pasu (bronze in 2008 with the U18s), Stefan Reinartz (bronze in 2007 with the U18s) and Nils Teixeira (bronze in 2007 with the U17s) also received Fritz Walter medals.
"The Fritz Walter medal is now established as the most significant individual award in German youth football," said Joti Chatzialexiou, sporting director of national teams. "The award winners have outstanding qualities, great sporting ambition and away from the pitch they stand out with their team spirit and their demeanour. It's important to us that the talented youngsters see the medals as great inspiration: Your target has to be to continually improve and go on to appear for the senior side later on." Not many people would be surprised if 'later' turned into 'soon' for Kai Havertz. He has earned 30 caps for Germany youth teams to date and has scored seven goals in eight matches for the U19 side.
Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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