|
By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- It could well have been a surprise for the scouts of Atletico Madrid when they delivered all facts about their current Champions League opponent to their Spanish coach Diego Simeone. The man who is supposed to inspire opponents Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the round of the last 16 this Tuesday is 17 years old and still working on his A levels, fighting hard to tackle both his school-life and his life as a professional footballer.
Until now, Kai Havertz has only played 24 minutes in total in the Champions League, and appeared only 13 times in the Bundesliga, making his debut on Oct. 15, 2016 as the youngest-ever Bundesliga participant in Leverkusen's league history. While his final school-exam is due in a few weeks, his most challenging exam on the football-pitch is coming up with the match against Atletico.
Last summer, Havertz's promotion from the youth team into the pro-squad was meant to be a test, and now he will have to make up for the loss of Hakan Calhanoglu, who has recently been banned by FIFA for four months after he had signed contracts with two clubs at the same time back in 2011 while still underage.
Despite Havertz being without much experience on the international stage, the midfielder is regarded as one of the wonder boys of German football. Pundits already compare his outstanding talent with the ability of German internationals like Mesut Oezil (FC Arsenal) and former national team captain Michael Ballack.
Having delivered the decisive pass that allowed the 50,000th goal in Bundesliga history scored by Karim Bellarabi last week, Havertz even surprised his coach Roger Schmidt with a very mature game. "He is very fast in his head, making the right decisions," Schmidt said. For Leverkusen's Director of Sport and former German international Rudi Voeller, Havertz is "another outstanding great talent we have developed."
"At the moment he is on cloud seven after his latest games. His ability to stroke the ball, to do the simple things in full serenity is outstanding. He is not only blessed with a unique left foot but with the very special ability to deal with the ball. I call it sensational, but of course he is just starting," Voeller added when talking about the youngster that could still play for Leverkusen's youth team for two years due to his age.
Havertz family "always was a family of sport" the youngster said. His grandfather played in a team together with Jupp Derwall, who later became one of Germany's national coaches.
When Havertz joined Bayern's pro-team last summer in a move that was originally meant to be a test, he impressed his teammates at first sight. "I have never seen such a complete player at the age of 17," Leverkusen's team-captain Lars Bender said.
Team coach Schmidt is of the same opinion.
"We are all surprised how quickly he is getting along at this level. He is only 17 but a full member of the team. In the beginning we wanted to see how he acts with the pressure of a full arena in his back. We quickly saw there is not much that makes him nervous."
Former Liverpool player Didi Hamann also agrees, and thinks that Havertz has skills that go beyond is years. "When you see him play you would think 27 rather than 17."
Havertz joined Leverkusen at the age of eleven and recently signed a "long term contract" as announced by Voeller, who did not give a final date.
The youngster impresses with his strategy in midfield, according to Mesut Oezil, who spoke of his inspiring example. "I think our playing style is similar and due to that I try to learn from him as much as I can and watch his game, to learn," the 2016 U-17 German Champion said of Havertz.
As for the balance between education and sports, Havertz says he is ready to do the work it takes to succeed at both.
"At the moment it is not easy to take school and football together. But I am determined to do both," Havertz said. He mentions that mathematics is not one of his favorite subjects. Leverkusen's youngster relies on his talent in German and sports when it comes to the requirements for his graduation.
Teachers at the Landrat-Lucas high school in the town of Opladen near Leverkusen deliver homework by mail if Havertz misses lessons. When Havertz is around, he is a sought-after man both inside and outside the classroom, as his fellow pupils ask for autographs and selfies with the young up-and-coming star.
"We are happy that the teachers at his school understand his situation and provide that great assistance," Schmidt said.
