Eintracht Frankfurt prodigy Niko Iličević becomes joint-youngest player in Bundesliga history
Niko Iličević has become the joint-youngest player in Bundesliga history after featuring for Eintracht Frankfurt against Hamburg on Sunday.
Iličević, who celebrated his 16th birthday on Saturday, came off the bench in stoppage time of Frankfurt’s game against Merlin Polzin’s charges at Deutsche Bank Park.
The teenager is the exact same age (at 16 years and one day old) as Youssoufa Moukoko was when the former Borussia Dortmund starlet made his Bundesliga bow in November 2020.
Watch: Moukouko makes Bundesliga debut
The nephew of former Bundesliga winger and Croatia international Ivo Iličević - once of Hamburg - the attacking midfielder has already registered four goals and three assists in seven appearances for Eintracht’s Under-19 side this season.
He also appeared in seven of his team’s eight UEFA Youth League matches last term, finding the net in a memorable 4-3 defeat at Barcelona.
Currently part of Germany’s Under-17 squad under head coach Michael Prus, Iličević scored the winning goal in a 3-2 friendly victory over England earlier in October.
“He won’t have much time to celebrate [his birthday],” Frankfurt boss Adi Hütter said of Iličević in the build-up to Sunday’s game. “Being part of a Bundesliga squad at the age of 16 is quite extraordinary.
“He’s an exceptional player on the ball, but he’s also learned to stand his ground and win challenges.”
