Whether by a Football Manager aficionado or a supporter keen to discover the next big thing, young players have always been focused on in the beautiful game. If there is an exciting talent in the youth academy of a fan’s team, the supporter in question will be quick to praise his potential, adamant that their side boasts the next Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Sergio Agüero.
Managers can spot a good player when they see one and it’s little wonder the average age of some squads are becoming younger and younger with each passing year. Whether teenage stars have shown enough in training to feature for the senior side or an under-fire boss is resorting to desperate measures and throwing a youngster in at the deep end, teenagers are featuring more prominently nowadays.
With that in mind, we at WhoScored.com, using our unique rating system, have complied a list of the highest rated teenagers in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season of those who have made at least 10 appearances so far.
Niklas Süle (7.20) - Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim have made a name for themselves as one of the most exciting teams in Europe. However, after a bright start to the Bundesliga campaign, the German side's performance levels have dipped of late, winning only 2 of their last 6 league games. Part of the reason for their impressive early season form was young Nicklas Süle.
Süle may only be 19 years old, but he already has ample top-flight experience, having made 42 league appearances since making his debut for Hoffenheim a little over 18 months ago. However, disaster struck for the powerful centre-back in the recent 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, when Süle was forced off after 10 minutes having damaged his anterior cruciate ligament. Süle, who will now miss the remainder of the season, had forged an effective centre-back partnership with summer signing Ermin Bicakcic.
Prior to injury, Süle had played a hugely influential role for the club. Despite missing the last 170 minutes of league action, the teenage defender has won possession in the defensive third more times than any other Hoffenheim player (58) in the Bundesliga this season. Despite his age, Süle is capable of being in the right place at the right time to relieve pressure on his goal. Only Bicakcic (8.2) is averaging more clearances per game than the young defender (5.7), while Süle is putting his 6”4’ frame to good use with a commanding 3.7 aerial duels won per game.
José Gayá (7.18) - Valencia
Valencia have started the campaign excellently and a significant part of that start has been their defence. Only Barcelona (7) have conceded fewer goals in La Liga this season than Los Che (13) and while Nicolás Otamendi and Shkodran Mustafi have won their fair share of the plaudits, teenage left-back José Gayá has impressed since making the starting spot his own.
Gayá made just 1 league appearance last season, with Juan Bernat and Andrés Guardado ahead of the youngster in the pecking order at the Mestalla. However, the departures for Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven, respectively, of those players, opened up the chance for Gayá to nail down a starting berth and he has grasped the opportunity with both hands.
Of every Valencia player to register at least 100 minutes of Liga action this season, Gayá is averaging the most tackles per game (2.9). Meanwhile, only a handful of first-team regulars are averaging more interceptions per game than the teenage left-back (2.1). With a goal and an assist to his name, Gayá is an offensive threat for Los Che and it goes without saying that the 19-year-old is living up to his potential after being handed an opportunity to shine.
Marc Stendera (7.16) - Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt are perhaps the most entertaining team in the Bundesliga this season. Only Bayern Munich (39) have netted more league goals in Germany’s top tier this term than Die Adler (33), while only Werder Bremen (38) have conceded more goals than them (33).
The form of young Marc Stendera has been a particular highlight. Having directly contributed to 4 goals (2 goals and 2 assists) this season, he is Eintracht's most efficient non-striker in this regard, despite only having made 7 starts of a possible 15. Having featured sporadically in the last 2 seasons and at the start of this campaign, the 19-year-old has become a key member of Thomas Schaaf’s starting XI. The manager, having taken over the reins at the Commerzbank-Arena in the summer, must have spotted Stendera’s potential.
The youthful attacker has not let his boss down. With a WhoScored rating of 7.16, Stendera ranks among the top 5 Eintracht players to register at least 100 minutes of league action this season. With an average of 1.5 key passes and 1.5 successful dribbles per game, the teenager has the ability to spot a defence splitting pass or carry the ball forward to penetrate the opposition backline when needed, the latter of which has seen him develop a strength of 'dribbling'. Meanwhile, an average of 2.5 tackles per match shows he does not shy away from the physical battle or the defensive side of the game.
Calum Chambers (7.11) - Arsenal
"He (Chambers) is only 19 and can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield. I hope he will give us competition for the players in those three positions," Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger said after he signed the 19-year-old for £12m this summer. The former Southampton trainee, however, has become a regular feature in the Arsenal starting XI due to injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy.
The Gunners have underwhelmed thus far, but Chambers has impressed since making his league debut for the north London side in the 2-1 opening day win over Crystal Palace. The England international ranks among the top performers for tackles (2.3), interceptions (2.1) and clearances per game (4.1) of all Arsenal players in the Premier League this season.
Still only 19, bigger and better things are expected of Chambers in the future. He has already proven how capable a performer he is under Wenger, bar maybe one or two mistakes that can be ironed out with further playing time, and he will only improve as time goes on.
Marc-Oliver Kempf (7.04) - Freiburg
Marc-Oliver Kempf featured sporadically for Freiburg last season, but has performed admirably since coming into the side this term. The centre-back missed a substantial chunk of the season through injury but when he is fit, he has proven himself worthy of a starting berth at the heart of the Breisgau-Brasilianer backline.
Only Roman Bürki (7.12) and Vladimir Darida (7.07) have earned better WhoScored ratings of all Freiburg players this season than Kempf (7.04). Only defensive teammate Pavel Krmas (4.2) is winning more aerial duels per game than Kempf (4) of all Freiburg players, with the young centre-back utilising his 6”1’ frame.
However, it’s his reading of the game that stands out. Kempf has developed a statistically calculated strength of ‘ball interception’ and it’s little wonder that no Freiburg player is averaging more interceptions per game than him (2.6). Despite his tender years, the teenager has turned out a number of mature displays for his team and one would not put it past Kempf to go on to great things.
Which teenagers have stood out for you in Europe's top 5 leagues this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
