10 fun facts about Florian Wirtz
Wirtz was born in Pulheim, Germany on May 3, 2003. He started his football journey at a young age and eventually joined the youth academy of FC Cologne, his childhood team. Known for his impressive skills on the ball and his knack for creating opportunities and scoring goals, Wirtz was hailed as the best midfielder…
Wirtz was born in Pulheim, Germany on May 3, 2003. He started his football journey at a young age and eventually joined the youth academy of FC Cologne, his childhood team. Known for his impressive skills on the ball and his knack for creating opportunities and scoring goals, Wirtz was hailed as the best midfielder to emerge from the club in three decades by the local newspaper Kolner Express.
After leading his boyhood team Cologne to victory in the Under-17 German Championship in 2019, Wirtz attracted interest from top European clubs. Despite the competition, Leverkusen managed to secure his services in 2020. Making his debut for Leverkusen at just 17 years and 16 days old, Wirtz became the youngest player to feature for the club, surpassing Kai Havertz’s previous record.
Despite facing challenges due to the pandemic, Wirtz managed to make a significant impact in the Bundesliga, scoring goals and providing assists. His performance improved in the following season, where he contributed to a total of 17 goals from 24 league games. Although he faced a setback with an ACL injury that sidelined him for six months, Wirtz has shown promising signs of returning to form and has played a key role in Leverkusen’s resurgence under new management.
Wirtz, at just 19 years old, has already accumulated six caps for the German national team on the international stage. He made his debut under manager Hansi Flick during a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Unfortunately, he was unable to participate in the World Cup in Qatar due to a serious injury.
Wirtz also made a significant impact at the youth international level, scoring two goals in the U21 Euro semi-final as Germany emerged victorious in the tournament. Due to his potential, he is widely regarded as a key figure in the future of the national team and one of the most promising talents to emerge from the country in recent years. Below are some fun facts about him.
1. Comes from a family of footballers
Florian Wirtz comes from a football-oriented family. His father, Hans-Joachim, used to be a football player in the lower leagues of German football. Both his parents, Hans-Joachim and Karin, serve as his agents. Hans-Joachim is also the chairman of the local football club SV Grun-Weiss Brauweiller, where Florian initially began his football journey before moving on to Cologne. It is evident that football is deeply ingrained in their family, and this may have played a significant role in Florian’s passion for the sport.
2. Both Wirtz and his sister play for Leverkusen
The Wirtz family has a deep connection to the sport. Interestingly, Florian Wirtz’s older sister Juliane Wirtz is a member of Bayer Leverkusen’s women’s team. Surprisingly, Florian actually took after his sister by joining the same clubs as her. They began their football journeys as youth players at Grun-Weiss Brauweiler before transitioning to FC Cologne and finally settling at their current club, Bayer Leverkusen.
3. Received a helping hand from Amiri and Demirbay
Ever since his first appearance for Leverkusen in 2020, Wirtz has established himself as a consistent starter at BayArena. The midfielder attributes his success to the invaluable support he has received from his teammates Nadiem Amiri and Kerem Demirbay.
He said, “Nadiem Amiri has given me tips right from the start. He told me right away that the coach doesn’t like it at all if you don’t chase the ball immediately after losing possession. Kerem Demirbay also helped me,” Wirtz has said in an interview with Sport Bild.”
“I was surprised that the support has especially come from players, who play in the same positions as me. They didn’t see me as a competitor, but as someone who could help the team. That helped me a lot to quickly adjust to the way we play.”
4. Wished to plays for Barcelona as a kid
Wirtz has revealed that he desired to play for Barcelona when he was a kid. He said in an interview, “As a little boy, I always wanted to play for Barcelona. Nothing has changed in this regard, but until then I still have some time.”
5. Messi is his idol
Wirtz has confessed his admiration for Lionel Messi. The talented Argentine player showcased his skills during the recent World Cup, leading his team to victory and solidifying his status as one of the greatest of all time.
He said, “My first jersey was Messi’s Argentina jersey,” Wirtz revealed in an interview with Sky Sports Germany in April 2022. When I was little, he was the best player there was at the time in the world. I watched videos of him, was a fan of his – I wanted to be as good as him.”
6. He’s been compared to Kai Havertz
Wirtz has drawn comparisons to former Bayer Leverkusen player Kai Havertz. Havertz, who made a move to Chelsea in 2020, is considered a role model by the 18-year-old Wirtz himself.
“Kai is only 21 but he has proved himself at the highest level for many years: in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and now with Chelsea in the Premier League. Those are bits unpleasant for me to be compared with him as a 16 or 17-year-old.”
“I thought he might think: ‘Why they comparing such a small lad with me?’ It was a bit strange for me that everything was blown up in the media although hardly anybody knew me or had seen me play. But I’ve always got on very well with him.”
7. Records breaker
Wirtz has emerged as a standout talent in the world of football, showcasing remarkable progress. He surpassed Havertz as Leverkusen’s youngest debutant in the league and went on to become the youngest goal-scorer in the German top-flight at that time.
In February 2021, he achieved the milestone of being the first player in the league’s history to score five goals before turning 18. Additionally, he made history by becoming the first player under 19 to score over 10 Bundesliga goals in the previous year.
On December 15, 2021, at the age of 18 years and 223 days, Wirtz set a new record as the youngest player to reach 50 appearances in the German top-flight during a 2-2 draw against Hoffenheim. Furthermore, he was recognized for his outstanding performances by being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for the 2021-22 season.
8. Has won the Fritz Walter medal twice
Wirtz is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in Germany. In 2020, he was recognized as the top German prospect in the under-17 category and was awarded the prestigious gold Fritz Walter medal following a remarkable debut season in the Bundesliga. The following year, he received the award once again, this time in the U19 category.
9. Loves fashion
Wirtz is recognized for his passion for fashion and his impeccable sense of style, which he effortlessly showcases both during matches and in his everyday life. He is often seen sporting trendy attire such as slim-fit suits, denim jackets, and sneakers. As a brand ambassador for Adidas, a leading sportswear brand, Wirtz frequently dons their boots and apparel on and off the field as part of his sponsorship agreement, and has even appeared in various promotional videos for the company.
10. Tested positive for coronavirus
Wirtz is among a group of Bayer Leverkusen athletes who contracted the coronavirus during the 2020/21 season. Following a positive test result in early March, Wirtz was absent for Leverkusen’s 1-0 victory against Gladbach but later made his comeback as a substitute against Arminia Bielefeld on 14 March.
