Chris Führich: Who is Stuttgart's attacking all-rounder in the Germany fold?
In sparkling form for VfB Stuttgart, Chris Führich has retained his place in the Germany squad for the March friendlies against France and the Netherlands. bundesliga.com has more on the electric winger...
Stats correct as of 13 March 2024
Age: 26 (born 9 January 1998)
Club: VfB Stuttgart
Position: Left winger
Country: Germany (one cap)
Key stats
Führich was born in a true German footballing heartland - the Ruhr town of Castrop-Rauxel, which is nestled between Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen (the home of Schalke) and Bochum. As a talented young footballer, his path would take him to the junior ranks of all three of those nearby clubs, but it was 100km south in Cologne that Führich made his first two Bundesliga appearances as a 19-year-old in the 2017/18 season.
A move back to Borussia Dortmund - and their reserve team - followed in 2019/20. Despite training with the first-team squad during a winter training camp and being a part of the matchday squad five times, he was unable to appear for the Black and Yellows and went on loan to Paderborn in 2020/21.
Führich's career really took off in Bundesliga 2 as he played in all 34 matches that season, netting 13 goals and providing seven assists. That led to Stuttgart pouncing to sign him ahead of 2021/22 and he scored eight goals in his first two seasons while helping to guide the Swabians to Bundesliga safety.
Führich rose to greater attention at the start of the 2023/24 season, when Stuttgart won six out of their opening seven Bundesliga matches. He linked up in stunning style with Guirassy and Millot to overwhelm opposing defences at times - scoring twice and providing five assists in the opening seven matches as part of what was dubbed a new Magic Triangle. His furious form earned him a first senior international cap in the October 2023 friendly with the USA, and he was called up to the March 2024 squad with seven Bundesliga goals and seven assists for the season to his name.
Plays a bit like: Marco Reus
Führich is every bit as versatile as the experienced Dortmund and Germany attacker - featuring in every conceivable midfield and attacking position throughout his career. His pace and his dribbling are his main weapons, reminiscent of a younger Reus. He also packs the same kind of relentless attitude that ensures he is a firm fan favourite.
Watch: Every Führich goal and assist in the opening six matches of 2023/24
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Despite playing for some of the biggest clubs in German football at youth level, it would be wrong to say Führich was always destined for the top. His slender physique was seen by Dortmund reserve coach Mike Tullberg as an obstacle, saying: "He was physically slight, a real beanpole." Führich credits his Christian faith for his perseverance.
What they're saying
"Whether he's on the left or on the right, or in a one-on-one in the middle, he is very difficult to defend against. He has speed, is technically good and has good timing." - Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß
“He’s got very good momentum right now. He’s an excellent player one-v-one, been involved in many goals for Stuttgart, who are doing really well. With the national team, it’s always important to call up players with momentum, those at their peak, to give them their chance. The call with him was refreshing because he was so excited. It’ll be good for us to have new faces in training whose eyes light up at the idea of playing an international match.” - Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann on calling up Führich for the first time
"The call-up is a confirmation of his positive development. He has made another clear step forward in recent months, and is performing consistently at a high level." - Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth following Führich's first Germany call-up in October 2023
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