Florian Wirtz the most effective signings in Bundesliga historical past, says former Bayer Leverkusen assistant director Devin Ozek

Florian Wirtz is likely one of the finest signings in Bundesliga historical past, says former Bayer Leverkusen assistant director Devin Ozek.

Wirtz has been topic to switch curiosity this summer season, with Sky Germany believing the participant is leaning in direction of shifting to Liverpool.

The 22-year-old has spent his complete senior profession to date at Leverkusen, becoming a member of the membership’s youth ranks from Koln in January 2020 and making his senior debut 4 months later.

Discussing Wirtz’s influence on the membership, Ozek – who left Leverkusen earlier this 12 months – informed Sky Sports activities Information in an unique interview: “He’s an unbelievably intelligent player, to understand spaces between the lines, creating chances, an advanced playmaker.

“But when we speak about Florian Wirtz, we have now to offer a variety of credit score to [Leverkusen director of sport] Simon Rolfes, as a result of he did an enormous job in signing him. He believed from the primary second in him and likewise [chief executive] Fernando Carro, each are answerable for this signing. And for me, it is the most effective signings within the Bundesliga historical past. He is within the high class.”

Whereas Wirtz’s arrival to the Premier League stays up within the air, one participant who is ready to hitch Liverpool is Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. The 24-year-old arrived within the UK earlier this week to finalise his transfer to Anfield.

When requested about how Leverkusen developed gamers similar to Frimpong – who has been in Germany since 2021 – Ozek added: “I believe we had a very good construction to develop gamers and likewise we had the best coach. I believe the coach had a big effect on the event of the person gamers.

“Then good scouting, the scouting team is still doing a good job, and that’s why we were able to sign this kind of players.”

Wirtz and Frimpong have been simply two of the subjects coated in a wide-ranging interview with Ozek, who additionally mentioned the success of Xabi Alonso, who on Sunday was revealed as the brand new Actual Madrid head coach following a profitable spell at Leverkusen, and highly-rated defender Jonathan Tah.

Learn on for extra from Ozek…

On Alonso, Tah and Tuchel…

What gave you confidence in Xabi Alonso’s potential early on?

“If you watch the games of Real Sociedad B, you can see that he implemented a clear philosophy. Then if you watch the games in the beginning of the season, and then at the end of the season, you can see a big development of the young players.

“If you happen to additionally take his participant profession, the coaches he performed below, then it is a large bundle, in order that’s why we have been snug with him.

“He has a big personality. If he comes into the room, then it’s a special aura, and I think he’s a special one. He’s going to be a big coach, for sure.”

What stands out about Jonathan Tah’s type of play and management?

“He’s an intelligence stopper. He has a good balance in being a ball-winning defender, but at the same time he developed a lot in ball-playing. He’s a good mix of both, Then his character as a leader – leading a team in a quiet but clear way, makes him a very good player.

“It is at all times the group success that makes additionally the people extra enticing. He was in a position to make an enormous step in taking part in very, superb within the vital video games. That is why his market is larger now.”

Was it straightforward to retain [Xabi] Alonso and the highest gamers like Wirtz, [Jonathan] Tah, and Frimpong final summer season after a profitable season?

“I wouldn’t say it was easy. Both CEOs did an amazing job. They are very close to the team, they had very good communication with the players, and very early communication. It was a big job to keep 80 to 90 per cent of the squad together.”

What do you concentrate on Thomas Tuchel’s appointment with the England nationwide group?

“It was a little surprise, but I think it’s a fit. As a club coach, if you saw him in the Champions League semi-finals or final, he was always able to react to tactical things. As a national team coach, it’s a big quality you need, and he has a good team, a young team, so I believe that they can be successful.”

On his time at Bayer Leverkusen…

Are you able to describe your position and what it entailed at Bayer Leverkusen?

“I was working as a right hand of Simon Rolfes, CEO of sports in Bayer Leverkusen and we had a small team doing the squad planning, transfer management, loan management, coach scouting and we did it together.

“So it is day-to-day, travelling all around the globe, talking with brokers, assembly golf equipment, assembly gamers and attempt to put together and run the window collectively as a group.

“I don’t know if there is a secret [to Leverkusen’s success], but I think working as a team all together, what I can say, there was a special atmosphere in the club. We have two amazing CEOs, I think this is maybe the secret, that they are leading and running everything and then we follow and we try to do our best and in the end it was successful.”

How did you construct such a powerful, history-making squad?

