Who is Leon Goretzka? – New Liverpool target
plays as a midfielder for Schalke 04 and the Germany national football team.
According to the European football experts Goretzka is referred as one of the brightest football talents in German football. The Germany international has a potent eye for scoring goals and is known to possess good ball control ability and also has the ability to pick out passes for his teammates.The midfielder produces powerful shots from outside the penalty area, a trait similar to that of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes. Leon Goretzka is well known for his excellent heading ability which sees him often score headed goals. At 189 sm, Goretzka’s high-jumping ability helps him to win aerial battles even against the strongest defenders. Schalke 04 midfielder can be deployed as a defensive midfielder, as well as playmaker and in the positions of left or right winger.
Peter Neururer, former head coach at VfL Bochum, said that he had “never seen an 18 year old footballer which had a potential as Leon Goretzka” and titled him as the “talent of the century”.
In 1999, Leon Goretzka started his career with Werner SV 06 Bochum. The midfielder stayed for two years with the team before making the move to VfL Bochum in 2001.
In August 2012, Goretzka made his professional debut for the VfL Bochum in the II Bundesliga. In the same year, Leon Goretzka was awarded Fritz Walter Gold Medal.
In June 2013, he signed a professional contract with Bundesliga giants Schalke 04. Goretzka signed a five-year contract with the Germany giants until 30 June 2018. The transfer fee was between 3 and 4 million euros. The Germany international was assigned a number eight shirt. In the season 2013/14, Goretzka scored five goals in 32 appearances for Schalke 04. Next season, Goretzka played for both the first and second teams. The Germany international made only 10 appearances for the first team and one appearance for the second team. In the season 2015/16, the midfielder scored two goals in 34 appearances.
In October 2010, Leon Goretzka made his Germany national U-16 debut in a friendly against Northern Ireland and he scored in the victory. In August 2011, Goretzka made his Germany national U-17 debut against Turkey. In May 2012, the midfielder captained the Germany national U-17 football team at the 2012 UEFA U-17 Football Championship in Slovenia and led the German U-17 team all the way to the final against the Netherlands. In the final, Goretzka scored the first goal of the game. In August 2013, he debuted for the Germany national U-21 under Hrubesch, in a draw against France.
In May 2014, Leon Goretzka was inducted into the 30-man preliminary squad of the German national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Joachim Löw. Goretzka made his debut in a draw against the Poland, in which Goretzka had suffered a muscle injury. After that, Germany international was removed from the team’s training camp and final squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
TOP FOOTBALL TRANSFERS 2017-2018
Together with his teammate Meyer, Goretzka was named in the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.The midfielder captained Germany Olympics football team in their first match against Mexico, but picked up a shoulder injury, and returned to Germany.
In 2017, Goretzka was named in Germany national football team for the Confederations Cup in Russia. In the opening match for the tournament, Goretzka scored his first goal for Germany in a win over Australia.
Leon Goretzka’s statistics for the season 2017/2018
Games played: 10
Minutes: 793
Goals: 4
Assists: 0
Yellow cards: 1
Pass success percentage: 76.0
Total passes: 363
Accurate passes: 276
Total tackles: 23
Total interceptions: 17
Successful dribbles: 3
Aerial duels won: 21
Total key passes: 8
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