FC Bayern may have a new super talent in its ranks. Homegrown player Frans Krätzig was allowed to play in the Bundesliga for the first time in Munich’s 7-0 win. He then thanked his sponsors.
“I am overjoyed and proud to have made my Bundesliga debut for this big club,” said 20-year-old Frans Krätzig to club media after the clear win against VfL Bochum on the fifth Bundesliga matchday.
The youngster was sent onto the pitch by head coach Thomas Tuchel after 65 minutes – when the score was 5-0 from FC Bayern’s perspective. Left-back Alphonso Davies made room for the left-footer.
Krätzig then expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he had received: “A dream came true for me on Saturday. I came to campus at the age of 15 and would like to thank everyone who has accompanied me on my journey over the past six years and supported me. I would especially like to thank Thomas Tuchel, who made it possible for me to fulfill this dream. But I also know that things are only just beginning for me now.”
Tuchel praises Bayern talent Krätzig: “Deserved opportunity for weeks”
The 1.71 meter tall Nuremberg native moved to FC Bayern’s youth department as a 14-year-old in 2017, where he played through all of the U-teams from then on. Last season, Frans Krätzig had already made the jump from the youth to the men’s division and was used a total of 32 times in the second team in the Bavarian Regional League.
During the summer preparation, Krätzig was taken by Tuchel on the Asian tour, where he was able to attract attention for the first time. In the 4-3 win in the friendly against Liverpool, Krätzig, who was often used as an attacking midfielder in his youth, scored a dream goal from distance.
Tuchel had only words of praise after his protégé’s professional debut: “He’s deserved his chance for a few weeks now. He’s always focused in training and brings a lot of joy. I didn’t expect anything other than this performance from him, because that’s exactly what he always shows during the week.”