With his debut goal against Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht newcomer Younes Ebnoutalib writes the history of the game. And shows why it can become important for the Hessians.
Some stories just seem inevitable in football. Actually too good to be true, as an observer you still suspect that this is exactly why they simply have to happen. As if football, this big dream machine, absolutely had to keep running.
For example, whoever you asked around Eintracht Frankfurt before the game against Borussia Dortmund how this game should ideally go, i.e. what the perfect story of the game would look like from Eintracht’s point of view, the answer you heard was the name Younes Ebnoutalib. The Frankfurt boy, the prodigal son, who returned home after a long odyssey and the absence of football, please score a goal.
The little one injustice of fate
So then: 71st minute, a wonderful pass into the depths by Arnaud Kalimuendo, a free path for Ebnoutalib and 60,000 spectators getting out of their seats. One or two contacts, once caressed the ball with the sole, as if the hit needed that little pinch of sugar, then the finish. And ecstasy. “It’s an indescribable feeling. Celebrating in front of the curve was very awesome,” said Ebnoutalib happily after the game. “When celebrating the goal, I showed the 4-3-9, the postal code for the northwest city (derived from 60439, editor). With that I greet my family and friends.” He gave his jersey to his brother in the stands immediately after the game.
It is a small injustice of fate that BVB snatched the victory from the Hessians in the 96th minute and the game ended 3-3. But that doesn’t change Younes Ebnoutalib’s little fairy tale. The man has been a Bundesliga professional for almost two weeks, a year ago he was still playing in the regional league, then the rapid rise in the second division at Elversberg, where he slipped into the first eleven due to injuries to the competition and exploded.
Krösche: “He played a very good game”
Then return home. A story as if dreamed up by Hollywood, extremely fast, wonderfully cheesy. It’s no surprise that Ebnoutalib seemed like a little boy in a toy store in the interviews after the game. “I’m just happy the ball went in.” Someone is living their dream.
For which he gave everything. “I always worked a lot and always tried to accept things I was doing wrong from my coaches and improve myself. I listened,” said Ebnoutalib. An ethos that you can see straight away on the pitch. Ebnoutalib is not above rolling up his sleeves as he was an unpleasant opponent for the experienced BVB defense. “I’m happy for Younes, he played a very good game, worked for the team against the ball, tied the central defenders and rewarded himself with his goal,” praised Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche.
In fact, during Ebnoutalib’s debut you could also see away from the goal what Eintracht were hoping for from him. The 22-year-old brings a good deal of emotionality and dynamism, took on several opponents on several occasions and forced Niklas Süle and Waldemar Anton into tactical fouls.
Toppmöller: “He did very well swam free”
He also has a good feel for running routes in depth. “He swam free very well. He wore himself out extremely, drew yellow cards, went where it hurt,” said Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller. “And then he was rewarded with a great goal. Younes has a good sense of when to get away from the opponent’s back, he has good depth. He does that brilliantly.”
It remains to be seen how lasting the first impression is; there were already a few stars in Frankfurt that quickly burned out again. But the beginning of a special story has been written. Whether she has a long-term happy ending is now up to Younes Ebnoutalib himself.
