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The number of youth players making an impact on the modern game is on the rise. These youngsters are attracting attention of the world due to their exceptional talent and scintillating display of football on a consistent basis, and no doubt ever increasing television coverage of the game makes these players even hotter because they are constantly visible on the screen with a notable performance on a regular basis. Thus they become a source of inspiration and entertainment for millions of youngsters watching the game from most parts of the world. It is not that World Cup is the only source of watching best of football these days, as majority of European leagues throws up quality games and players. These leagues are keenly followed and discussed these days in many parts of the world.
These players are playing a very significant role in shaping the destiny of their respective teams with that extra energy, passion, magic, surprise, quality and entertainment. Thus games are becoming highly competitive and there is no room for under performance. In international football so much is at stake, that nothing is left for chance. Therefore, clubs are on hunt for best possible talents and for players who can perform at the big stage, no matter what their age may be.
Mostly the young guns are making headlines by their performances and facts are indicating towards new generation of players who are able to make a significant impact in the performances of their respective teams with that extra energy, skills, pace, power and passion. We could not get to see much from these youngsters during World Cup 2006, except few glimpses of hope, talent and potential, but as soon as they left the world cup stage they started playing their significant part for their respective club teams. They started to show their talent with much ease and consistency with their club side, and of course, they played with authority and maturity. The experience at Word Cup had certainly helped many of these players to grow in confidence and strengthen their belief.
Last month world got the glimpse of genius from Lionel Messi while playing for Barcelona. He scored a beautiful goal in the Spanish League match by beating 7 players starting from his own half. Believe me, he did something which was expected from him, but that goal made football fans all over the world start comparing him with his idol Diego Maradona since Maradona too scored a similar kind of goal against England in 1986. (That was a World Cup match, of course a bigger stage). The goal from Messi was an exceptional one and goals of that nature can only be produced by exceptional players with special talent and passion. Messi, nearly 20 years old is playing a significant role in the success of Barcelona club and is expected to replace Ronaldinho sooner or later as the top star of the Barcelona.
It is not only Messi who is ruling the heart of football fans but there are many others, and look out how step over boy Cristiano Ronaldo is performing for Manchester United. Though it is a different story he could not re-produce his form in the crucial away match against AC Milan in the second leg of UEFA Champions League semi-final. He has been consistently performing for MU in this season and was thus declared Professional Footballers’ Association “player of the year� in England and not only that, he was also declared youth player of the year by PFA. His good performance made the Football Writers Association to vote him as their best player. A Hat-trick of awards and EPL Champion with MU, what more anyone can demand from a 22 year old Portuguese international? These players have one thing in common, that is they are not shy or hesitant to show what they know and what they are good with, and they combine well with their energy.
Look at how Theo Walcott was selected in England team for FIFA World Cup 2006. Although as a 17 year old he did not get any significant opportunity to prove his inclusion in the team, but with Arsenal he is getting regular time in the field. He is also shaping up well under Arsene Wenger and whenever he is in action, he always reminds how good talent he is and what may come from him in the years to come for Arsenal and England. Arsenal is not an ordinary club, a big club with big ambitions and now at 18 Walcott is playing regular football against top clubs.
After Patrick Vieira left Arsenal, many thought that he will be difficult to replace in the midfield for Arsenal but Arsenal had in its armory Cesc Fabregas, who was playing alongside Patrick Vieira for Arsenal from the age of 17 years and at 19 years he is now the heart of Arsenal. Look at his performances in EPL and Europe, he is controlling the midfield with such an authority as if he was in the trade for more than a decade. The Spaniard will be difficult to contain at Arsenal and may end up with Real Madrid or Barcelona in next few seasons. In the Arsenal team there are many youngsters and majority of them are full of quality. Consistent expression of quality play by Arsenal young guns only strengthens the belief that quality player development programme will continue to produce such youngsters for big stage.
Wayne Rooney of Manchester United, a player with power, pace, passion and proficiency in football skills made a debut for England at the age of 17 years in 2003. Rooney is a product with lot of expectation and hope from him, that he has proven more than once. He is playing a significant role for MU and England. Rooney was leading the attack for England in World Cup 2006 but due to long lay-off before the World Cup he could not display the kind of form he was in just before injury or during Euro 2004. He single handedly lead England to victories in Euro 2004 but the moment he was out of the squad with injury England team collapsed. He is such an aura for the team and opponents that everything changes with his presence in the team. He is expected to help England to end their trophy less years sooner or later.
