Made the leap: from the youth tournament in Ergenzingen to the Champions League – football
Formerly at the international junior tournament in Ergenzingen – today goalscorer in the Champions League against FC Bayern. The talents of tomorrow often convince in Ergenzingen.
When the junior teams of first-class German and international clubs play for the Bitzer Cup at the international junior tournament of TuS Ergenzingen in Ergenzingen, it is always a special attraction for the spectators of the games to discover the stars of tomorrow and to talk shop about which players made the leap make it into professional football.
When looking at the last tournaments, it is noticeable that a whole range of players are playing in professional football at the tournament today.
Very good youth work
When FC Bayern Munich faced FC Red Bull Salzburg in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the past 2021/22 season, the six-time winners of the Champions League and the European Cup certainly went into the game as the big favourite.
However, FC Red Bull Salzburg is ahead of FC Bayern Munich in at least one category: successes in the UEFA Youth League – the Champions League for junior teams.
FC Red Bull Salzburg has already won the Youth League in the 2016/17 season with coach Marco Rose. In the 19/20 season, Salzburg reached the semi-finals of the final tournament in Nyon and was only stopped by eventual winners Real Madrid with football legend Raul as coach.
Last again in the final
In the past 21/22 season, the “Young Bulls” reached the final again and were only beaten by Benfica Lisbon. On the way to the final, Salzburg had clearly beaten Paris St. Germain and Atletico Madrid, among others.
With their strong performances, several players from the youth teams of FC Red Bull Salzburg have recommended themselves for the leap into professional football.
Seven players already in Ergenzingen
Among these players are seven players who played at the Bitzer Cup in Ergenzingen between 2017 and 2019 and who also noticed strong performances at the international junior tournament of TuS Ergenzingen.
With “Junior” Adamu, a player made a very special impression when he scored the lead for Salzburg in the Champions League against FC Bayern in the first leg of the round of 16, which FC Bayern was only able to equalize very late. “Junior” Adamu was named 2017’s second-best player of the tournament and 2017’s and 2018’s second-best goalscorer of the tournament.
Talents in Salzburg
Luka Sucic was voted second best player of the tournament at the Bitzer Cup 2019. He is one of the great talents in Salzburg and he already plays in the national team of Vice World Champion Croatia together with world soccer player Luka Modric.
Nicolas Seiwald made his breakthrough as a regular player in Salzburg this season and was used in all Champions League games, among other things. In the course of the season he made the leap into the Austrian national team.
Peter Pokorny, who has meanwhile been sold to Real Sociedad San Sebastian in the Primera Division in Spain, was the third-best player of the tournament in 2018.
Amar Dedic gained valuable match practice in the Austrian Bundesliga this season on a loan to Wolfsberger AC.
Best Player 2017
Ousmane Diakité, the best player in the 2017 Bitzer Cup, was loaned out to FC St. Gallen after overcoming a serious injury in Switzerland last season.
Suliman-Marlon Mustapha was top scorer at the 2018 tournament. After the tournament he switched to 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Junior Bundesliga. After a loan to FC Admira Wacker, he is making a new attempt in the new season with the Mainz 05 professionals in the Bundesliga.
well-known clubs
This year again, with SC Freiburg, Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Hamburger SV and Wolverhampton Wanderers from England, there are clubs in the field that are known for their very good youth work.
The Bitzer Cup 2022 tournament will take place this year from July 22nd to 24th – the last weekend before the start of the summer holidays.
Visitors to the tournament will certainly be able to follow players live again this year who can be seen in the top European leagues, in the European Cup or in international matches at major tournaments such as world and European championships.