Young Europa League Stars

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The road to Gdańsk resumes on Thursday night. And some under-23s will be looking to raise their profile by lifting the Europa League trophy come the end of the season. Here is a look at a selection of them.

Bukayo Saka

Born: September 2001

Nationality: English

Club: Arsenal

Last-32 tie: Olympiacos vs Arsenal

Career start: data inconclusive

The left-footer scored twice and provided four assists in just four appearances in this season’s Europa League group stage. Saka, who was born and raised in the London Borough of Ealing, is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy and has already made four Premier League starts this year under new head coach Mikel Arteta (registering a further two assists). It remains to be seen whether and how much the Spaniard will rotate his squad for the Europa League knock-outs, but – considering Arsenal went all the way through to the final of the competition last season – Saka and co will be fancying their chances of going one better this time.

Bukayo Saka impressed as an attacking left-back in Arsenal’s win over Newcastle United last Sunday.

Mason Greenwood

Born: October 2001

Nationality: English

Club: Manchester United

Last-32 tie: Club Brugge vs Manchester United

Career start: aged six

Another 18-year-old left-footer on this list, the striker has four goals in his five Europa League appearances so far this season. Greenwood, who was born in Bradford, joined Manchester United’s development centre in nearby Halifax at the age of six before progressing through the club’s academy ranks. He has come off the bench in every league game but one so far in 2020 – scoring on one occasion – and will be hoping to continue making an impact from the start in European competition.

Despite being left-footed, Mason Greenwood tends to take penalties with his right foot.

Pedro Neto

Born: March 2000

Nationality: Portuguese

Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Last-32 tie: Wolves vs Espanyol Barcelona

Career start: aged eight

The (also) left-footed winger has been a regular in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side since the turn of the year – scoring his first two Premier League goals. Neto is originally from the North of Portugal and only joined Sporting Braga’s youth system at the age of 13. Wolves have approached the Europa League seriously and who knows how far they could go in this competition, quite possibly with Neto starting in their usual attacking trio.

Kai Havertz

Born: June 1999

Nationality: German

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Last-32 tie: Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Porto

Career start: aged four

The tall attacking midfielder found no joy in the Champions League group stage having neither scored nor assisted a goal against Juventus, Atlético Madrid and Lokomotiv Moscow. Havertz had been at amateur club Alemannia Mariadorf until the age of 10 before he was signed by Alemannia Aachen and then – just a year later – Bayer Leverkusen. With the Werkself now in the Europa League, another potentially tricky opponent awaits, but if the… left-footed Germany international could transfer his solid Bundesliga form (three goals and one assist so far in 2020) into the European competition, Peter Bosz’s side might prove to be the Europa League’s surprise package come spring.

Kai Havertz’s game intelligence is of the highest order.

Myron Boadu

Born: January 2001

Nationality: Dutch

Club: AZ

Last-32 tie: AZ vs LASK

Career start: data inconclusive

The forward has four Europa League and thirteen Eredivisie goals to his name already this term as well as a total of eight assists. Born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents, he had played for amateur side SC Buitenveldert before joining the AZ Academy at the age of 13. The currently second-placed team in the Dutch top-flight may not necessarily be favourites against their Austrian Bundesliga table-topping opponents, so Boadu has a great opportunity to put on his scoring boots again.

Although right-footed, Myron Boadu often scores goals on his weaker side, too.

Wenderson Galeno

Born: October 1997

Nationality: Brazilian

Club: S.C. Braga

Last-32 tie: Rangers vs S.C. Braga

Career start: data inconclusive

The wide forward is Europa League’s joint-best – along with Saka – assist maker so far this season. Galeno was signed, initially on loan, by Porto at the age of 18 despite having never been part of any big-club academy in his homeland. Sitting third in their domestic league on the back of an away win against leaders Benfica, Braga could be hopeful of progressing through to the last sixteen of the European competition.

Galeno has already proved he is not only a provider, but also a goalscorer.

In the picture: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (found here)

Published by wofalenta

Having spent the last six years of my professional career in children's football - as coach, manager, journalist - I keep asking myself the question: "how come...?" How come that a four-year-old who seems to possess so much natural footballing ability, decides to stop playing football altogether just a few years later? And the opposite. How come that a kid who did not initially seem that much interested in football, goes on to become the best player in his age group? By setting up this blog, I intend to research and then share what it takes to make the #breakthrough into senior football while focusing predominantly on the foundation phase of player development. You can follow me on this journey here or on Twitter: @wofalenta If you have any resources or ideas on the subject that you would be kind enough to share with me - or would like to contribute to the blog - please send me a message on LinkedIn (Wojciech Falenta) or email me at wofalenta@gmail.com

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