Continuing our coverage of the best youth talent in Germany's Bundesliga, we go over the next wave, the best of the rest, potential stars of tomorrow.
While Part I covered the best of the emergent youth in Germany, here, in Part II we look at the up and coming talent in the Bundesliga, all 21 and under.
Germany's Potential XIII:
Mehmet Ekici - Nurnberg / Werder Bremen - After an excellent season on loan at Nurnberg, where the club finished a heady sixth in the league, the latest young Turko-German sensation earned a transfer to Werder Bremen. After 32 starts and three goals, the midfielder was a standout in the Nurnberg midfield while getting called up to the Turkish national team.
Jan Moravek - Schalke / Kaiserslautern - An excellent season on loan from Schalke at Kaiserslautern saw the attacking midfielder notch up 29 appearances and five goals. Earned a call up to the Czech national side for whom he played twice. At 21 the attacking midfielder should see plenty of time in the German leagues for seasons ahead.
Boris Vukcevic - Hoffenheim - One of a set of five young exciting players that Hoffenheim have decided to retool around, the Croatian born German midfielder played 26 games, over 1500 minutes and scored a couple of goals. With Ryan Babel offering a threat down the wing, Vukcevic will continue to have an outlet for all his passing in the season to come.
Sebastian Rudy - Hoffenheim - Only three players played more than Rudy did last year, as the 21 year old emerged as a mainstay in the Hoffenheim midfield, making the number 6 shirt his own, with 32 games, six assists and one goal. Steady and consistent more than spectacular, he should make his debut for the national team soon, having played for Germany at all youth levels.
Konstantin Rausch - Hannover - Helped his side to a very impressive fourth place last season as he emerged as the starting left back for his club, playing all 34 games and scoring five goals with five assists. After having debuted for the injured Michael Tarnat all the way back in 2008, he has racked up just under 100 appearances in the league for four goals. Strong, despite his relatively short stature, there is talk of him debuting for the Russian national team soon.
Havard Nordtveit - Borussia Moenchengladbach - After an apprenticeship at Arsenal and on loan at Lillestorm, the Norwegian defender has taken to the Bundesliga like a duck to water. After making 19 appearance for Nurnberg the previous season, he started 16 league games and scored his first ever goal for Gladbach last season. A gifted defender, he is already capped for Norway.
Ilkay Gundogan - Nurnberg - Another player with dual Allemano-Turkish roots, the midfielder played 25 times for Nurnberg registering five goals while clocking up the ninth highest amount of action at the club with over 25 hours of playing time. Still only 20, should be a Bundesliga regular for years to come.
Thanos Petsos - Bayer Leverkusen / Kaiserslautern - Athanasios may have shed the longer name but retains the unbridled enthusiasm of youth. The Greek international made excellent progress as he started 20 game son loan at Kaiserslautern from Bayer Leverkusen. Strong at the back, his defending is way more mature than his 20 years would suggest. Capped at all youth levels for Greece.
Peniel Mlapa - Hoffenheim - Born in Togo but eligible for Germany since childhood, the 20 year old striker scored four goals for Hoffenheim in 30 games. A second striker with plenty of potential, Mlapa uses pace and deadly shooting to offer a threat off the bench. Called up by Togo, he rejected their offer in the hopes of playing for Germany some day, adding to his U-21 and U-19 caps.
Patrick Herrmann - Borussia Moenchengladbach - The future of his club's engine room, the 20 year old midfielder has inherited the number 7 shirt. With 33 appearances in the last two years Hermann scored four goals and notched a pair of assists. Will feature regularly in the Bundesliga, for a higher profile team, very soon.
Christian Clemens - Cologne - The teenager played 27 games for his side, helping them to 10th spot in the league table, with a pair of goals and assists. The German midfielder has played at all levels for Germany since U-17 level. Only six players registered more minutes on the pitch than Clemens in 2010-11 at Cologne.
David Alaba - Hoffenheim / Bayern Munich - 17 starts and two goals for the left back and occasional midfielder were an excellent return for the Austrian footballer, on loan from Bayern Munich at Hoffenheim. Under Louis Van Gaal he started five games for Bayern but found himself lower down in the pecking order at the Bavarian giants. Capped nine times for Austria already, he only just turned 19.
Pierre Lasogga - Hertha Berlin - One of the leading strikers in the second division last season, the tall 19 year old impressed leading the line for the capital club with 13 goals in 25 appearances on top of his five goals in 13 games for the second string. Should be back in the top division soon. One goal in one appearance for the U-21 German side.
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