Niko Ilicevic celebrated his Eintracht Frankfurt debut by quickly claiming the match ball, taking out his phone and posing with it in the centre circle. He then joined his teammates in front of the Frankfurt fans after helping his side secure a 3-1 victory over Hamburg on Sunday evening.
The appearance made Ilicevic the youngest player in Bundesliga history. He came on in the third minute of stoppage time, with Frankfurt holding a two-goal lead. Coach Adi Hütter said the situation was exactly the one he had hoped for and praised the teenager’s impact during his six or seven minutes on the pitch, saying he had shown more than could reasonably have been expected.
Ilicevic celebrated his 16th birthday on Saturday, meaning he matched Youssoufa Moukoko’s age at the time of the former Dortmund player’s Bundesliga debut in 2020. Moukoko had previously held the record as the youngest player in Germany’s top division on his own.
Despite the historic debut, Frankfurt is seeking to keep expectations under control. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu described Ilicevic as exceptionally talented but said the club should not put excessive pressure on him because he needs time to develop.
Hütter likewise said Frankfurt would handle the player carefully. He added that Ilicevic would also play for the under-21 team, arguing that it would not benefit him to make only brief appearances for the senior side.
Chief executive Axel Hellmann also called for restraint, saying the club had a particular responsibility and that excessive hype would not help a 16-year-old player.
Sources: FAZ.