Bayern McMunich: The Scottish Influx to Bavaria

They might have to add a sporran to the traditional Bavarian Lederhosen pretty soon if the influx of young Scottish talent at Bayern Munich is anything to go by. The recent triple winners have been employing a transfer policy which has seen them buying up talented teenagers with an eye on bringing them through the club. Scotland has provided two such recent arrivals with another in the pipeline.

So, who are the Caledonians making the move to Bavaria?

17-year-old Liam Morrison made the switch from Glasgow last summer after impressing for Celtic during their pre-season tour of Austria and Switzerland, where Bayern scouted him. The central defender signed for the Bayern academy despite a professional contract on offer at Parkhead.

The youngster has impressed so much in his first year in Germany that he has just been promoted to the U-19 squad, where he will be coached by former Bayern star Martin Demichelis.

“The experience the coaches have of top clubs and the amount of time they put in to help young players like me can only help me so much” Morrison said recently.

“Hopefully, I can progress to the Under 23s who are Bayern II, who play in Bundesliga 3. And then the plan is to eventually move into the first team which would be the dream. It was a big, big move for me, but it’s a great place to learn.”

He has had his injury problems this year but is not short of ambition claiming he wants to “become the best defender in the world”.

Not content with prising one talented player away from Celtic, Bayern repeated the act recently with the signing of 16-year-old winger Barry Hepburn. “We are very happy that the transfer of Barry has gone through” Bayern campus director Jochen Sauer said. “He is an attacking player with a lot of potential that we want to help with his further development.”

Like Morrison before him, Celtic were prepared to offer a full professional contract, but the teenager has taken the opportunity to prove himself with the European champions. He will start in the U-17 academy and look to emulate the progress made by compatriot Morrison.

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The Scottish arrivals may not end there with reports also linking Bayern with Hearts 18-year-old left back Aaron Hickey. The player has visited Munich to see the facilities and it is believed Bayern want to put him straight into the Bayern II side that won the 3.Liga last season.

Bayern face competition from Italian side Bologna, who have already tabled a bid for the teenager and plan to draft him into their Serie A first team squad. Hickey made his debut for Hearts aged 16, and two weeks later became the youngest player to start a Scottish Cup final when he lined up against Celtic in May last year.

Bayern’s only previous Scottish import was striker Alan McInally, who scored 10 goals in 40 appearances between 1989 and 1993.

About Mathew Burt 1058 Articles
Former writer at Goal.com and JustFootball, I've been doing my thing for Bundesliga Fanatic since 2015. A long-suffering Werder Bremen fan and disciple of the Germanic holy trinity...Bier. Wurst und Fußball