Seventeen-Year-Old Leo Sauer Makes Thunderous Debut in Dutch League

Seventeen-year-old Leo Sauer has made his debut in the Dutch league like thunder.

Photo: Profimedia

Slovak joy in the jersey of Feyenoord. Leo Sauer accepts congratulations from Dávid Hanck.

Former member of the academy of ŠK Slovan Bratislava and MŠK Žilina scored in Sunday’s duel between Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam.

Sauer came on the field after halftime and in the first minute of the second half, he scored a 2:2 draw with his elusive goal.

“My dream came true, but I also have mixed feelings. We wanted to win. I really appreciate that I got a chance and showed good things,” Sauer told ESPN.

SUPER SUB LEO SAUER (2005) DRAWS LEVEL ON HIS SENIOR DEBUT!!!
️ @DutchLeagues pic.twitter.com/GwoJDollCt

— Football Report (@FootballReprt) August 20, 2023

His compatriot Hancko mainly helps him in the team. “He is my mentor, he speaks the same language and he helps me a lot. He was the first to come to me and tell me what to do on the pitch and to believe in myself.

He was happy about the goal I scored. I don’t even remember the whole goal situation anymore, but the only thing I could think of was to shoot at full blast, and I succeeded.

“I’m sure that if we keep working hard, the wins will come,” added Sauer.

Read more A great football talent is growing up in Slovakia. At the age of seventeen, he had a dream debut in the Netherlands: I have mixed feelings

Not even the Dutch media missed his great start in the first team. They compare him to a talented child who saved a master or a Slovak miracle.

Sauer also earned praise from coach Arne Slot.

“It’s great when you’re 17 years old, you’ve played a lot in preparation, you’ve trained with the first team and you can prove that you can play at this level.”

In April of this year, Feyenoord exercised the option and turned the loan of the skilful winger into a permanent transfer. He signed a three-year contract. He has a tough regime in Rotterdam.

“I get up around eight in the morning, I have to be at the academy within half an hour, where we have breakfast together. From 9.30 we have the first gym, followed by training on the field.

Then lunch and at half past two the second gym. I have Dutch lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, meetings on Mondays and Fridays. We are free on Wednesday.

A career lasts up to forty at most. You have to think further. Education is important, I devote myself fully to my studies at high school,” he told Športweb in April.

Read more We left Slovan because young people don’t get a chance. Žilina must respect that I am going after a life challenge

He had a similar regime at the academy in Žilina, where together with his brother Mario, who is two years older – who regularly plays for the A-team – they came from Slovan Bratislava.

“It was a transfer at his own request. Even now we see that young players in Slovan do not get as many opportunities in the first team.

In Žilina, they do it the best in Slovakia, so I went to try it,” Leo Sauer recalls.

Last year, as a 16-year-old, he left the structures of MŠK Žilina, which the club did not like.

“We respect the player’s decision, although it does not agree with our philosophy,” Žilina said in an official statement.

The clever young man had a different view of the situation.

“It was a life challenge and I wanted to deal with it. My departure from Žilina caused a stir, but they must respect my decision.

I chose a different path and went abroad earlier. So far, it’s good, but the Žilina road can also open your way to the world,” Sauer responded.

He showed his potential to Slovak fans during this year’s WC under 20 years. Despite being the youngest in the team, he was the best player.

Read more He beat the goalkeeper and two defenders. The Slovak is having a great start in Portugal, his goals have pushed the team to the top

“There are some similarities in the mentality of the Slovaks and the Dutch, but I see a significant difference in the football mentality.

In our country, the emphasis is on collective parameters, in the Netherlands on individual abilities. Everyone here repeats that he is the best. The players are very confident and brash,” compared Sauer.

Beginnings are never easy, and that was also true for Sauer.

“Maybe in the beginning they took me in such a way that a boy came from abroad who wants to take their place.

But now we have a good relationship. Moreover, it is the quality and not the country in which you were born that decides,” he realizes.

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He was nervous during his first contacts with the A-Team. On Sunday, it became clear that he does not make a big deal out of difficult situations.

“When the coach called me that I would go to training with the A team for the first time, I was nervous. Not because of the players, but rather because of my performance. Everyone welcomed me nicely and treated me in a friendly manner, which helped me.

Gradually it got better and I felt at home. Later, the coach gave me a chance in the preparatory match and I scored a goal. I never thought it would turn out like this. A beautiful memory,” concluded Sauer.

He has another one after Sunday. In the jersey of a club whose squad has a total value of 200 million euros and will play in the Champions League this season.

2023-08-21 07:27:00
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