Werder Bremen's U19: Departure with talent - pressure to succeed increases!

Werder Bremen's U19: Departure with talent - pressure to succeed increases!

The U19s of SV Werder Bremen began their preparation for the new season with a friendly match, which unfortunately ended in a 2:6 defeat against the U19s of SC Paderborn. Head coach Cedric Makiadi leads the newly assembled team, which has only been preparing for the season for a few days. The makeover is necessary as many players who were successful last season are now promoted to the U23s. Nevertheless, the sporting director of the U19-U23, Thomas Wolter, expects progressive development of the remaining talent, even if he is worried about the transition to the professionals.

Wolter emphasizes that it is not automatically guaranteed that current U19 players will play in the Bundesliga. “We have to take the next step in development,” he explains, pointing to examples of successful talents such as Eren Dinkci and Nick Woltemade. The main goal remains: to bring the talent closer to the Bundesliga squad. Interestingly, some players such as captain Wesley Adeh and playmaker Patrice Covic are currently training with the professionals, which offers a promising prospect.

Talent development and challenges

Even though SV Werder Bremen's U19 team showed positive signs last season, the reality is harsh for many talents in football. The team had to compete for the German U19 national team at the European Championships without their own players. Although this reached the semi-finals, it shows that there were no players from Bremen in the squad. Head coach Hanno Balitsch recognizes the potential of the young Werder team, but the age difference to the 21 nominated players is noticeable.

Most of the U19 talents were born in 2007 and will therefore only be a serious issue for the U19 team in the future. But defender Mick Schmetgens will already take part in the Werder Bremen professionals' summer preparation. Peter Niemeyer, head of professional football, remains optimistic and has received positive feedback from the U18 courses.

The role of the environment in talent development

A central topic in youth football is the development and support of players, which depends on various factors. Dr. Rene Paasch describes that physical, physiological, psychological and social aspects significantly influence athletic performance. In particular, social factors such as the relationship between coach and player as well as parental support are crucial for success. It is clear that sound support for young talent is essential in order to develop high-performing professionals.

According to research by ARD, it shows that of over 5,700 former U19 players, only 3.5% make the leap into the professional league. This makes the solid foundation that the U19 should create under the leadership of Makiadi all the more important. While young people develop further on the football pitch, the environment - such as school and family - is also an important factor for their career. At the elite schools in Germany, attempts are already being made to coordinate this, but the pioneers are coaches who recognize and promote talent.

The coming months will be exciting as the SV Werder Bremen U19s must continue to work on the foundations of their individual development and prepare for the challenges of the new season. The young team has potential, and with a good hand, Werder Bremen may soon be able to integrate new talent into the professional squad.