Page 55 - Soccer360 Issue 107

THE ONES TO WATCH
Michelle Osei Bonsu takes a quick look at five players who could have a huge impact for their respective sides during the 2024-25 Bundesliga season
SERHOU GUIRASSY -
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
At one point last season, Guirassy was a firm contender with Harry Kane for the Torjägerkanone, only for injuries to take its toll. Still, 28 goals in 28 appearances
is nothing to scoff at, and the French- Guinean striker not surprisingly was the subject of interest for a number of clubs. Now on the books of Borussia Dortmund after signing a four-year contract, expectations will be high of the player to
help Die Schwarzgelben’s title ambitions
UEFA has this term. come a long way since Real Madrid
ARIJON IBRAHIMOVIC - BAYERN MUNICH
Although the Bayern Munich starlet
none other than Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimović, the two are not related whatsoever. Still, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t big things expected of the 18-year-old, who not only received a contract extension until 2027 but also
is expected to play a big role in Vincent Kompany’s team this season.
HARRY KANE - BAYERN MUNICH
Despite enjoying his most prolific season to date, Harry Kane still experienced a great deal of disappointment with Bayern Munich as he again ended without any silverware. Now, off the back of more frustration with England at this summer’s Euro competition, fans will hope to see the veteran striker reach even higher heights this season as he chases both titles and personal records.
LOÏS OPENDA - RB LEIPZIG
Only two players scored more goals in the Bundesliga in 2023-24 than Belgian international Openda: Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. Openda had a debut campaign to remember as he netted
24 times in 34 appearances for RB Leipzig last term, and alongside the likes of Dutch youngster Xavi Simons and Slovenian starlet Benjamin Sesko,
is expected to form a key part of Marco Rose’s squad as die Roten Bullen look to challenge for titles.
CAN UZUN - EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
He’s still a teenager, but there’s a lot of buzz about Can Uzun following his impressive spell at Nurnberg, during which he scored 16 goals in just 30 appearances in the 2.Bundesliga last season.
League Cup interestingly shares a surnina19m55e with
won the
very first
Champions
FREIBURG
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 10th place RECORD: 11-9-14 MOST GOALS: Grifo (8)
HEIDENHEIM
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 8th place
RECORD: 10-12-12
MOST GOALS: Kleindienst (12)
Once again, Frank Schmidt will be leading Heidenheim this season as the longest- serving manager of any German team
- having taken over in 2007 - begins his 17th term in charge. Schmidt, who has seen Heidenheim successfully navigate their way from the fourth tier all the way up to the Bundesliga, guided his team into an excellent eighth spot, which means that Heidenheim will be featuring in European competition for the first time in club history. The departures of key players Tim Kleindienst and Jan-Niklas Beste could make navigating in unchartered territory even more difficult, but if they can stay well clear of danger and match last season’s league campaign, it would be a major success.
KEY PLAYER
Marvin Pieringer
SERHOU GUIRASSY
Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich
HARRY KANE
Bayern Munich
LOIS OPENDA
RB Leipzig
CAN UZUN
Frankfurt
AIBRIJON
IBRAHIMOVIC
Can a former player help Freiburg crack into the top half of the table this term after finishing in 10th last season? That’s what the club and its fans will hope with the appointment of Julian Schuster, who will take on his first managerial job at senior level.
Schuster, who at 39, is yet another young manager testing his tactical nous in the Bundesliga this season, spent a decade as a player on the books of Freiburg between 2008 and 2018. He certainly will have some huge shoes to fill following the end of Christian Streich’s 12-year tenure in charge of the club, where they constantly exceeded expectations.
KEY PLAYER
Vincenzo Grifo
DID YOU KNOW?
Guirassy
scored 14 goals in his firat 8 Bundesliga games, breaking the record set Lewandowski
in the 2020/21 season.
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