Ahead of the Game: Identify Child Football Prodigies here

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/07/article-1264310-0909B9D8000005DC-682_468x286.jpg

The littler the better. Then pop back in a decade so we can doff our caps.

companion thread to Sonny Pike, Cherno Samba, and other wunderkinds who didn't make it

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oMpZpdFCR4g/TEXUzxqyGKI/AAAAAAAABFo/G6qR9oF4hLA/s1600/academy1.png

Meet Delano van der Heyden, from that famous NYT article on the Ajax academy.

“You see, they will try to physically dominate him, but he will always seek a football solution. He always has a plan.” As the concentration of other boys drifted: “He is not looking at planes in the sky; he is looking at the ball.” At halftime, as Délano conferred with his father, who was coaching his team: “You see how nicely they are talking? You can tell he comes from a good nest.” Later, after Délano weaved through three boys and blistered a shot just wide of the goal: “This is unbelievable! At this age, I’ve never seen a player like this!”

Re: That Chelsea fella - looks a lot like Xabi Alonso in that clip. Hope he won't be forgotten now the Kiddie Cup is over for Chelsea.

When did Roman take over? He revamped the yuts and training straight away right? Would make sense that Chelsea are starting to see the goods come through about the same time as Arsenal.

been really bugging me pinnointing who mceachran plays like - he's more of a dribbler and less static than alonso i think.

nathan chalobah at chelsea is meant to be a big deal too but i'm still not sure if their (hella expensive and wasteful to date) youth system deserves any plaudits just yet.

flamini?

flamini wasn't really a playmaker though?

haha, thought for a second you were claiming him as a child prodigy rather than a comparison.

I keep hearing things about Celtic wonderkid Islam Feruz, but somehow never get round to actually checking him out.

The kid I mentioned on the Premier League thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mniWiIlJjA

Ok ok so... Barry?

cozen posted a video of some bayern kid a while back that looked pretty ridiculous, if i only could remember the namne

zidane's son is being fast tracked through the ranks at real btw, think we should keep an eye out.

they're delibarately not hyping/publicizing enzo zidane cuz obviously the kid will be deluged with attention if he gets within sight of the first team

just cavilling but....real madrid should be abbrevd madrid rather than 'royal' (also betis, sociedad etc)

'but there are other madrids. thats like using the 'manchester' part to refer to... either utd or city.

nobody refers to atletico as madrid (they're atleti) whereas ~madrid~ is always real madrid

Anyone remember this kid?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG47FDenyXw

Only recently found out that Spanish clubs all had to change their names back & forth in the 30s & 40s depending on who had the upper hand in the civil war and surrounding events. So Real *were* Madrid CF while the republican govt was in power, and for example Donostia had to become Real Sociedad when Franco cracked down on foreign & seditious tongues later.

'but there are other madrids. thats like using the 'manchester' part to refer to... either utd or city.

Is it not more like Inter and Milan?

http://arsenalyouth.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/afobeenglandstats.jpg?w=512&h=277

future kevin davies rite herre

http://www.theoffside.com/files/2008/09/gato-edgardo-obregon.jpg http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1354/elgato.jpg

here's Edgardo Obragon, or 'el Gato', an 11 year-old Mexican kid signed by Milan a couple of years ago and so far as I know still on their books (l-r el Gato, Big Feast, el Gato)

reminds me of a young tom huddlestone in that 2nd pic

article on nascent USA/MLS youth development (they're finally doing it right)

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-homegrownplayers

just turned on victory shield and wales u15 are beating english counterparts 4-0 after 40 mins- england have only lost one out of 27 previous fixtures in this tournament

u-16's

the prodigy that will never be tarnished by time

That is superb.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1998/gyasi.jpg

Meanwhile, here's 11-year-old Michael Gyasi, snapped up by Chelsea this week.

Dude looks intense

Masal Bugduv, amazing

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51290000/jpg/_51290390_sterling.jpg

"Youth team striker Raheem Sterling could become Liverpool's youngest first team player should he feature against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Sterling, who turned 16 in December and is on half-term holidays from school..."

Hadn't heard of this lad before, I reckon he qualifies as a child prodigy for another day at least.

Scored 5 of our 9 goals v Southend in the Youth Cup on Monday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31pxEs64z9s

Baerke van der Meij, VVV Venlo's eighteen-month old new signing. He'd already been at Arsenal a year.

callin bullshit

http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/clubtv-bear-vd-meij.htm

"My client can kick a ball into a toy box from not very far away" - European football off-season and transfer speculation thread 2030

a+

He's no Baerke van der Meij, but seven-year-old Leonel Angel Coira has joined Real Madrid.

there's no thread for the nextgen series right? spurs battering inter 6-1, 2 for coulibay and a hat trick (and a red card) for young croatian tomislav gomelt.

Was toying with going to the Celtic v Barca nextgen game tonight, but, um, didn't. We got beat 3-1, but sounded like a decent game. Might try to get along to one of the others.

I think this marks our first poached prodigy: Islam Feruz set to sign for Chelsea

'i don't think football is the main issue herre'

yup i'd much prefer to play scottish football than european and premiership football if given the chance, its just so much more enticing.

Turns out he already moved a couple of weeks ago. Still, spotters' badge for ailsa, and a fat cheque every week to the young lad.

