Football: The Next Generation

In the realm of professional football, the role of a goalkeeper is crucial, with their acrobatics and shot-stopping abilities often making the difference between victory and defeat. While outfield players often steal the limelight, the development of young goalkeepers is an equally important aspect of the sport.  In this article, we explore the journey of young goalkeepers in their quest for success, showcasing specific examples of their development and highlighting the key factors that contribute to their rise to the top. 1. Gianluigi Buffon The legendary Italian goalkeeper, serves as a prime example of exceptional development. Starting his career at Parma, Buffon displayed remarkable composure and shot-stopping abilities from a young age. His consistent performances earned him a move to Juventus, where he solidified his reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history. 2. Alisson Becker The rise of Alisson Becker, the Brazilian shot-stopper, is another remarkable tale of deve

The UEFA Champions League semi-finals are upon us and the battle for the European crown is heating up. As we get ready to witness some of the finest football on the continent, there are a number of young players who are sure to be key figures in the semi-finals, as Manchester City and Real Madrid square off, and AC Milan and Inter Milan prepare for a derby clash. The match-ups feature some of the biggest names in world football and there are plenty of exciting young players to watch out for. Here, we take a look at some of the best young stars to watch in the Champions League semi-finals. Real Madrid – Vinícius Júnior The 22-year-old Brazilian is one of the most exciting players in Europe right now. Having joined Real Madrid in 2018, he has made a name for himself with his electric pace and skillful dribbling. He’s already scored six goals and provided five assists in the Champions League this season, and will be looking to add to those numbers in the semi-finals. He is sure to be a ha

With Euro 2020 swiftly approaching this summer, we are going to look at five of the best young footballers that might catch your eye at the 16th edition of the UEFA European Championships. For the sake of criteria we are going to only consider players that are 23 years of age or under and have a realistic chance of starting for their national teams this summer. To try and diversify our list we are only going to consider a maximum of one player per country. 5. Kai Havertz - 21 - Midfielder/Forward - Germany Having signed for Chelsea after an immense breakthrough season at Bayer Leverkusen, Havertz got off to a rocky start but is now flying after linking up with fellow German, Thomas Tuchel, as he arrived as Chelsea's new head coach. He's scored four goals and assisted three in about 1500 minutes of Premier League football and could be on course to win the Champions League with Chelsea this season. One of the best young attacking midfielders on the planet, Havertz can also play u

Today we are going to be looking at some of England's finest young players that are y et to make their senior debut for the Three Lions. Although, a few may make their debuts tonight against Iceland. The postponement of Euro 2020 to next summer has been devastating for football fans around the world, however, for some it provides an opportunity to impress next season and break into the England squad in time for Euro 2021.  England stalwarts Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane have also benefitted from this postponement as they would've been injured and missed out on this season's Euros. Similarly, the following 8 young players have all had brilliant breakthrough seasons for their respective clubs in the Premier League and if they keep up this solid form they are certain to receive their first call-ups from Gareth Southgate and England's senior national team.  Goalkeepers:  Dean Henderson The Red Devil's keeper has had an amazing breakthrough Premier League campaign on l

Whilst they may play in different positions and in different leagues, this duo certainly shares something in common. They both have tremendous potential. The pair have been monitored for years but have taken this year by storm and have set the world alight with their performances. Alphonso Davies I'd be incredibly surprised if you haven't heard of this man by now. The 19 year old moved to Munich from the Vancouver Whitecaps last year for a fee of around 20 million euros. Since then his value has tripled to around 60 million euros according to transfermarkt. Originally a winger, Bayern have undoubtedly converted him into the best left-back in the Bundesliga, utilising his dribbling and pace and turning him into an unstoppable force in his breakthrough season for the Bavarians. He was clocked at an immensely impressive 22.69 mph this season, smashing the Bundesliga sprint record. Named as Bundesliga Rookie of the Year, Davies has scored 4 and assisted 5 in 38 games this season, h

11 years ago, a young Mason Greenwood got his picture taken with Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solksjaer; last night, Ole subbed him on against Everton and he finished brilliantly to help Manchester United equalise. 3 days prior, Greenwood had scored an emphatic brace against AZ Alkmaar to inspire Manchester United to a win in the Europa League. So who is Mason Greenwood? Born on the 1st of October 2001 in Bradford, Mason Greenwood is a lethal young forward that stands at just under 6 ft tall. Now 18, Greenwood began his footballing journey at the age of 6, playing in United's academy setup. In the 2017/18 season he broke into the U-18 team at the age of 16 and ended the campaign as the top scorer of the U-18 Premier League North, bagging 17 goals in 21 games. Greenwood had his first experience with the first team in the pre-season tour of the 2018/19 season, featuring as a sub off the bench. A few months later, Ole handed Greenwood his competitive debut in the latter en

Football academies teach the beautiful game to prospective players as young as 5 or 6. They hone and refine their natural abilities and shape them into incredible players that can really impact a match. From legends of the past to stars of today, they all started somewhere. Today we'll be looking at the 5 best football academies in Europe, analysing factors such as the quality of facilities, experience of staff and the achievements of their most famous academy graduates. 5. Sporting CP Youth Academy Based in Lisbon, the Sporting CP Youth Academy is the gateway for talented youngsters to break into the Sporting CP first team. The academy is broken down into 5 youth squads: U19s, U17s, U17s (B), U15s, U15s (B). The current academy was built in 2002, with 1 full size pitch, 4 smaller training pitches and a separate area for goalie training. It also includes study rooms and a medical center with treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, gym, showers and bedrooms. At Euro 2016, 10 Sportin

Today I'll be covering the 10 best young prospects of the future. I'll be looking at their stats on paper, in-match skills, their valuations and their chances of becoming a future Ballon d'Or winner! Every player in this list has the ability to become the best in their respective positions and they are the spearheads of the next generation. 10. Dayot Upamecano - Defender This 20 year old Frenchman has been a rock at the heart of RB Leipzig's defence for the past few seasons, racking up 55 appearances and over 4,000 minutes played, featuring at centre-back and right-back in the Bundesliga since 2016. Last season Upamecano helped RB Leipzig finish 3rd in the Bundesliga with the lowest 'Goals Conceded' in the league. He's also had experience playing in the Champions League, Europa League and at international level for France U21s. Standing at 6 feet tall Upamecano possesses a surprising speed at which he can recover from mistakes and hunt down opponents.