TSG continues to promote young talent

Alexander Rose, the director of professional football stated, “with these extensions, we are making our intentions clear: we are looking to integrate our academy talents into the professional squad, and this will not change even after two of the most successful calendar years in the club’s history.” For Rose, this is “clear evidence that TSG is delivering on its promise to provide excellent young talent with first-team opportunities.”

Dirk Mack, the Academy Director, who accompanied these youngsters on their journey through the academy, emphasised, “This progression from the academy to the professional squad is remarkable and clearly shows how we take care of our young players and develop them. These successes are not only a testament to the hard work shown by the players but also a result of  the work put in behind the scenes from all the staff at the TSG academy, who all played a part in the development of these players.”

In the last few years we have already seen Niklas Süle, Jeremy Toljan, Philipp Ochs, Nadiem Amiri, Dennis Geiger, Stefan Posch, Kevin Akpoguma, Gregor Kobel and Robin Hack make the transition to the TSG first team, some even representing our country at youth level, with others breaking into Joachim Löw’s team. The professional contracts for Otto, Amade and Baumgartner should therefore write another chapter in this success story.

National youth player David Otto had already impressed head coach Julian Nagelsmann enough to train regularly with the first team before the winter break, and made his Europa League debut during the 1-1 draw against Ludogorets Razgrad last December. He is also the most prolific striker in the U19 Bundesliga Süd/Südwest division with 19 goals and 8 assists.

The Heidelberg-born Alfons Amade is a member of the U19 Germany youth team along with David Otto. Amade is also the first player to have gone through all of the ranks at the TSG academy and has now signed a professional contract with the club.

Christoph Baumgartner moved last summer to TSG and played for the U21s. He also plays for the Austria U21s, having come through the St. Pölten football academy, the same academy that Florian Grillitsch comes from.

In other academy news, Simon Lorenz (20), born in Buchen in the Neckar-Odenwald district is now also training with the first team.