Lost a Feruz, gained a McBean.

in other hyphenated American news...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/high-school-freshman-gedion-zelalem-may-join-arsenal-in-two-years/2011/09/17/gIQAUJyDgK_story.html

oh shit not actually american

If McBean genuinely is good enough for the usmnt, why on earth would he switch to Scotland?

Everton have agreed to sign 15-year-old Bradford City midfielder George Green in a deal that could eventually rise to £2 million.

Talks took place on Saturday, according to the Telegraph and Argus newspaper in Bradford, and a deal has been agreed that will see Everton pay almost £300,000 upfront plus bonuses based on appearances, new contracts and international appearances. A sell-on clause will also be included.

Bradford head of football development Archie Christie said Green, who has also attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, has the potential to be a leading star.

"This is one of the highest deals ever for a 15-year-old from a League Two club, but George is the best I've seen in his position at his age," he said. "He could become another Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne."

It's almost touching that there are still people who see being the next Paul Gascoigne as a good thing

George Green! He could be a stalwart from Preston's invincibles - it's like the footy equivalent of all those posh kids called Alfie or Rose.

Hold on, "head of football development Archie Christie" - what year is it in Bradford?

Everton, money?

(On the matter of names, I'm pretty sure that Jack McBean isn't remotely Scottish and his parents just decided to give him their idea of what a Scottish name would be.)

http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/10/remember-the-name-george-green/

whatever happened to Danny Gosling?

I like that article xp and it's churlish to criticise what is, after all, a pretty excellent exclusive - but gosh, it's hard work to read. Every sentence has mangled syntax or missing commas; it takes a couple of goes to work out what's being said.

I guess I'm saying well done ILF, you lot are a breeze to read and I don't usually notice.

Anyway, George Green - I'm a fan already.

TOP SCHOOLBOY SIGNINGS

Michael Woods & Tom Taiwo, Leeds to Chelsea, £5m, both aged 16, 2007
Jermaine Pennant, Notts County to Arsenal, £2m, aged 15, 1999
John Bostock, Crystal Palace to Tottenham, £2m, aged 16, 2008
Dean Parrett, QPR to Tottenham, £2m, aged 15, 2007
John Cofie, Burnley to Manchester United, £1m, aged 14, 2009
Scott Sinclair, Bristol Rovers to Chelsea, £1m, aged 16, 2005

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-490798/Meet-John-Bostock-aged-15-boy-Barcelona-buy.html

Chelsea have agreed to pay a staggering £2million to make an MK Dons youth-team player the most expensive 14-year-old in football.

Teenage sensation Oluwaseyi Ojo is viewed as one of the hottest prospects in English football, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all having tracked the youngster.

But Chelsea have won the race to sign the midfielder after making three offers for Ojo while he was playing for England Under 16s against Northern Ireland at Chesterfield on Wednesday.

The teenager was introduced as a half-time substitute and made an impact after two minutes, setting up Mason Bennett's second as England secured a 3-1 win.

The impressive cameo sparked an incredible series of bids from Chelsea during the game. Knowing that scouts from the country's other top clubs were also at the game, they made three bids in 45 minutes. MK Dons rejected the opening two offers before agreeing a package understood to be worth an initial £1.5million, plus another £500,000 in add-ons.

On paper it is not hard to see why Chelsea have paid a record fee paid for the 14-year-old - who joined the League One club in 2007.
Despite his tender age, Ojo has already been invited to train with Karl Robinson’s first team. Furthermore, he made his debut for the Dons’ Under-18 team aged just 13 and is already a fixture for the Under-16’s.

Chelsea’s youth coaches will take a closer look at Ojo upon his arrival at the club’s Cobham HQ before deciding which age group he should begin his Blues education.

i was pleasantly surprised to see he cited xavi iniesta and cesc as his ideals/idols

Derby County's new 15-year-old wonderkid Mason Bennett was prevented from making his debut because club officials were wary that he had to be up early for school the next morning.

Bennett - who is being tracked by Manchester City - looks set to make his first-team bow this weekend at Middlesbrough after being sidelined for the trip to Reading on Tuesday.

Clough said: 'It won't be a problem this weekend, because he's breaking up for half-term next week.'

Bennett was born on the day England beat Scotland at Euro 96 and will beat Derby's previous record holder Lee Holmes as the youngest player in their history by 169 days if he plays on Saturday.

http://i.imgur.com/xO9O7.png

omg best name ever

Led by Chelsea’s superb box-to-box enforcer Ruben Loftus-Cheek, this current crop of England starlets has real depth. Arsenal’s Jordan Brown, MK Dons’ Oluwaseyi Ojo and Aston Villa’s Dan Crowley all made impressions off the bench, showing a real swagger and style with the ball.

Manager Kenny Swain has a huge pool of talent to choose from, and will likely rotate his whole squad next time out against Wales. Expect more prospects to show themselves, including Alex Iwobi, a teenage Arsenal forward, and the nephew of Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha.

The future is looking good.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2051541/Former-Chelsea-starlet-Taiwo-I-let-down.html

La Masia isnt the be all and end all, if you look at the technically gifted players they produce how many good defenders have come out of it?

- Martin, Belfast, 21/10/2011 10:48

re: McBean -- Galaxy started a lot of youth this past weekend losing @ Houston

Perhaps the only bright spot of the match for the Galaxy involved a 16-year-old striker. Jack McBean, who hails from nearby Newport Beach, Calif., scored his first goal of the season as he made his MLS debut.