Real Madrid is struggling to catch their arch rival Barcelona and many pundits think that stars at Real Madrid are certainly not getting younger and they need youth power to bounce back. They have two youngsters -Sergio Ramos and Robinho aged 21 and 22 years respectively. Robinho before signing for Real Madrid played for Santos and he is destined to do wonders for Real and Brazil in the years to come. He has so far not been able to come up with consistent performance as expected from him, but surely, if he stays with Real, with his quality he can make the club climb back to the top of Europe.Another player with lot of expectations is Sergio Ramos. This Spanish international is just 21 and is playing regular games for Real. Ramos too is an upcoming (brightest) star of Spanish football. Though he is a defender, but loves to attack and score goals.AC Milan will meet Liverpool FC in the finals of UEFA Champions League 2007 on 23rd May in Athens thanks to the stand-out performance of one of the players through out the campaign of Champions League 2007 - a Brazilian international attacking midfielder, Kaka. Performance by this 24 year old for AC Milan and Brazilis a joy to watch and his touch for ‘goal’ is sublime. His energy is tremendous and he covers on an average 11 km in a game for AC Milan while keeping things as simple as possible.
Liverpool FC too has signed a few important young players and some of them are already making their mark in the field with first rate performances. The goal from defender Daniel Agger in the second leg semi-final match against Chelsea was special and his defensive qualities are also praise worthy. Another young defender signed by Benitez is Gabriel Paletta, just 21 years old from Argentina, and his countryman Javier Mascherano, also a good signing for Liverpool and both may settle well for Liverpool by the beginning of next season. Mascherano’s Argentinean team mate Carlos Tevez, who is 23 year old is also grabbing the headlines with his powerful performances for West Ham United. The club may survive in the EPL partially due to Tevez’s exploits. He is a big signing for West Ham and in Argentina Tevez and his team mate Messi is labeled as the “new Diego Maradona�. Maradona himself once described Tevez as the “Argentinean prophet for the 21st century�. West Ham fans are being entertained by Tevez lately, he was not an instant hit in West Ham because he was not used to the pace and power of EPL since he was playing for Corinthians and Boca Juniors in Brazil and Argentina respectively before joining Hammers. He took time to settle in and now he is showing his real class. That is why he is currently regarded as one of the most promising prospects in world football.
Lukas Podolski of Germany who was declared the best young player of FIFA World Cup 2006 signed a big club Bayern Munich after the World Cup. The young striker with his performance for the host country in the World Cup 2006 made a big statement with few important goals. He is without doubt a player to watch in Bundesliga. His other two mates Philipp Lahm, defender and Bastian Schweinsteiger, midfielder are still young with good future for Germany and Bayern Munich.
In Holland the most talked about player is Klaas Jan Huntelaar, striker playing for Ajax, he is called the rising star of Dutch Football and his age is 23 years. He has come up with superlative performances for Ajax in this season, the Dutch National Coach Marco Van Basten will find it difficult to ignore him. Ajax has always produced quality players and they do have one of the best player development programme.
Arjen Robben, Dutch international of Chelsea has the flair and pace, and is entertaining to watch whenever he is fit. He is reaching his 24th birthday and he is very effective in the flanks and mostly shakes the opponent’s defense with his quick change of pace and tricks. He is very successful with Chelsea and I think he has the ability to reach higher heights and the best from him is still to come. Robben’s team mate Michael Essien, a Ghanaian, a utility player for Chelsea is a big hit among Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge. He is full of energy and making a name for himself by his remarkable performances on regular basis. He is successful in every position he is playing for Chelsea and moreover he scores crucial goals for Chelsea. He will positively progress to a new level in coming years as he will mature more while playing for Chelsea and Ghana, and remember that age is with him to achieve many milestones in future. He is only 23 years old.
Aaron Lennon who is just 20 plays for Tottenham Hotspur, is also a promising player to watch. Lennon did play for England in the World Cup 2006 as a substitute to David Beckham. He has terrific speed with ball and in his attacking midfield role he looks deadly and effective. Lennon’s team mate at Spurs Jermaine Jenas is another youngster who fits well in the centre midfield attacking role and expected to figure in the England’s national team scheme of things sooner or later.
James Milner of Newcastle United is another young property to watch out. He is there in the EPL stage for last 4 years and is not disappointing his fans whenever he was given the opportunity.
What all you have read is just a glimpse of new generation of players. There are many more players like them playing for different teams across Europe and South America.
The significant reason for so many youngsters getting into top clubs of the world is not just happening by chance but it is due to sincere hard work of many experts and institutions in developing youth players. Player development by club is very important and it is a process which is the result of careful planning, serious scouting, providing the required facilities, careful supporting, expert handling, support of sports sciences and sports medicine, creating conducive environment around young players, and right kind of exposure to competition at right time, etc.,
The sea of youngsters performing in top stage of world football only indicates that future of football is bright and in the years to come the average age of the team is going to go down further. Long live football.
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