“It’s not luck that we built [a strong squad]. We worked in detail in things that we wanted to analyse, what we need and the structure about successful teams, so we worked a lot in detail. I think this makes us successful with the players on the pitch and a fantastic coach.”

On the intricacies of transfers…

How do you stability promoting gamers whereas nonetheless constructing a aggressive squad?

“Selling is a very important point because of all the financial rules we have, in the different leagues, also in UEFA, and at the same time, we are thinking a bit in categories.

“It relies upon in case you are a high membership or a promoting membership, however it doesn’t matter what type of membership you’re, you at all times have gamers out of venture, and it is vital to start out very early, to grasp which gamers we wish to promote, which gamers we wish to depart, and to work on it in an lively method.”

How do you take care of gamers who’re now not a part of the venture, particularly these with excessive wages or low type?

“It’s important to check the expectations of the player, the expectations of the agent and then to see what kind of clubs can pay the transfer fee, the salary.

“It’s then checking who’s in search of this place, and if we all know there are a couple of golf equipment, then it relies upon available on the market, however there are a couple of markets the place you will be lively. You’ll be able to fly, you’ll be able to converse, you’ll be able to push.

“Also as a club, it’s not only waiting for the agent. They may be getting a good commission in our club, and then he’s not interested to bring the player to another club, so that’s why it’s important to push also by ourselves.”

How do you weigh the best timing in promoting gamers versus group stability?

“Timing is a very important point. The clubs want to sell the players out of the project very early, but the problem is if a player is out of shape or didn’t play or whatever, it’s very difficult that he’s the number one choice on the market, so you have to find the right moment to sell. Finding the right moment is key for being successful.”

With the brand new early summer season switch window and Membership World Cup, how do you assume the market will change?

“I don’t know because I have no experience with it, but my feeling at the moment is that the market is a bit strange, because a lot of clubs still don’t have their coaches or have just appointed coaches. There are also a few sporting director changes. But on the other side, a few clubs are very early because of the cup, so it changes a bit the dynamics.”

Is it an actual benefit to do switch enterprise early, or does it rely extra on the standard of the deal?

“Maybe, yes. Maybe they are in a better position in the beginning of the season, but on the other side, you don’t know what is going to happen on the market.

“Generally there are alternatives you do not count on, and possibly there are additionally higher choices later, so it is vital to discover a stability. Too early is just not good, and too late is just not good, so discover the center method.”

Have you faced unexpected challenges in a transfer window?

“Sure, in fact. Generally issues we did not count on occur due to accidents, as a result of we’re getting a proposal for a participant we wish to promote, after which we have now to promote, so we have now to be ready at all times. However all of the skilled golf equipment are working with shadow groups, so they’re ready for each place if one thing is developing, after which they’ll react.”

On Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and German coaches…

What’s your tackle Fabian Hurzeler and different younger professionals like your self?

“We work a lot and this is very important. Then you have to have luck in the right moment to get the chance, and you have to use it.

“It is also one thing constructive, if you happen to begin so younger, then you haven’t any youngsters, you’ll be able to journey extra, you’ll be able to make investments extra time. It is a distinction, as a result of if a soccer participant will get into the place after his profession, then there’s already a complete household. It is not straightforward, however if you happen to work loads and you’ve got a little bit of luck, then it is doable.”

“[Hurzeler] can go very far. He is very gifted, he is doing a tremendous job, and he did already up to now. I hope for him that the event continues like this and that he will be one of many high coaches on the earth.”

Do you think young German coaches are in high demand right now?

“Sure, possibly. Perhaps we have now gifted coaches, now we have now to make use of it for being profitable, hopefully once more. The final cup was profitable with the nationwide group, however to win titles once more, I hope, I want.”

On his next career move…

After your success at Leverkusen, what are you looking for next?

“I am in search of a director position, and the best venture the place I can enhance myself and I might help to develop the venture. It is not in regards to the membership identify, it is extra about the best venture to being profitable collectively and to work in a group.”

Would you consider working in England?

“It depends upon town, the place it’s, however sure, the Premier League is the very best league on the earth, so in fact it is an possibility.”

How does the role of a sporting director differ between the Premier League and Bundesliga?

“Within the Bundesliga, the sporting director position is extra traditional. For instance, the sporting director is sitting on the bench, giving interviews loads, and within the Premier League, the sporting director is a little more behind [the scenes].

“Also in the Premier League, the directors are travelling more and in Germany, the sporting director is very close to the team, so there are a few differences.”

“I don’t want to speak every week, so for me, [I like] the English style better, but maybe sometimes.”

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