"Our academy is absolutely essential to us," said Parish. "For one thing, it helps us establish real deep roots in the community in which we play."

Palace have a tradition of promoting local heroes. Gary Issott, the academy chief, said: "London is hugely populated so we can draw on a good pool of players. And the demographics of our area works in our favour."

Moses went to school in South Norwood after arriving in this country from Nigeria and Zaha settled in the area having moved from the Ivory Coast.

Issott added: "A lot of African lads end up here, you just wait for them to walk through Heathrow or Gatwick."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZT10xoWHXBI

I had no idea Cruijff's grandson, 17 year old Jessua Andrea Angoy Cruijff, plays for the Latics! o_O

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-snap-up-prodigy-Charlie-Jackson-at-age-just-five-article830799.html

He would barely reach Wayne ­Rooney’s midriff, but football mad Charlie Jackson has been snapped up by Manchester United, aged five.

Old Trafford scouts spotted his incredible soccer skills when he was just three but had to wait until he was old enough to join their development centre.

Charlie now trains with top-rated youngsters almost all a year older than him. And coaches are tipping him as a future superstar.

Parents Andy and Claire, both 38, said they could not be happier he has joined the Reds, even though the family are all fans of bitter rivals Manchester City.

Accountant Andy said: “His idols are Joe Hart and Mario Balotelli and at first he was mortified that he was having to train with United, but he seems to be getting over that bit now. He loves it.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. Everywhere we go people notice him because of his ­football talent. People just stand and watch him. They can’t believe he’s only five because he’s so good.”

Charlie, who lives with his parents and older brother Jake, 12, in Denton, Greater Manchester, was spotted by United while playing at a local soccer scheme called Footytotz.

Andy said he has no long-term goals for his son. He added: “There’s no pressure, but it would be nice if he plays for City one day.”

i thought clubs in england arent allowed to sign anyone till 9? is this a case of 'man utd have an unofficial u5 kids group in the local kids leagues, before he can sign in 4 years time' or did the rules change?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/16/arsenal-robin-van-persie-son?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29

theo walcott

wayne rooney

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/18/article-2088046-0F829DE400000578-915_468x312.jpg

Chelsea have signed three brothers from the Luton youth squad for a five-figure sum each.

Twins Rio and Cole Dasilva, 12, as well as 13-year-old sibling Jay have joined the Chelsea academy after five years at Luton.

fuckin rio fuckin cole wtf

Rio, Cole and Jay Dasilva: proper made-up footballer names tbh

not a specific player but

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/sports/soccer/soccers-all-year-model-forces-high-school-players-to-choose.html

this is big news in the states, given the sheer number of kids playing the game

That's interesting. It accords with my own diagnosis that I've banged on about here before, that the US basically doesn't work hard enough at sport, and when it does work hard it does so completely haphazardly. Which is fine where you're the dominant league, competing only with yourself or maybe internationally with Lithuania or the Dominican Republic; but it's not a competitive approach for soccer.

The thing is that the American approach to sports in general looks far more attractive, sitting here, so in one sense this is a shame, a professional career replacing a college education as the aspiration. On the other hand, how good might Landon Donovan have been if he'd been hothoused? Where might Clint Dempsey be now?

“It’s awkward,” Enna said. “You look at LeBron James — he played for his high school and went pro. Why do we have to give it up?”

The opposition to this seems to half think that these kids are going to drop out of school? Whereas it just amounts to a v. well run after/out-of-school class, like getting high grade guitar lessons from a specialist guitar teacher.

Also it is great pointing to the likes of LeBron in the article but you have to wonder how many great atheletes America has missed out on by connecting it so severely with the education system, one that most critics could point to a Wire S4-esque situation of failure for a lot of kids.

I just read The Art of Fielding and ok, it is purposefully a literary novel about smart people but it makes it seem like half a college baseball team is working off genius. Whereas if I offered half a professional football team in this country that 500 page novel - about sports - to read, they'd look at me like i was asking them to do quantum physics. While it seems like European football is too busy preparing youngsters of potential to become footballers and nothing else, America doesn't seem to prepare them to become footballers unless they do it themselves, too busy going to college and whatever. A middle ground is needed.

Considering the CRAZY figure of how many people play football in America, it should produce more than 2 players worth exporting a year. I wonder how much of this failure is based on it being the 5th most popular sport. If basketball had such a worldwide hysteria and similar training systems, would America be as dominant as it is today? Or would they just bow their heads, understand they need to do it what is increasingly being called the 'Stoke City' method?

For advocates of the previous system, however — in which the Development Academy’s schedule typically broke for the scholastic season and players were free to join their school squads — the sacrifices required by this shift are too great. Dan Woog, the boys soccer coach at Staples High School in Westport, Conn., recalled the night his team won a league championship several years ago and a group of players showed up at a diner afterward with their championship medals around their necks.

Suddenly, the other customers in the diner — a majority of them Westport residents — stood up and spontaneously gave the players a standing ovation. The players beamed.

“They’re going to remember that the rest of their lives,” Woog said. “They felt like kings. That’s not going to happen in the academy.”

