A fter picking out 10 youngsters to watch in six of Europe’s top league last season, Just Football’s The 10 Series returns this year with reviews of how they got on. Here are our ratings for the Bundesliga best young players of 2013. Follow this link for an introduction to The 10 Series (including criteria) and here for 10 of the best young players in Italy, England, France, Holland, and Spain’s La Liga of 2013.

Mario Götze

(Bayern Munich, 22 years old)

How’s He Done Since?



Following his breakthrough performances with his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund, Mario Götze eventually joined Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in a controversial £31.5m move after the 2012/13 season.

While he hasn’t looked nearly as comfortable as he did in Jürgen Klopp’s attack – largely as a result of being played out wide – he’s been impressive all the same, highlights including a goal against Dortmund in a 3-0 win last season. Oh, and there was the small matter of him scoring the winner in a World Cup final to beat Argentina.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

While the end product was lacking at times for Götze, talent-wise, he’s still one of the best young players in Europe. There’s some question as to whether playing out wide in Guardiola’s attack suits the young German on a long-term basis.

He has always seemed to thrive in the hole behind the striker. And it seems likely that he’ll have to move inside to fulfil his substantial promise. But he’s shown an admirable maturity in adjusting to his new role at Bayern, and such an attitude should serve him well in the coming years.

10 Series Rating (1 = bad, 10 = 10 Series Hall of Fame)

10/10 – it doesn’t get much better than scoring an extra-time winner for your country in a World Cup final. A 10 Series Legend.

David Alaba

(Bayern Munich, 22 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

David Alaba has excelled under both Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola, winning almost every major trophy there is to win and establishing himself as one of the best young fullbacks in the game.

While some saw his future in midfield, Guardiola and his tactical system saw Alaba initially stick to the left-hand side of defence. Such a commitment paid dividends for the Bavarian club – as the Austrian proved to be extremely dynamic at both ends of the pitch.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

An unquestionably successful year for the 22 year-old. He’s become a fixture at one of the best club’s in the world and is able to play in a variety of positions – an expectation that should help Alaba flourish. An improvement in defensive technique is arguably needed, but that’s a skill that will develop with time.

Guardiola has begun to experiment with Alaba in central midfield and at centre back early in 2014/15. It remains to be seen if he continues to tinker with Alaba’s role in the side.

10 Series Rating

9/10

Marc-André Ter Stegen

(Barcelona, 22 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

Following three successful seasons with his boyhood club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, the 22 year-old keeper sealed a €12m move to Barcelona this summer. But although he’ll likely face more competition and scrutiny with the Blaugrana – with the ghost of Victor Valdes and fellow newcomer Claudio Bravo to fight off – his three years of first-team experience in the Bundesliga will serve him well.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

A success. Showcasing the skills that has made him a household name over the past few years while attracting the interest of Europe’s top clubs, his final season in Germany was an impressive, fitting end to his time in the Bundesliga.

At Barcelona, however, the pressure will be on. Every decision analysed. Every performance questioned. But with both the physical and mental tools to become one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Ter Stegen can shine in the Catalan capital, even if he’s playing second fiddle so far.

10 Series Rating

8/10

İlkay Gündoğan

(Borussia Dortmund, 23 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

It’s been a mixed back for Ilkay Gündoğan since featuring in our original list. The German international concluded the 2012/13 season with characteristically strong performances. He was a key man in Borussia Dortmund’s run to the 2013 Champions League final and scored a penalty in the Wembley final, though Dortmund would lose 2-1.

He made just three appearances for Dortmund the following season, however, sidelined with a back injury. And he has yet to appear in action this season.

Gündoğan, when healthy, is one of the most promising and complete midfielders in the game. Equally adept at breaking up attacks as he is at creating them, Gündoğan has naturally attracted the interest of many of Europe’s top clubs – including Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

Inconclusive. While his ability – when healthy – is evident, the chronic back injury that forced him to sit out the majority of last season unfortunately can’t be ignored. Then again, he’s still young – at 23 years old. But with such a long lay-off at such a crucial developmental period, the 2014/15 season has become even more important for him.

10 Series Rating

7/10

Sebastian Rode

(Bayern Munich, 23 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

Following his strong start to the 2013/14 season with Eintracht Frankfurt, Rode was unfortunately relegated to the sidelines for the last three months of the season with cartilage damage in his knee. However, prior to his injury, Rode demonstrated the qualities that have made him a coveted player over his past four seasons in Frankfurt. As a classic box-to-box midfielder, Rode is a complete player whose style is characterised by his high energy.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

Success, but he shouldn’t uncork the champagne just yet. After his impressive development at Frankfurt, Rode signed a pre-contract agreement with Bayern Munich, made his debut at the start of the season and is already receiving plaudits from admiring Bayern fans.

The German has continued to improve, but now the stakes are a bit higher. With playing time harder to come by in Pep Guardiola’s squad, Rode’s development likely hinges on the amount of time he sees with the first-team. He may not have the potential of Götze or Alaba, but he’s just as capable of featuring regularly for Bayern.

