Sweden has long been fertile ground for some of the world’s largest clubs as well as many of the upper-tier leagues.  And these ten teenagers have many of the attributes and tools that the clubs look for when scouring the globe.  Will one of these ten emerge to become a global star?  From here on out it has as much to do with competitive drive and work ethic as it has to do with their athletic tools.

Note: Portions of the player data via IMScouting — the ultimate football player database. All data is current upto 11 December 2008:

10. Bertin Samuel Ze Ndille: The Cameroonian central defender made 19 league appearances for Örebro SK.  The 19-year-old is a 1.94m (6.4ft) tower of a centre back.  While the physical gifts are certain, his technical ability is still a work in progress.  He also has below-average pace for someone his age.

9. Per Johansson: A talented left back who finally made his Allsvenskan debut on April 9, 2008.  The 18-year-old played in 12 matches for Örebro SK tallying one assist after arriving from DjurgÃ¥rden IF.

8. Erik Israelsson: The 19-year-old midfielder played in several matches for Allsvenskan champion Kalmar FF.  The box-to-box midfielder was given an opportunity after an injury to Rasmus Elm and took full advantage of the chance.

7.  Jiloan Hamad: The right winger made his debut with Malmö FF as a substitute against IF Elfsborg this past Allsvenskan campaign.  Technically gifted, the 18-year-old is known for his dribbling.  With above-average pace down the right, Hamad simply needs to add some physical strength to accompany his technical ability.  

6. Jesper Floren: After spending several years at the famed Ajax youth system, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder returned home.  The versatile youngster can also play up front and in defense when needed.  Floren signed with IF Elfsborg this past July and has entered as a substitute twice since his arrival — once in league and once in European qualifying action.  The Elfsborg player has also won the prestigious Gothia Cup.  The youth tournament is held each year in Gothenburg.

5. Dejan Garaca: The 17-year-old goalkeeper is signed at Malmö FF through 2012.  He was courted by several clubs eventually deciding that his line would be found at the soon-to-be-opened Swedbank Stadion.  Known for his reflexes, Garaca is projected as the next great Swedish goalkeeper.

4. Fisnik Shala: Technically sound, the youngster needs to fill out his slender frame before he truly can become the player many have envisioned.  Global powers Juventus and Ajax have both noted his development with Ajax bringing him in for some training.  The 18-year-old striker made eight league appearances with Trelleborgs FF last season.

3. Alex Nilsson:  The 16-year-old Malmö FF product, described as a “multi-talent”, scored 45 goals in 35 matches for his U-16 team.  His has a decent amount of pace to go along with his finishing touch.  Nilsson has the potential to be a future star.  He made his Allsvenskan debut as a substitute against IF Elfsborg.

2. Anel Raskaj:  It has been noted that Raskaj’s play reminds his manager of both Zizou and Fàbregas.  The 19-year-old central midfielder moved to Sweden via his native Kosovo in his early teens.  He has risen to become one of the most important players at Halmstads BK.  The playmaker is an excellent dribbler and he is more-than-adequate technically.  It is possible that he could make a move out of Sweden this January.

1. Niklas Bärkroth: The youngest player ever to compete in Sweden’s top league.  He made his debut as a 15-year-old in 2007 for IFK Göteborg.  Last season, the 16-year-old made both league and European appearances with the club.  He wisely added some muscle mass to his frame last season and should continue to develop on both the physical and technical fronts.  Niklas added to his fame by scoring a brace in the first qualifying round of the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League.  After this, Manchester United was rumoured to have given him a look.

Sean Grybos operates Soccer City FC where you can find commentary on leagues and clubs from around the globe.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Serbian Zoran ToÅ¡ić is set to leave FK Partizan in January and join global giant Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson personally advocated for the approval of the 21-year-old winger’s work permit. 

“I was told that about 10 days ago that Manchester had sent a request for my work permit which is now granted,”  ToÅ¡ić noted to the Serbian press recently.  He added, “I know nothing more, or what will be the next steps, but I suppose that I have a few games left for Partizan.”

ToÅ¡ić, known as Bambi because of his slim build, can play on either wing.  He has competed 12 times for his national team and was a member of Serbia’s 2008 Olympic squad. The winger has scored six league goals for Partizan this season.

Is there anyone else who could make the jump from Serbia this January or in the summer of 2009?  Here are eight more Serbian players who have the potential:

8. Predrag Pavlović: The 22-year-old right midfielder/winger is a member of Serbia’s U-21 squad; he also competed at the 2008 Olympics.  He has already been on trial with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen.  Predrag plays for FK Napredak where he has been since 2004.  He has two league goals this season.

7. NebojÅ¡a Marinković: The 22-year-old midfielder plays for FK ÄŒukarički Stankom after competing for several years at Partizan.  Known for his powerful shot and scoring instincts from the midfield position, NebojÅ¡a scored more than 20 goals in over 60 league matches with Partizan.  His 20-year-old brother, Nenad, still plays for the Belgrade club.