No, if they go to the academy they will be properly trained atheletes going for worldwide prestige, untold millions and the opportunity to become Americas first true soccer star. But you know, that one time as a teenager...

the point is the current system is rooted in communities and it allows a bunch of kids who have no chance of becoming professionals to be in the spotlight for a while.
doesn't matter how many kids play soccer, without a culture in the usa that follows and obsesses over it, i don't think it will produce great players. so many american players are immigrants or the children of immigrants and therefore have exposure to a soccer-obsessed culture.
interesting to read foreign opinions on us sport culture, but i have never thought that americans don't work hard enough on sports and i am pretty sure the art of fielding has absolutely noting to do with actual baseball.

also don't believe for a second that usa wouldn't dominate in basketball if other countries were crazy for it. more likely (to me) that usa would dominate soccer if it was the most popular sport here.

well yeah it doesnt seem like it even cares to be an accurate baseball novel. good read tho.

even now america most probably has enough people in it that obsess over football as a midsized european country albeit spread out over a landmass the size of Europe. If Portugal or Denmark or Croatia can produce the likes of Suker or the Laudrups or Figo, I don't think America are pulling their weight for their current soccer-culture, let alone American sporting culture.

Can't wait til China puts together an uber-team to put the NBA in its place

also don't believe for a second that usa wouldn't dominate in basketball if other countries were crazy for it. more likely (to me) that usa would dominate soccer if it was the most popular sport here.

― mizzell, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 14:43 (4 minutes ago)

This was regarding how they develop, fyi. In Brazil or Spain their college equiv. would be playing professionally and against the best, possibly at an international level for the three years someone would be at college learning Media Studies. It justs seems odd that you wouldn't encourage talented atheletes to be schooled to enhance their abilities the same way there are performing arts schools etc.

trust me, the most talented atheletes spend plenty of time getting coached and practicing in their college years. much much less time spent studying.

oh i dont doubt that

not exactly ahead of the game here as he's 17 and has already been spotted by a few bigger clubs and trained with Liverpool but this lad Joel Pohjanpalo is worth watching - a perfect hat-trick in two minutes in only his second senior game.

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

There's a kid who's obviously got it imo. Nice to see some domestic Finnish footy too. Feel for these journeyman pros though tbh, suddenly reduced to fodder for this child on his way to bigger things.

if ever he gets fat and useless, big joel pohjanpalo would be a great name for a big

i think the only suomi fitba ive seen was that clip from when roy hodgson was manager of their national team and an owl landed on the pitch

30th best league in Europe, apparently. Jari Litmanen's still going!

great 'when showboating goes wrong' example at the start of that vid.

yes, and the failed showboater could maybe have stood in front of the free kick or covered the unmarked guy who crosses for the goal

perkele!

also recently found out a friend's husband was once a gk in the finnish 2nd division. semi-pro team but sounded like a hell of a good time from his stories.

i sort of want to ask tuomas if he has heard of jari litmanen

AC Milan have paid over €500,000 for 14-year-old Hachim Mastour, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The attacking midfielder is reported to have been brought to the Italian giants’ attention by former San Siro manager Arrigo Sacchi.

The move from Reggiana has been confirmed by his agent Dario Paolillo, and the Serie A side’s vice-president, Adriano Galliani, believes the youngster needs to mature in a pressure-free environment.

Galliani went on record to say: “Mastour seems to have great qualities, but let’s not put too much pressure on him. Mastour is 14 years old. He's the future. But he’s still just a kid.”

According to reports, Milan have beaten Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter to the youngster's signature.

Full name Adryan Oliveira Tavares
Date of birth October 8, 1994 (age 17)

Scored a nice goal on his senior club debut last week. This video shows him mostly at the U-17 World Cup I think. To quote Ismael, "a kid who's obviously got it imo."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRZA4M-3Vio

THIS talented Irish player is set to take the football world by storm — after signing for Barcelona FC.

Zak Gilsenan, nine, from Castleknock, Dublin, has been snapped up by the Spanish giants after wowing scouts when he scored SEVEN goals in a trial.

The schoolboy saw off 400 other starlets to seal a place at the FCBEscola football academy — which has produced such famous stars as Xavi, Iniesta and Zak’s favourite player Lionel Messi.

Dad Stephen Gilsenan said the whole family will now up sticks and move to Spain to help the midfield ace follow his dream.

Stephen told the Irish Sun: “We were living in Australia when Zak was spotted by Spurs, who were running football camps over there.

Proud dad ... Stephen with Barcelona bound Zak
“We came home with the intention of letting Zak go to Spurs, but in the meantime we had a call from Barcelona. One of their former players saw him playing in Oz and recommended him to Barca.

“They offered Zak a trial in May and it was a great experience. It consisted of over 400 boys from all over the world. He was asked back in June when it was cut down to 90.

“Then in a match between the top 16 players, Zak just ran riot and scored seven goals. He was phenomenal. Then we heard back two weeks ago and they offered him a spot.”

Zak will be joined in Spain by Stephen, mum Claudia, brother Jamie and actress sister Danielle.

He will now come face-to-face with Ireland’s Galactico — Mayo lad John Joe Patrick Finn. In May we revealed how the youngster, whose dad is from Ballyhaunis, signed for the other Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

Seven goals ... Zak
Mining company worker Stephen said: “I know Zak is young to be doing this but kids are like a sponge at this age.

“People say we are mad but in Barcelona he will be educated in the best footballing techniques.