10 Series Rating

7/10

Philipp Wollscheid

(Bayer Leverkusen, 25 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

While Wollscheid has been a steady presence for Leverkusen over the past few seasons, he has seen his place at the club come under fire this past off-season. After the club acquired Tin Jedvaj and Kyriakos Papadopoulos on loan from Roma and Schalke respectively, Wollscheid was evidently left without a place in the squad as he joined Mainz on a season-long loan.

With an attacking, fast-paced style being implemented at Leverkusen, it is likely that manager Roger Schmidt sees Wollscheid as ill-suited for the fluid shape he wishes to utilise.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

Hard to say. It’s certainly fair to claim he’s fallen out of favour at Leverkusen. But it’s much more difficult to discern whether that was a result of his style of play or his level of ability. He reportedly attracted interest from several clubs during the transfer window – including Celtic and Southampton.

If those rumours have any substance to them, that’s a reassuring sign for Wollscheid. But on a statistical basis, last season wasn’t exactly a success in its own right – as his interceptions per 90 rate was nearly halved from the prior season. His loan spell at Mainz this season may be the proverbial “make or break” season.

10 Series Rating

4/10

Lewis Holtby

(Tottenham Hotspur, 23 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

When Lewis Holtby signed for Tottenham Hotspur in January 2013, the young German thought he was sealing his future. Yet the transfer has proved to be anything but. While he has been steady and efficient during his time at White Hart Lane, he has failed to earn regular minutes for the North London-side.

And following his loan spell last spring at Fulham, Holtby was unable to earn a spot in Mauricio Pochettino’s rotation for the upcoming season. Joining Hamburg on a season-long loan, Holtby will hope to regain the form that earned him a place among Germany’s best young players.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

Standing still, but time is running out. Two months before signing for Spurs, Holtby started for Germany against the Netherlands in a 0-0 draw. He hasn’t played for the national team since.

Despite the substantial promise he demonstrated at Schalke, Holtby has yet to establish himself at Tottenham. His loan spell at Hamburg will be vital to the success of his career. He’ll likely be assured the first team minutes he never received at Tottenham. And he certainly has the talent. The clock is ticking though.

10 Series Rating

5/10

Julian Draxler

(FC Schalke, 20 years old)

How’s He Done Since?

Following Lewis Holtby’s move to Tottenham, Julian Draxler was moved inside to his more natural position behind the striker. And while some doubted his readiness for such a role at his age, the German international excelled – reaping the benefits of the added creative freedom.

The signing of Kevin Prince-Boateng the following season pushed Draxler out wide once again. And injury problems derailed the last half of the season, though unlike ex-team-mate Holtby, Draxler made Germany’s World Cup winning squad.

Despite injuries, Draxler has been a productive player for one of the Bundesliga’s top clubs – quite an achievement for any 20-year old.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

It may very well be too early to proclaim him a success just yet. But if Draxler stays on this course, he’ll quickly establish himself as one of the the top players in Europe.

With pace, creativity, and a dangerous shot, Schalke have a young, premier midfielder in their midst. How long they can manage to keep him there, however, is an entirely different story.

10 Series Rating

8/10

Sebastian Jung

(24 years old, Wolfsburg)

How’s He Done Since?

Jung had been synonymous with Eintracht Frankfurt since his promotion to their first-team as a 19-year old. But following consistent, reliable performances for his childhood club, Jung sealed a move to Wolfsburg in the summer transfer window – adding to an already impressive side.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

A success. While Jung will likely never be mentioned among the great right-backs in the game, he’ll be a steady, productive presence for years to come. Comfortable in both the defensive and offensive facets of the game, Jung already boasts considerable Bundesliga experience, which will continue to serve him well at Wolfsburg.

He may not stand out among the Alaba’s, Götze’s, and Draxler’s of the world, but it’d be foolish to discount him.

10 Series Rating

6/10

Milan Badelj

(25 years old, Fiorentina)

How’s He Done Since?

Milan Badelj may not be as well-known – nor as young – as most of the players included in this list. But he’s quietly been most of the productive players in Bundesliga all the same.

Defensively, he has been superb – averaging over three interceptions per 90 in his deep-lying position for Hamburg. Creatively, he’s arguably been even more impressive – with over five accurate long balls per game over the past two seasons – even more impressive in a hopeless Hamburg side that nearly got the club relegated for the first time in history.

Unfortunately for the Hamburg faithful, Badelj joined Serie A side Fiorentina on a transfer deadline move last week.

Success, Failure or Standing Still?

A success, though a startlingly quiet one at that. You can’t ask much more from a deep-lying midfielder than what Badelj has provided Hamburg with over the past two seasons. And as his game thrives on creativity and tactical awareness – two qualities that only improve with time and maturity – Badelj’s stock will only go up.

Look for him to thrive at the base of Fiorentina’s midfield where he’ll be able to launch long balls to the capable Mario Gomez and Juan Cuadrado.

10 Series Rating

7/10

What are your thoughts on how the 10 Bundesliga best young players from 2013 performed over the past year? Let us know below on Twitter @JustFootball.

(Photo #1 courtesy of aZAMirul via Flickr, photo #2 courtesy of Amil Delic via Flickr)