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Goal.com 50: Mario Gotze (48)
Our definitive countdown of the best players of 2010-11 continues with the talented playmaker, who helped lead Dortmund to the Bundesliga title.
Jul 28, 2011 5:00:00 AM
By Clark Whitney
Getty
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50.
When history looks back on Dortmund’s incredible 2010-11 season, Nuri Sahin will be remembered as the master architect of his side’s attack. However, the Turkish maestro had a formidable sidekick in Mario Gotze, who at just 18 years of age stunned the Bundesliga with his maturity and class.
Described by DFB sporting director Matthias Sammer as “one of the best talents [Germany] have ever had,” Gotze began the year a substitute, but by season’s end was a veritable hero of the campaign. Coach Jurgen Klopp had faith in the young attacker, who by September had earned a starting berth on the right wing. He learned and refined his game at a tremendous rate, and by November earned his first call-up to Joachim Low’s senior national team. When they were substituted on together in a friendly against Sweden, Gotze and Andre Schurrle became the first two players born in reunified Germany to feature for the DFB.
Gotze has since made six appearances for his country, but his main impact was felt at club level. After playmaker Shinji Kagawa suffered a metatarsal fracture in January, there were concerns that BVB would falter and eventually be overtaken by Bayern or Leverkusen. Klopp again gave Gotze his
trust, and the youngster did not disappoint as he led Dortmund to the Bundesliga title. Filling in as the main distributor in the attacking third, he set up chance after chance for his team-mates, and scored a couple of wonder-goals of his own.
Gotze ended the season with, by varying accounts, between 11 and 15 assists in domestic play. But that figure pales in comparison to what he deserved: many of his team-mates were notoriously wasteful in front of goal, and with more clinical finishing, the Memmingen native might have been credited with setting up twice as many goals.
In terms of playing style, Gotze can be likened in many ways to Mesut Ozil; he is a natural central playmaker with impeccable touch, but what sets him apart is his economy. When in possession, he almost always makes the right decision, be it to dribble, shoot, or to play a certain pass. Without the ball, he can be expected to make the right run to create space for himself or a team-mate.
It cannot be understated that Gotze is no longer “one for the future”: he already is of the utmost class, having gained widespread recognition as one of the Bundesliga’s finest players at any age level. He out-grew that label long ago - his future is now. But at the same time, the gifted No. 10 is still maturing as a player. Over the course of last season Gotze added two inches in height, and his confidence and skill grew by leaps and bounds. And now, based on his performances in preseason, the 19-year-old has bulked up and added a yard or two of pace.
Much is expected of Dortmund in the coming season as they embark on their first Champions League campaign in nearly a decade. With Sahin having left for Real Madrid, extra pressure will be on Gotze to lead his team forward. The future remains uncertain, but Dortmund's prodigy has risen to take on every challenge thrown at him thus far. And for that, he is honored today.
When history looks back on Dortmund’s incredible 2010-11 season, Nuri Sahin will be remembered as the master architect of his side’s attack. However, the Turkish maestro had a formidable sidekick in Mario Gotze, who at just 18 years of age stunned the Bundesliga with his maturity and class.
Described by DFB sporting director Matthias Sammer as “one of the best talents [Germany] have ever had,” Gotze began the year a substitute, but by season’s end was a veritable hero of the campaign. Coach Jurgen Klopp had faith in the young attacker, who by September had earned a starting berth on the right wing. He learned and refined his game at a tremendous rate, and by November earned his first call-up to Joachim Low’s senior national team. When they were substituted on together in a friendly against Sweden, Gotze and Andre Schurrle became the first two players born in reunified Germany to feature for the DFB.
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"He's an exceptional player, has good speed, is extremely creative, and has outstanding technical skills." - Matthias Sammer
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Gotze has since made six appearances for his country, but his main impact was felt at club level. After playmaker Shinji Kagawa suffered a metatarsal fracture in January, there were concerns that BVB would falter and eventually be overtaken by Bayern or Leverkusen. Klopp again gave Gotze his
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| BUNDESLIGA: DORTMUND 4-1 HANNOVER |
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| Gotze set up his team-mates with a number of chances that were missed. His team down a goal, Gotze dribbled past four defenders to equalize, sparking an emphatic comeback. |
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Gotze ended the season with, by varying accounts, between 11 and 15 assists in domestic play. But that figure pales in comparison to what he deserved: many of his team-mates were notoriously wasteful in front of goal, and with more clinical finishing, the Memmingen native might have been credited with setting up twice as many goals.
In terms of playing style, Gotze can be likened in many ways to Mesut Ozil; he is a natural central playmaker with impeccable touch, but what sets him apart is his economy. When in possession, he almost always makes the right decision, be it to dribble, shoot, or to play a certain pass. Without the ball, he can be expected to make the right run to create space for himself or a team-mate.
It cannot be understated that Gotze is no longer “one for the future”: he already is of the utmost class, having gained widespread recognition as one of the Bundesliga’s finest players at any age level. He out-grew that label long ago - his future is now. But at the same time, the gifted No. 10 is still maturing as a player. Over the course of last season Gotze added two inches in height, and his confidence and skill grew by leaps and bounds. And now, based on his performances in preseason, the 19-year-old has bulked up and added a yard or two of pace.
| "Gotze’s progress at Dortmund has in many ways mirrored that of Mesut Ozil at Bremen. The difference is that Ozil’s breakthrough year began when he was nearly 20 years of age; Gotze’s started when he was barely 18." |
Much is expected of Dortmund in the coming season as they embark on their first Champions League campaign in nearly a decade. With Sahin having left for Real Madrid, extra pressure will be on Gotze to lead his team forward. The future remains uncertain, but Dortmund's prodigy has risen to take on every challenge thrown at him thus far. And for that, he is honored today.
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