FC Bayern has made a number of changes to its youth development program in recent years. Christoph Freund believes the Campus is on the right track.
Christoph Freund doesn’t just focus on the professional team at FC Bayern. Since taking office, the sporting director has been deeply involved in youth development and the question of how even more talented players can make the leap from the youth academy to the pros in the future.
At the press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin, Freund gave a positive interim assessment. At the same time, the 49-year-old made it clear that the development process is far from complete.
“A lot has happened; we’ve made quite a few changes, including personnel changes. I have a very good feeling about it—it’s always a process. When you initiate changes in the youth system, it always takes a while to see the results,” said Freund.
A central component of Bayern’s strategy appears to be the more individualized development of young talent. Instead of focusing exclusively on the development of individual teams, the club aims to address the needs and prospects of each player more closely.
Freund focuses on individual development
Freund sees this as a decisive factor for successful youth development: “We have a very good dialogue; it’s important that the individual player takes center stage. It has to be viewed on a very individual basis. That’s why communication is so important.”
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Recent developments also demonstrate that the approach taken can work. Lennart Karl, a talent from the club’s own youth system, has already established himself on the first team. The flow of players between the youth academy and the first team also remains a key priority for the Munich-based club.
In addition to developing existing talent, scouting is also set to play a crucial role. Freund believes Bayern is well-positioned in this area, but at the same time announces that there is still work to be done: “We’re very well-positioned, and I have a good feeling that we’ll take further steps forward. We’re also very well-positioned when it comes to scouting. But there’s always a lot to do, and we still have big plans.”