FlashFocus: Sauer Set to Make the Leap to Stardom from Raca to Feyenoord

Slovakia may not be renowned as one of Europe’s football giants, but it has consistently produced players whose names resonate worldwide.

Historically, Jan Popluhar, lauded by the legendary Pele, stands out as one of the finest defenders ever. Peter Dubovsky remains the only Slovak to have graced the field for Real Madrid, while more recent stars include Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik. Currently, Stanislav Lobotka is recognised as one of the elite midfielders on the global stage. Yet, it is the 19-year-old Leo Sauer who is carving a pathway to international football from the Tatra Mountains.

Born in Bratislava, Leo kicked off his football journey in the Raca district, where his talent caught the eye of Slovan Bratislava, the country’s most successful club. After four years, however, he ventured north to the esteemed youth academy of MSK Zilina. At just 13 years old, he left home and relocated halfway across Slovakia.

Upon joining Zilina, it quickly became evident that he was destined for greatness. He progressed through the ranks, and shortly after turning 16, he made his senior debut for the reserve team in the second league.

His elder brother, Mario, who is a year and a half his senior, also plays for Zilina, having made the same transition from Slovan’s academy. Mario has established himself as a leader within the team and is a vital contributor to the national U21 squad, just like Leo.

He hardly had a chance to excel with the A-team before Dutch club Feyenoord secured his signature in 2022, propelling him into one of the world’s top competitions.

Sauer adapted to his new environment swiftly, with impressive displays in the youth ranks leading to a seamless integration into the first team.

At just 17, he was included in the squad for the 2023/24 season, and he made a strong impression during pre-season, excelling in all six friendlies. Although he started the league season on the bench, he made a memorable debut in August.

Coming off the bench, he salvaged a point for Feyenoord with a stoppage-time equaliser in the Rotterdam derby against Sparta. Opportunities soon arose for him, including a debut in the prestigious Champions League, where his influence was evident on the pitch despite stiff competition for a starting spot.

A timely loan

In a strategic move, both Feyenoord and Sauer opted for a loan, and he joined NAC Breda at the start of the current league season, where he quickly established himself as a crucial player.

He netted his first goal for NAC from the penalty spot in October, and since then, further goals and assists have followed, bringing his tally to five goals and two assists.

As the team’s second-highest scorer, he has received high praise from Dutch media, with Voetbal International stating that NAC lacks offensive threat without him. Feyenoord is watching his progress closely, anticipating his return next summer.

Sauer boasts exceptional one-on-one skills, technical ability, and blistering pace that keeps defences on their toes. With remarkable acceleration and quick decision-making, he possesses the key attributes to evolve into one of Europe’s leading wingers, although he recognises a need for further development at his young age.

“I’m primarily focused on what’s next, which is the national team and Breda. I’ll see where it goes from there, whether it’s returning to Feyenoord or participating in the U21 European Championships. I’m enjoying my time in NAC. The fans are fantastic; I have no complaints. I’m gaining valuable experience and playing regularly, so I’ve achieved my goals,” he recently commented.

In March, he was awarded the Petr Dubovsky Award for the best Slovak U21 player for a second consecutive year, matching the record held by Robert Vittek, Marek Hamsik, Miroslav Stoch, Robert Mak, and Tomas Suslov, although he has two more years to surpass them.

National success

Sauer’s burgeoning talent caught the eye of national coach Francesco Calzona, earning him his first nomination to the senior national team in October 2023. He made his debut against Norway, becoming the youngest player to represent Slovakia, at just 18 years and 101 days old.

He quickly made headlines again by being selected for EURO 2024, where he played just five minutes against Ukraine. Yet, in that brief appearance, he etched his name as the youngest Slovak to compete at a major international tournament. However, his significance to the national squad was evident well before this milestone.

Due to his youth, he missed out on the U19 European Championship in 2022, but he was instrumental in Slovakia reaching the U20 World Championship for the first time, showcasing his talents to an international audience of scouts.

Now, Slovakia faces another significant challenge. The U21 EURO will see four venues host matches, with Jaroslav Kentos’ team, spearheaded by Sauer, aiming to demonstrate that nurturing youth talent can thrive under the Tatra Mountains. The Feyenoord prospect is poised to play a pivotal role in this venture.