There’s something special about this one Schalke’s latest boy-wonder is starting to make a name for himself across Europe, which whilst being in the same team as Julian Draxler, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, just cannot go unnoticed. Here’s the lowdown on the first player to make the switch to our beautiful game from that sport we all love, but don’t look.
Maximilian ‘Max’ Meyer was brought into the Schalke youth development programme in 2009 after a youth career that took him through FC Sardegna Oberhausen, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and MSV Duisburg. At the ripe old age of 14, the teenager progressed through the youth ranks at the ‘Royal Blue’ at an alarming rate. He caught the attention of the senior staff during his time with the U17’s, in which he produced 11 goals and 10 assists in 17 matches, securing a quick promotion to the U19 side at just 16.
A youth league title would follow with the U19’s, before his international tournament debut in the U17 European Championships. Germany went on to lose on penalties to the Netherlands in the Final – but Meyer was still able to claim player of the tournament and top scorer in the competition after scoring 3 times.
Another season with the U19’s followed, in which he played a role in 22 goals (11 assists, 11 goals) in 15 games, which saw Schalke boss Horst Heldt reward Meyer with a professional contract until 2015. Meyer’s climb to prominence has been rapid; winning the Fritz Walter silver award in 2012 which topped off a memorable beginning to his Schalke career.
We first heard the name of Max Meyer when he was an unused substitute in a game against Bayern Munich in February 2013. The following weekend, Meyer made his Bundesliga debut when he replaced Raffael in the second half of a difficult game against Mainz. Meyer made quite the impact when he setup Michel Bastos to score and clinch a 2-2 draw.
When Lewis Holtby left Gelsenkirchen, many fans of the ‘Royal Blue’ were hoping to see a star name replacement. But the space Holtby freed up in the team proved vital for the development of Julian Draxler and Max Meyer. Draxler has of course become one of Europe’s biggest talents already at just 20, but Meyer himself has been linked with moves to Chelsea (an apparent €15m bid) and Fiorentina since his debut.
A natural number 10, Meyer is also capable of playing on the right or left of midfield in an advanced position. Whilst Draxler has been injured and linked to moves during this year’s January transfer window, Meyer has taken his chance to impress this season. Now here’s a personal note I’d like to add. I’m not the oldest of writers; I’m 18 years old in fact. But Max Meyer is just a single month younger than myself. Just 1 month.
His ambidexterity, outstanding vision, and killer technique provide him with the tools to go straight to the top as a new generation of attacking midfielder. The future is certainly bright for Meyer and Schalke, especially after he signed a new three-year deal with the club in December. But in the early hours of this morning, BILD reported that Meyer has a €25.5 million release-clause in his contract. A piece of information that I have no doubt in helping to create rumours of him leaving Schalke, in the future.
Progressing primarily as a Futsal player, Meyer is the first star of the sport to make it as a professional footballer. The skills he’s learnt from his time in the Futsal have given him some superb techniques, which have been carefully honed and adapted to the 11-a-side game.
This could be a trend that begins to grow. Many players, of past and present, have expressed the importance of Futsal, and how it can help develop skills that can put a player apart from others in the same position. Lionel Messi, Neymar, Zinedine Zidane, and Clarence Seedorf are just some advocates of the sport which has blown up around the world over the last 10 years. Playing with a smaller football and focusing on key technical basics can be so valuable to player development, especially for a player like Meyer. At just 5ft 6in, Meyer is the smallest player in the Bundesliga. So despite the lack of strength and power that some may say is vital in the modern game, Meyer has been able to shine with the genuine ball working skill he has learnt through Futsal.
The career of Meyer is certainly one to look out for, and with Julian Draxler looking more and more likely to leave Germany at the end of the season, it seems that Schalke have already found their replacement and future star in this little 18-year old. Just remember, he’s that small lad with the shiny boots.