“All we can do is go and see how it develops. We know it’s ruthless over there. We don’t want him turned into a machine, we just want him to enjoy it. It’s his dream to play for Ireland.”

estimate percent chance zak gilsenan displaces paul mcshane from the left wing position prior to ireland's 3-0 loss to macedonia in the 2022 world cup qualifiers

Then in a match between the top 16 players, Zak just ran riot and scored seven goals

Hm, I can't help picturing a father who can't believe his luck. If Zak were really all that he'd be all blasé, talking about workrate and stuff, not about how he thought the third wheel looked like it was going to be a lemon but then it clicked onto a cherry and I'd like to thank me mam, barcelona and god.

Zak's the new Jon Chard imo.

he's got the hair of a Barcelona youth

http://www.balls.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/zak.png

telltale irish complexion and football skills tho

odds on trapp wondering if he can call him up today (messi already disproving the 'too small for the big time' theory)

You must be thinking of some other Trap. Check out the other kid mentioned in the article though. Might end up playing for Spain but it'd probably be worth it to have someone called John Joe Patrick Finn winning the World Cup

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01500/SNE0207B--5322_1500751a.jpg

judging by that pic he will be a boring defensive midfielder who will nonetheless win the world cup and the european championships before marrying a supermodel

JJ Patrick Finn and young Gilsenan should provide Robbie Keane the service he needs come 2022.

signs on the lads their folks moved off foreign, else they'd be getting the shite horsed out of them at minor gaa matches before deciding they'd rather take up accountancy

is that your secret origin

that was the fuckin high point, tbh

Chelsea now going to buy Eden's little brother, Thorgan.

Disappointed. I was hoping he was called 'Water' tbh.

signs on the lads their folks moved off foreign, else they'd be getting the shite horsed out of them at minor gaa matches

dublin u-9 football champion, 1991. official gaa medal and all.

Sonny Pike, Cherno Samba, and other wunderkinds who didn't make it

i played u-11 hurling for donegal, which may well be the lowest level at which one can partake in said sport tbrr

I'm still only 30 btw

sayin'

That Liverpool fan's top 100 youths list is enjoyable.

19. Baldo Di Gregorio (CB, Eintract Frankfurt)
20. Andres Iniesta (AM, Barcelona)

Baldo (great name for a centre-back btw) is currently playing for Gostaresh Foolad in the Iranian second division.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=DThjb_XyyoU

No mention of Foday Nabay here.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/7913738/City-target-talented-teen

Heh heh: Islam Feruz gets stroppy, has twitter account deleted. I think that's a first for one of our prodigies.

Have heard quite a few stories of him being a billy big-baws around Glasgow, walking off 5-a-side pitches in the huff if everyone doesn't worship his awesomeness etc.

good luck playing the big dog at Chelsea, sonny

hed have a hard time on blaize huh

estimate percent chance islam feruz has a better career than freddy adu

watching Tottenham-Barcelona in the NextGen series after reading raves about Barça Juvenil's #6 midfield pivot Sergi Samper - Xavi comparisons obviously, and Pirlo. He hasn't done much in the first half, Spurs have some good-looking players though, Coulibaly and a quick footed right winger who looks like Gareth Bale's little brother.

Glancing at their roster it appears that only 6 of 27 Juvenil players are black, but at least 4 are on the pitch right now, it's noticeable. I didn't realize La Masia was making inroads w/r/t racial diversity. The Reyes-Henry-Aragones incident was a while ago now, but iirc Laurent Blanc claimed there were no black players in the Spanish youth setup when defending his own country's quota system.

I can see that Samper is talented, very technical of course and excellent decision making on the ball, plus determined pressing. This side is much quicker in spreading play to the flanks than Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta teams normally are, so he's not as vital to the team's play. Wingers Alain Ebwelle and Adama Traore have been the standouts.

have you noticed Pritchard for Spurs? Blonde kid. i read reports that he was the best for Spurs

He looked good on the left, when he was played as more of an AMC Samper and the excellently named Macky Bagnack marked him out of the match.

Generally I thought quality of play was high and hope to watch more of this competition, provided my Saturday evenings continue to be dull.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2012/10/us-u-17-star-flores-signs-with-dortmund.html

bit positive reaction to this in us soccer circles

bit = big

Flores also signed a two-year deal with Nike, which kicks in immediately

Does this disqualify you from being a child prodigy? I dunno.

USA Under-17 international Junior Flores has claimed he has signed for Borussia Dortmund, but the German champions have denied that a deal has been done.

Flores, 16, has been monitored by several European teams, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, since impressing in the Nike International Friendlies tournament last year.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Dortmund had wrapped up a deal for the youngster, after speaking to the player's father.

"We're so happy about the Dortmund deal. We still don't believe it's really happening," Oscar Flores said.

However, by the time the news had made its way across the Atlantic to Germany, Dortmund's director of football Michael Zorc was quick to refute the claim that a deal had been finalised.

"We know him, he is an interesting boy. But there is no contractual relation", Zorc told Ruhr Nachrichten.

The confusion did not stop there though, as Flores took to his Twitter account to reassure his followers that the move had in fact gone ahead.

"I actually did sign with Dortmund and couldn't be any happier", he tweeted.

The reported four-year deal would not go into effect until March 2014, when Flores turns 18 and is eligible to begin his pro career.