6. Marko Jovanović: The 20-year-old Partizan centre back teamed with Chelsea wunderkind Slobodan Rajkovic at the 2008 Olympics.  Having moved up the youth ranks, he is finally beginning to see first-team action with Partizan.

5. Nenad Tomović: The 21-year-old has been a mainstay at Red Star Belgrade since the back half of the 2007-08 campaign.  One of Red Star’s brightest talents, the centre back should continue to factor at the Marakana until his moves to a larger league.  He is a member of Serbia’s U-21 squad.  Nenad also competed at the 2008 Olympics.  He noted at the club’s website that one of his greatest wishes is to lead Crvena Zvezda to the UEFA Champions League.

4. Ivan Obradović: The 20-year-old left back has already been called up to the national side.  He scored in Serbia’s 3-1 victory over Austria on October 15 in Group 7 qualifying action.  He should continue to factor with the national team as Serbia attempts to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.  Currently, Serbia is in first place with 9 points in the group.  The defender has routinely been the first choice at left back since he was promoted from FK Partizan’s youth academy in 2007.  He has started the majority of the club’s league matches this season.

3. Danijel Aleksić: The 17-year-old forward is one of the main reasons why FK Vojvodina sits in second place in the Serbian Superliga table.  He paces the club with 4 goals this season.  The youngster is also the captain of the Serbian U-17 team.  Partizan and Red Star are both interested in the attacking player but Vojvodina has noted that they intend to keep Danijel on the club.  He is the youngest player to ever appear in the Serbian Superliga having competed five days after his sixteenth birthday.

2. Ljubomir Fejsa: The 20-year-old central midfielder broke the Serbian transfer fee when Partizan spent 1.2 million euros to sign him away from FK Hajduk Kula.  He has played in 12 league matches this season.  An interesting note, Hajduk Kula will receive a large portion of Fejsa’s transfer fee if-and-when he moves from Partizan. Along with Zoran ToÅ¡ić, he was asked to return from the 2008 Olympics to help Partizan in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League.

1. Adem Ljajić: The 17-year-old is known in Serbia as Little Kaká due to creative abilities and flair on the pitch.  Usually playing on the right or as an attacking midfielder, Adem has also been linked with a move to Manchester United.  He was on trial with the club in October of 2008.  He has played in eight league matches for Partizan this season scoring once.  When he turns 18 next September, he just might end up with his fellow Serbians in Manchester.

Sean Grybos operates Soccer City FC where you can find commentary on leagues and clubs from around the globe.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Often heralded as a cultivator of talent, the Portuguese Liga is again stocked with a host of youthful footballers.  Here are five players who are finally beginning to realize their potential:

5. Bruno Gama — (FC Porto)

At the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Gama scored both goals in Portugal’s 2-0 win over New Zealand.  The 21-year-old right winger is on loan at Vitória de Setúbal.  He has seen action in all 9 league matches — 5 starts and 4 via substitution.

4. Miguel Lopes — (Rio Ave)

The Portuguese right back plays for a veteran-laden squad; yet, he still manages to routinely find his way onto the pitch.  The 21-year-old played his best so far against the leagues’ elite (Benfica, FC Porto) prompting media speculation to proclaim that FC Porto would be targeting Lopes this January.  He has started in all 9 league matches.

3. Luís Aguiar — (SC Braga)

The 23-year-old is nearing the age limit where one can be considered a prospect, but the Uruguayan attacking midfielder has finally found his footing.  At Braga, he has been a regular in the starting eleven this season.  In the league, he has netted one goal and one assist from 8 matches.  In the club’s 2008-09 UEFA Cup run, he has scored 3 goals in 4 matches.  His brilliant goal via free kick on October 23rd helped the club surprise FA Cup holders, Portsmouth.  Braga hosts VfL Wolfsburg tomorrow in UEFA Cup Group E action.  Is Aguiar going to add to his tally sheet?

2.  Douglas — (Vitória de Guimarães)

The 22-year-old Samba striker joined Vitória this summer.  Known for his excellent pace, this is his first foray in Europe.  In his first 7 league matches, he has scored 4 goals.  Like many of his Brazilian contemporaries, he too is a versatile footballer as he can easily fall back into an attacking midfield position.

1. Simon Vukčević — (Sporting Lisbon)

The 22-year-old Montenegrin international has publicly feuded with Sporting coach Paulo Bento.  Thus, he has only seen action as a substitute in 2 league matches.  The attacking midfielder is looking to move to the Premiership this January with Blackburn as a potential suitor, but Sporting has set the price tag rather high.  Will another club pay the hefty transfer fee?

Sean Grybos operates Soccer City FC where you can find commentary on leagues and clubs from around the globe.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News