Fewer and fewer young players make it into the Bundesliga teams. A lack of game practice, lack of courage for the clubs and trainers, but also structural problems are the reasons.
There were clear words that are rarely heard by the German Football Association (DFB). “We are not good enough and have to get better”said Hannes Wolf recently. The “director of youngsters” at the DFB is anything but satisfied with the development of the permeability of youth players in the professional team of Bundesliga clubs.
“We have great talents, but are not good enough in development”said Wolf. “If in the end much fewer players can get through in the top area than elsewhere, this is probably not due to the players, but because of the system.”
Declining development
Not only Wolf is dissatisfied, quite a few football fans have had the feeling for some time that the clubs prefer to use foreign leagues on the player market than they give the local talents a real chance. The fact that this feeling does not deceive the supporters can be given.
As the German Football League (DFL) announced, the proportion of U-21 players used is declining in the overall playing period in the Bundesliga in the past five years. In 2020/21 it was still 12.4 percent, which meant second place in the European top league comparison, the 9.5 percent in 2024/25 only ranked fourth. “The top position in the use of young talents has had the French for years Ligue 1 Inne (17.3 percent) “according to the DFL in your benchmark report 2024/25.
And the percentage of all U21 players with local nationality has also decreased by 0.1 percent to 4.9 percent slightly and is already at a very low level in Germany (La league at 8.8 percent, Ligue 1 at 11 percent). Even though all professional clubs have to hold up to young performance centers (NLZ) and develop their own talents.
Many games at a high level
“The quality in training has basically increased through the young performance centers. Almost all of the 2014 world champions were to BEgg game in an NLZ, but still stayed in their family environment, “says Frank Baumann, long -time managing director of football at Werder Bremen and current sports director at Schalke 04, the sports show.
“I believe that this has a lot of advantages. In my opinion, many change of club are not an advantage for the development of young people, neither human nor sporty”according to the 49-year-old. This was recognized on the part of the DFL and possible changes “Made more to enable more continuity”.
Baumann sees above all an important way to develop more top talents. “I am a great advocate of letting many young players play at the highest possible level. Just like Thomas Müller or Philipp Lahm, who only played at Bayern in the 3rd division before they caused a sensation in the Bundesliga”according to the Schalke sports director, who only played his first Bundesliga game even after a development time in the lower leagues at the age of 23.
Financial incentives for the 3rd division
However, in order to be able to use more young players in the 3rd league, financial incentives for the clubs would have to be created there. This has already worked in the 2nd league, said Baumann.
At the moment, it is regulated by the DFL that a total of four percent of national TV media revenue flow into the promotion of young talent (approx. EUR 46–50 million in total) of the second division clubs.
These funds are distributed proportionately, according to the minutes of young players, which are trained in Germany, and the scope of their training in the respective clubs.
“The clubs can earn a lot of money if they use young players. And in the 3. League there is already a pot”, “, So Baumann, who is also a advocate of a two -part 3rd league to have even more clubs in which the talent can gain experience.
Fewer Movement talent
And a secret of active talent development is also in the interaction between head coach and the club. There is so much pressure, so much fluctuation, so many changes. You have to give the coach the support to use young players again and again, even if it didn’t work. You need courage on both sidessays Baumann from many years of experience.
The talent development for the sporty Bundesliga elite is an extremely complex process with many individual characteristics. Nevertheless, Baumann sees a development with discomfort. “In my view, there are fewer and fewer movement talents because society has changed and there are other offers for leisure”, So the ex-international.
These findings must be countered with increased specialization. Also in the training of youth trainers, for example, where, for example, age experts could analyze their years. “There are still talents, but we have to look closely as clubs and constantly adapt our training. So Baumann.