Flores is an attacking midfielder currently is in his second year of full-time residency with the USA Under-17 program in Bradenton.

the plot sickens

I watched another NextGen match the other day, Wolfsburg 0-5 Barcelona - honestly though it was a match until the three late goals, I'm sure the Barça coach won't be happy with their defending or composure. Samper was really on another level than everybody else, but he can't catch the eye as an offensive playmaker too much because he's the deepest-lying of their midfielders, there's no Busquets type behind him. Wolfsburg had some good-looking players and were well suited to a counter-attacking style, just didn't finish any chances.

AC Milan have paid over €500,000 for 14-year-old Hachim Mastour, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The attacking midfielder is reported to have been brought to the Italian giants’ attention by former San Siro manager Arrigo Sacchi.

The move from Reggiana has been confirmed by his agent Dario Paolillo, and the Serie A side’s vice-president, Adriano Galliani, believes the youngster needs to mature in a pressure-free environment.

Galliani went on record to say: “Mastour seems to have great qualities, but let’s not put too much pressure on him. Mastour is 14 years old. He's the future. But he’s still just a kid.”

According to reports, Milan have beaten Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter to the youngster's signature.

― r|t|c, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 5:55 PM (3 months ago) Bookmark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1pN-3Wkg48

let’s not put too much pressure on him. Mastour is 14 years old. He's the future

I see.

Feel for the big no.9 at 1:03 tbh, taking it off Hachim's toe only to immediately hit traffic, whereupon Hachim only steps in and does that

I think Alen Halilovic of Dinamo Zagreb (born June '96) may have just become the second youngest player in Champions' League history after Celestine Babayaro.

Shaq Coulthirst scored a perfect hat trick in Spurs 4-1 away win against Barcelona in the next gen series today

Quality name too. Sounds like an energy drink.

Not So Keen On His Twitter Style Though. Those Capital Letters Get On Yr Tits After A While.

Shaq Coulthirst (ShaqCoulthirst) on Twitter
https://twitter.com/ShaqCoulthirst
Hot Girl Your Looking July, And The Rays Of Your Beauty God Should Have Put In The Sky... Expand Collapse. Reply; RetweetedRetweet; Delete; Favorited ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd9geQyy_pU

Not child prodigies as such, but the 100 best footballers age 21 and under according to IBWM.

Now including LFC's own (for now) Raheem Sterling.

P sure Eden Hazard was on their list last year so dunno why he's there again. Actually quite a few repeat players. Oops, and Joel Matip had a shocker at the weekend.

Also love that there is a club side in Bolivia called 'The Strongest' too.

Ailsa will be pleased to see that they've woken up and smelt the Wanyama at last.

And Tello makes the list. €10m buy-out clause for those interested in a Xmas bargain.

no Tony Watt no credibility

They mentioned him when talking about how they came to compile the list, he was thisss close to making it apparently, there's another Celtic kid on there tho I think.

Adam Matthews is a surprise inclusion. Unsung full back currently finding his opportunities limited with Lustig ahead of him in a 4-4-2 but seems to get the nod if we play 3-5-2 against deep-sitting domestic opposition. He has been preferred at left-back to actual left-footed left-backs at times this season so the manager clearly rates him - he did well there against Barca in the thankless task of continually chasing out to close down a wide player who has no intention of crossing the ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9S_E2NgSM8

not a child per se but i have been reading about a young chap by the name of ~ paul digby ~ whom i would like to hereby nominate for ilf adoption. 18 years of age, born in sheffield, bred in barnsley, and by god surely the future of modern english central midfield

http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/user_home/24/image/1845.jpg

oh yeah and he's 6ft 5 btw

you'd have to say the rugby union experience will stand to him.

Hell yeah, Diggers. What do we do with him? Is he ready for the full Jenk?

He came on for the injured David Perkins in the 33rd minute - 33, ironically, being his squad number also.[5]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/09/romeo-beckham-arsenal-football_n_3893024.html

idk if romeo beckham has actually signed on at arsenal youths or just said the same thing as every ten year old arsenal fan, that he wants to play for them one day. either way, heres yr next jordi cryuff.

man, David Beckham really has life sorted out

this chelsea kid on loan at mk dons patrick bamford looks an interesting prospect, tall but doesnt really play like it, mobile enough with fairly subtle technique... cross between flo and gudjohnsen sorta

is that one for the jabulani thread idk

McEachran was a pioneer there, what became of him?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWd1vmJIAAESZmK.jpg

that every single one of them is a full international and most of them are worth > £10m is an extremely rare occurence

i remember talking to someone who played in the 1997 under 17 world cup and they were reminiscing about playing vs xavi and casillas etc, but if you look at the spain squad there are a lot of people who ended up playing for cadiz or albacete or whatever

was it ronaldinho

English side Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid are among those battling it out for the signature of Nigeria youth international striker Macauley Chrisantus.

The 17-year-old finished as top-scorer at the Under-17 World Cup which ended in South Korea last week.

But the two clubs face stiff competition from a number of other top European sides who are also interested in the lanky striker.

His agent Adam Muhammad confirmed that Liverpool, Ajax, Arsenal and Marseille are among the many clubs interested in Chrisantus.

Muhammad told BBC Sport: "We have received at least 12 very serious offers from some of the top clubs in Europe like Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool for Chrisantus."

