Alex Richter (51) was looking for talent for VfL Bochum for 14 years. Now the new head of the Frankfurt youth academy is getting to know Eintracht. He can already answer one question for himself:
“When did the last youth player make it to the professional here…, Aymen Barkok 2016…, it’s been a while…”
Richter am Riederwald has been tackling things since April: “With the new U21s, with the U19s in the Youth League (Champions League juniors, ed.) we have a remarkable season ahead of us.”
His plans: Up to ten additional scouts to discover talent in the Rhine-Main region earlier. “We must have been regular at 120 clubs.”
Talent development with additional coaches down to the U12. That means special individual training for the kids.
And Eintracht still needs a second artificial turf as a training ground. “With four training places, Frankfurt is behind other NLZs.”
Richter gives himself four years until everything runs successfully – and youth players in Frankfurt are prepared earlier and better for the Bundesliga.
The newly created U21s in the 5th league play a particularly important role. “The Hessenliga is new territory for us,” said Richter. But he dreams of a U21 in the 3rd division.
Richter: “Why is it that Spain or England bring out so many top talents? There are top-division clubs there that play with their second team in the 2nd division – and with a third team in the 3rd division.”
