New Leverkusen signing Jonathan Tah (l.) has received the Fritz-Walter medal for excellence at under-19 level - © © imago / GEPA pictures
New Leverkusen signing Jonathan Tah (l.) has received the Fritz-Walter medal for excellence at under-19 level - © © imago / GEPA pictures

Tah and Passlack win Fritz Walter medals

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Cologne - Bayer 04 Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Borussia Dortmund winger Felix Passlack have picked up gold Fritz Walter medals as the outstanding players in their year group for 2015.

'One of Germany's greatest talents'

The annual award handed out by the German Football Association (DFB), and awarded to Leverkusen duo Julian Brandt and Levin Öztunali last year, rewards excellence for German youth national teams. Previous winners include Mario Götze and Julian Draxler, with Tah and Passlack now adding their names to that list.

"Jonathan Tah is one of Germany's greatest talents in defence," said the DFB's technical director Hans-Dieter Flick. "The calmness and intelligence he already has at such a young age is outstanding. With the right attitude and a professional environment in Leverkusen, he can carry his positive development forward even further."

Tah spent last season on loan from Hamburger SV to Fortuna Düsseldorf, with whom the 19-year-old made 23 appearances to earn a transfer to the Werkself, penning a five-year contract with them this summer.

Impeccable conduct, on and off the field

Passlack earned the award after captaining Germany's U-17s to second place at the UEFA European Championships and helping Dortmund become German U-17 champions.

"In addition to his footballing awareness, Felix Passlack also has great leadership qualities," said Flick. "He conducts himself on and off the field in a way you would expect a leading player to behave. We hope that this award will give him a boost ahead of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile in October."