2012– Las Palmas 35 (10)

I thought dos Santos was going to be the best player in the world after watching him and Vela take apart Brazil in the 2005 under 17s

Anderson actually won player of the tournament though

lol

the dude i was talking to played for new zealand who ended up with a creditable -22 goal difference

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/11/08/sports/BARCELONAsilo/BARCELONAsilo-articleLarge.jpg

Ben Lederman, 13, is the first United States-born player invited to train at La Masia

Anderson actually won player of the tournament though

lol

― Number None, Tuesday, 15 October 2013 17:12 (3 weeks ago) Bookmark

i wonder what kind of defensive midfielder ronaldinho would be now if fergie had signed him

wasn't Fergie's fault he broke his leg tbf

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/claudio-nancufil-the-new-lionel-messi-attracting-interest-from-barcelona-and-the-premier-league-at-the-age-of-eight-8967619.html

Manchester City have won the battle for Brahim Abdelkader Diaz.

The 14-year-old from Malaga has been dubbed ‘the new Messi’ and Sportsmail revealed in October that City were fighting Barcelona for his signature.

City have paid £300,000 up front for Diaz, with the final deal worth £2.4million depending on what he achieves at the club.

Luis Suarez’s agent Pere Guardiola, brother of Pep, has been involved in negotiations about a player who is touted to be worth between £30m-£40m once he develops.

http://imageshack.com/a/img7/8435/fjmz.jpg

Madchester revival combo The Flare Mules

Martin Ødegaard

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_%C3%98degaard

Apparently Celtic are chasing this lad. Already playing and scoring for his club at 15.

Barnsley midfielder and England Under 20 star Paul Digby was one of three players drafted in by England head coach Roy Hodgson today, to train with the senior national squad.

England captain Wayne Rooney was one of the first players to welcome the young trio to the training session.

joe gomez btw

Meanwhile, here's 11-year-old Michael Gyasi, snapped up by Chelsea this week.

― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 16 October 2010 10:45 (3 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Now at Leicester U15s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y5UrULk29U

His twitter account is fascinating both in its view into a future galacticos head and how junior awesomefest it is.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/ng-interactive/2014/oct/13/next-generation-2014-20-of-the-best-talents-at-premier-league-clubs

graun doing a 7-up type thing

lol at newcastle's peterborough-born pirlo wannabe "stefan broccoli"

ha im glad someone linked to that

seen a bit of dominic solanke and he does look the real deal imo

other than willock vaguely i havent heard of any of the rest

the only one i was aware of previously is the chelsea one solanke
its notable how among the cast of gawky adolescents, he already looks like an elite football player
no idea whether he is or not just his photo has that air of mesomorphic composure that makes you want to pay him 18k a week even before he has learnt to drive

matty hinchlcliffe the 17 yr old 'commanding centre half' (a type more specific than mere 'central defenders') with the receding hairline is some sort of realness infanta going on the full queen

yes i enjoyed him and his tiny round head on massive collar

solanke is as you describe, allstar all american prepack perfect jock kinda vibe (lol only a month older than utd's 9-yo rashford) but where usually the brit version will eventually translate that into physical simpleton (spurs' caulkeresque carter-vickers probably awaits this fate) he seemed uncallow and professionally adroit, unblinkingly first team ready

just geography i suppose but still so many of these kids are appealingly cliche wrt their parent clubs. "may initially be back on the flank a la wilfiried zaha and sean scannell" was probably a bit too cruel on the palace lad. dunno where we found our big phil jonesy side of ham mind

"is growing in stature under the tutelage of (...) Paul Furlong"

royston drenthe was always a bit kicknrush even when he won the best player award at the 2007 european championships but there is no way he should be playing for sheffield wednesday at 27, he was already a solid la liga player as a kid

was this prompted by his 101 sunday league skillz video yday

there is no way he should be playing for sheffield wednesday at 27

when he ran past our whole team to score at the valley a few months back it was slightly irritating for exactly this reason

Drenthe is the archetypal Dutch young gun that went abroad too soon imho. Went to Madrid, couldnae hack it, then played everywhere and nowhere (including Alania Vladikavkaz, and saying that with no disrespect). Embarrassing pleas wanting to join Feyenoord again every other year. I'm feeling for the guy.

His trick yday was nice though.

Indy Boonen

hey Coulibaly plays in Scotland now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFvN5IFBFLk

you know who else plays for Kilmarnock? George "another Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne" Green.

Yeah, that was amazing.

Unrelated but nice to see that delightful Georgian pixie child Jano Ananidze seems to have come good this season too.

Doubly great as it spurred Celtic on to score six goals in reply.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/24/alessando-cupini-roma-us-soccer-sensation-social-media

The 10-year-old US soccer sensation and social media star snapped up by Roma
Alessandro Cupini has more than 40,000 followers on Instagram and his own pitch in his basement in Kansas City which he will soon be leaving to join the Serie A club, getting around Fifa’s youth regulations thanks to dual-citizenship

Baniyas[edit]
Drenthe joined UAE Pro League side Baniyas Club in September 2015.[34] He was released in July 2016.[35]

Retirement[edit]
Unable to find a club, Drenthe has since then announced that he is 'no longer a footballer', and 'fed up with all the stuff in the football world', dedicating himself to rap instead.[36]

Youssoufa Moukoka. Twelve years old, playing with the U-17's, racking in the goals.

This should have been Pandemic's call tbh goddamnit

Zlatan Sehovic, a 17 year old left-back, made his first team debut for Partizan in a Europa league qualifier tonight, contributing an assist. Apparently one to watch for the future.

