Dijon Kameri: The washed “bull” in the FC Salzburg squad – football
Matthias Jaissle may not have come across the Austrian meaning of the word “to heat up” in his more than three years in Austria.
There is no other way to explain why the 34-year-old German dared to do something last week that would have been unthinkable in Austrian football just a few years ago. Trusted an 18-year-old ÖFB youth team player in the Champions League. From the beginning. On its debut. Against the great AC Milan.
Dijon Camera is the name of the big red-white-red hope for the future, who after David Alaba is now the second youngest Austrian to have played in the “premier class” from the start. The number two starting eleven could follow on Wednesday when FC Salzburg have to play at Chelsea (9 p.m. in the afternoon). LIVE Ticker).
How Kameri’s rapid rise came about, what kind of player he is and why a 2nd division game against Vorwarts Steyr shouldn’t be much different than one in the Champions League against AC Milan is here to read:
Discovered in kindergarten
Kameri is something like the concept of Salzburg’s road to success. Scouted at a kindergarten tournament, the right-footed player, who grew up in the Maxglan district of Salzburg, went through all age groups at the Salzburg football school, from U7 to U18.
Only Nicolas Seiwald, who has also enjoyed his football training in the city of Mozart since a very young age, and the two original “bulls” Andreas Ulmer and Alexander Walke have been with the club longer from the squad.
Kameri’s talent stood out early on. How high the potential of the attacking midfielder actually is, however, has only really become clear in the last few months. After he was raised from the Salzburg U18s to FC Liefering in the previous season, he hardly needed any adjustment time in the second division and immediately became a regular player.
The number ten quickly took on a key position in the Mozartstadt Youth League team and was mainly responsible for Salzburg’s entry into the final of the U19 “premier class” thanks to a dream goal in the semifinals against Atletico Madrid.
New week, new highlight for Kameri
Promotion to the combat team was not long in coming. In June of this year, Kameri signed a contract in Salzburg until 2026, and a little later he completed all of the summer preparations with the first team for the first time. The teenager showed some outstanding performances, but he still had to queue at the start of the Bundesliga.
In the first weeks of the season, he was eliminated at FC Liefering with a goal against Vorwarts Steyr, before making his debut in the Bundesliga on the fifth matchday; a week later the first goal and the first assist as a joker against Austria Lustenau were recorded, and a week later the starting XI debut in Austria’s top division followed.
Since Luka Sucic was not fit for the Champions League opener as expected due to groin problems and Sekou Koita was not yet at one hundred percent after an ankle injury – even if the Malian sees it differently himself – the tenth position in Salzburg’s diamond was a few days before suddenly vacant after the game against Milan.
2nd division or AC Milan? “Not much has changed for me”
However, Jaissle decided early on to trust Kameri in the “premier class” and thus against major conversion work in the well-established system.
“When I first heard that I was going to play, it was a great feeling. You can’t tell,” says the ÖFB youngster.
However, the 18-year-old’s nerves fluttered at most before kick-off: “Of course you’re a bit nervous before the game, then when the anthem starts, a bit more nervous. But I can always hide it well in the game itself.”
“Not much has changed for me.”
Even the opponent’s name, which at least changes to that of Italy’s reigning champions on this Champions League night, did not affect Kameri’s approach. For him, it doesn’t make a big difference whether it’s againstVorwarts Steyr or AC Milan: “Not much changes for me there. I always want to do my best and make it as far as possible.”
Jaissle: “He still has a lot of potential”
Kameri repaid his coach’s trust with a dedicated performance. The curly head attacked the back four of the “Rossoneri” like a madman when pressing, and in one or the other one-on-one situation against the Milan top defenders he reached deep into his bag of tricks – which leads us to the strengths of the wiry ten .
As is already the case with Salzburg’s own offspring such as Xaver Schlager, Konrad Laimer and Nicolas Seiwald, Kameri is also an absolute pressing machine who is not above a sprint in forechecking. In addition, there is a very sophisticated shooting technique and technically high-quality ball handling.
Mentally, too, Kameri already seems very far and efficient. His attitude to professional football is exemplary for his age, and his fluency and self-confidence in public appearances is not a matter of course for footballers at such a young age.
“He did very well. In the last few weeks he has confirmed that he is an important part of our squad,” said Matthias Jaissle after the game against Milan, praising his youngest protégé.
The German continues: “He’s still very young, but the form curve is pointing steeply upwards. There’s still a lot of potential that he can exploit.”
On Rangnick’s radar
This potential did not go unnoticed by ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick. in one LAOLA1interview, the 64-year-old praised Kameri that he “had noticed it very positively”.
Despite his roots in Kosovo, Kameri has only played for ÖFB youth teams and has always played a leading role. Already in the ÖFB-U15, the mature teenager followed his team captain onto the field, most recently he also wore the ribbon in the U18. In the coming international break he will qualify for the U19 European Championship.
The performance of Kameris in recent weeks is not enough for a nomination for the ÖFB-A-Team, but the ÖFB debut will probably not be long in coming.
The highly talented “bull” can only stop himself on his rapid way to the top.
The UEFA Champions League LIVE on Sky >>>
Text source: © LAOLA1.at
to the top »
User comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the LAOLA1 editorial team. LAOLA1 reserves the right to delete without giving reasons, especially if these violate criminal or civil law standards, are contrary to good morals or otherwise run counter to the reputation of LAOLA1. We refer in this context in particular to our Terms of Use. In such cases, the user can also assert claims. Furthermore, Sportradar Media Services GmbH reserves the right to assert claims for damages and to report criminally relevant facts.