Across the continent, the Conference League begins on Thursday with less ceremony than its older European neighbours, yet its opening nights still offer a useful map of football’s next wave. Away from the familiar names and the brighter stages of the Champions League and Europa League, there are young players carrying clubs, careers and ambitions from Zagreb to Monaco, from Denmark to Portugal.
A 19-year-old Croatian centre-back is among the more striking figures in the field: 1.93 metres tall, commanding in the air and unusually threatening when he joins attacks. He has the physical presence to dominate both penalty areas, with a scoring instinct not often found in a defender of his age.
There is also an Israeli attacking midfielder, 22, whose imagination can alter a match in a single moment. A dribbler with a sharp final pass and a habit of arriving in the box, he is essentially a No. 10 who has often been deployed from the left by Míchel. Another midfielder, aged 23 and already impressive at a World Cup, looks ready for a move to one of Europe’s established giants. Mobile, complete and influential on either side of the ball, he has the range to leave a mark on this competition as well as on individual matches.
Scouts will find their own reasons to watch
Midtjylland’s record of uncovering forwards gives added weight to the promise surrounding their 21-year-old Nigerian attacker. Clever in the penalty area and awkward for defenders to contain, he has the instincts to contribute heavily in goals and assists.
An 18-year-old centre-back already linked with Barcelona is another name worth noting. Left-footed and remarkably composed for his age, he has the profile of a defender who could become one of the leading players in his position over the next decade.
Monaco have a German striker, 20, whose early reputation was made in Borussia Dortmund’s youth sides through his finishing. He has since shown that same hunger at senior level in France. With Germany still searching for depth at centre-forward, his progress has a wider significance beyond the principality.
Brighton’s new forward arrives after making his name at Olympiacos. He is a versatile attacker, capable of combining with teammates as well as creating danger himself, qualities that should suit Fabian Hürzeler’s side as he seeks the next step in England.
Monaco also have a 19-year-old wide player who was developed at Troyes and belongs to Manchester City. He has been sent to the Riviera on loan, with Enzo Maresca’s club expecting him to prove that his direct running and willingness to take on defenders can translate into senior impact.
At Braga, another forward has taken a new step after demonstrating his finishing at Partizan and showing his value at Werder Bremen. If confidence carries him through the autumn, he has the kind of predatory touch that can quickly produce a substantial return in front of goal. His tireless running has been so conspicuous that it almost invites comparison with the energy of a battery advertisement.
The final figure is a left-footed, adaptable midfielder who has become indispensable to Míchel. He covers extraordinary ground, begins his work from the middle of the pitch and reaches into almost every area of a game. In a tournament often treated as Europe’s third competition, players such as these can make it feel like a first glimpse of something much larger.