Aminu Mohammed, who has looked exceptional in youth competitions and in the Ghanaian league, is going to be playing for Breda (on loan from Man City, obviously) this season. Could be worth looking out for.

"Youth team striker Raheem Sterling could become Liverpool's youngest first team player should he feature against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Sterling, who turned 16 in December and is on half-term holidays from school..."

Hadn't heard of this lad before, I reckon he qualifies as a child prodigy for another day at least.

― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 16 February 2011 12:13 (seven years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

found out klata

found out

Dejan Joveljić, 18 year old striker for Crvena Zvezda looks no bad

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5979783/Bayern-Munich-talks-15m-Vancouver-Whitecaps-teenager-Alphonso-Davies.html

Cracking 17 year old Canadian winger being eyed by Bayern Munich, probably going to break the record for a signing rom the MLS

Alphonso Davies to Bayern Munich is a done deal. Fee is around 13 million euros with substantial add ons that could make the entire package worth a record https://twitter.com/KristianJack/status/10217936728940011520 million. Davies will remain with the Whitecaps for the rest of the season.

— Kristian Jack (@KristianJack) July 24, 2018

I know its only pre-season friendlies but I've been impressed by 18 year old English kid Jadon Sancho for Dortmund

ah cmon mike that fella has been in the papers 2 years!

the prodigy that will never be tarnished by time

― ilxinho (nakhchivan), Saturday, 16 October 2010 00:29 (eight years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

at some stage galway advertiser editor declan varley has outed himself as the culprit here

Anssumane Fati, 16, starting for Barca against Valencia tonight.

And scores after two minutes.

Too old, at 19, to be a proper prodigy but Alf Inge Haaland’s son Erling has just scored a hat trick in the first half of his CL debut - taking his total for the season to 17 goals in 9 games.

some 16 year old scored the winner at the valley for brum the other day but it was a tap-in cos we forgot how to defend so prodigy status is on hold idk

Tap in's still - literally - miles away from kicking a ball into a skip from quite far away. Supposed prodigy cancelled.

Ya ex-Spurs boy and English player Madueke (17) bagged another two goals for PSV today.

Musah (17-y-o, ex-Arsenal) has just scored his first goal for Valencia too.

^^^and accepted a call-up from the US apparently

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10116025/Arsenal-sign-FIVE-YEAR-OLD-nursery-dubbed-little-Messi.html

In April 2020, it was reported that Feruz had given up football to set up a company selling designer caps.

Tempted to wiki every single prodigy mentioned in this thread, but could be a long and depressing task.

Alphonso Davies has to be the most successful at this point, I would guess?

Dele Alli will come good mark my words

Gaga from Chicago has been attracting attention. He played well as starter for a shitty team the last third of the season or so. My friend's little brother is super tight with him, says it's been a wild ride for the dude.

https://www.90min.com/posts/gabriel-slonina-attracting-interest-serie-a-bundesliga-la-liga-transfers

Lamine Yamal crowned becoming the youngest men’s player in Spain’s history by scoring in his country’s 7-1 win against Georgia.

Yamal, aged 16 years and 57 days, came on as a first-half substitute in the Group A Euro 2024 qualifier, to break the record set by Gavi in 2021 when the Barcelona star was aged 17 years and 62 days.

some 16 year old scored the winner at the valley for brum the other day but it was a tap-in cos we forgot how to defend so prodigy status is on hold idk

― imago, Tuesday, 17 September 2019 19:52 (three years ago) bookmarkflaglink

Tap in's still - literally - miles away from kicking a ball into a skip from quite far away. Supposed prodigy cancelled.

― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 17 September 2019 19:55 (three years ago) bookmarkflaglink

jude bellingham fyi

sharivari getting erling haaland in just before I said that besting me yet again, curses etc

Everton have agreed to sign 15-year-old Bradford City midfielder George Green in a deal that could eventually rise to £2 million.

Talks took place on Saturday, according to the Telegraph and Argus newspaper in Bradford, and a deal has been agreed that will see Everton pay almost £300,000 upfront plus bonuses based on appearances, new contracts and international appearances. A sell-on clause will also be included.

Bradford head of football development Archie Christie said Green, who has also attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, has the potential to be a leading star.

"This is one of the highest deals ever for a 15-year-old from a League Two club, but George is the best I've seen in his position at his age," he said. "He could become another Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne."

Currently playing for Thackley in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

I didn't mean to single that guy out but that one jumped out at me. Frankly, most of these guys went on to have totally mediocre and occasionally disastrous careers. Which I find somewhat depressing tbh.

THIS talented Irish player is set to take the football world by storm — after signing for Barcelona FC.

Zak Gilsenan, nine, from Castleknock, Dublin, has been snapped up by the Spanish giants after wowing scouts when he scored SEVEN goals in a trial.

Now 20 and playing for Blackburn Rovers, he hasn't actually played a league game for any team yet but I notice he played one game for the Ireland under-21 team this year - and scored! Fingers crossed we don't have another George Green on our hands.

come on ye poison green

i think the vast majority who show class at a young sge are destined to not need to find either the work ethic or professionalism or ego management traits or whatever might support them through the slow emergence into consistent first team talents

most hyped 19 year olds seem to lose their way ffs, let alone tadpoles as featured itt

Is this where we talk about Baby Gronk?

Baby Gronkjaer lol