Thus, Stepanov broke several records. He became the youngest Ukrainian at the Champions League level. The previous record belonged to Dmytro Chygrinsky, who played at this level at the age of 18. He also became the youngest player of Bayer Leverkusen at the Champions League level. The previous record was held by current Arsenal player Kai Havertz.
Injuries of competitors gave Stepanov a chance Bayera infirmary is full. Due to health problems, Leverkusen lost many players of the offensive line. First of all, we are talking about the Nigerian striker Victor Boniface. In the current Bundesliga season, he has already scored 8 goals. He is a power forward who is similar to Stepanov in his profile. Xabi Alonso has only one striker left – the Czech Patrik Schick.
Wingers – Frenchman Martin Terrier and Moroccan Amin Adli – are also out of the game. Plus the German attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann. In recent matches, Bayer can’t even recruit players for a full application.
The coach of the team, Xabi Alonso, is starving for personnel in the attacking line. When you lose three players of the offensive line, there is nothing else left but to trust young football players. Stepanov is currently the best forward of the youth team. In the current season, he has 10 goals for the U-19 team. Last season was also productive for Artem.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Artem Stepanov will debut in the Champions League In Europe, it somehow works easier, when the main player is injured, then a football player from the youth team is invited to take his place. Youth joins work with the first team systematically. Stepanov trained with the base more than once, as did another Ukrainian legionnaire of Leverkusen, goalkeeper Oleksandr Petrenko.
Stepanov’s debut for the first team of “Bayer” should be considered as an advance. It is unlikely that he is ready to be successful at the level of adult football. The coach shows that he trusts the Ukrainian striker, believes in him, gives chances. Then everything depends solely on Artem himself. He needs to work even harder to really establish himself in adult football. When the injured players start to return, the situation will not change for the better. It is one thing to advance and come on as a substitute when the fate of the match has already been decided, and it is quite another to win competition from the players of the national teams. If we speak objectively, while Stepanov is weaker than Patrick Schick and Boniface. Wingers Terje and Adli will also add depth in the forward position.
When a player artificially enters adult football, it can have serious consequences. For example, Taras Mykhavko became the main player of “Dynamo” in the current season not because he won the competition, but only because of injuries to his partners. Oleksandr Shovkovsky sometimes had no alternative to the Bilovar-Myhavko pair at all. It seems very likely that Taras simply could not withstand such a level and is not yet ready for it. Desire, not supported by opportunities, can have a very serious impact on the player’s psychology and confidence.
“Volyn”, “Shakhtar”, “Bavaria”, “Bayer”, national team of Ukraine Artem Stepanov is a native of Lutsk. His father Roman was also a professional football player and played for “Volyn”, “Dynamo” Brest, FC “Lviv”. In 2018, he completed professional performances. Played as a defensive midfielder. There were no special stars from the sky during his career.
Artem played for Volyn from 2013 to 2020. After that, he spent two years in the Shakhtar system, and when the war started, he ended up in Germany with his family. As far as I know, the Stepanov family was in no hurry to sign anything with the Donetsk club, so after the war, Stepanov had the opportunity to leave Shakhtar without compensation. Then at once three representatives of the “miners” born in 2007, natives of Western Ukraine, ended up in “Bavaria”. Strilchuk and Olichenko remained in Munich, and Stepanov never signed a contract. At that time, there were rumors in football circles that the people of Munich suspected that Artem was older than his official age.
In Leverkusen, Artem’s business went up. He immediately started scoring a lot for the 17-year-old team and joining the U-19 team. This season he is playing in the UEFA Youth League and even scored a goal against Milan. Since this season, he has already become a full-fledged player of the youth team. From time to time he was invited to practice with the first team. I know for sure that Italian and English clubs were interested in the player. But the Ukrainian decided to stay in Germany and signed a long-term contract with Leverkusen. In Germany, the player is taken care of by his father, who works for the club as a driver.
Stepanov is the main forward of the Ukrainian national team of his age. Because of this, the other two attackers of 2007 – Bohdan Popov and Dmytro Bogdanov – are forced to play on the wings. Artem participated in the qualification for Euro U-17 and in the final part of the tournament. At first he worked with Volodymyr Yezersky, and then with Yuriy Moroz. He did not show anything at the Euro. Dmytro Mykhaylenko invited Artem to the selection meeting in 2006, but he did not take him to the qualification.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. May 2024. Artem Stepanov is part of the Ukrainian U-17 national team Now Stepanov’s chances will grow even to go to the youth World Cup and qualify for the youth national team, provided he continues to play for the first team of Bayer Leverkusen. Already in the next convocation, he can apply for the youth national team of Ukraine, because actually there is only one Igor Horbach.
Indeed, Stepanov’s main virtue is anthropometry. Against the background of his peers, he stands out for his stoutness. Artyom knows how to use dimensions, to win a power struggle. Especially at the youth level, it brings results. A kind of Ukrainian analogue of Erling Holland, or a continuation of Artem Dovbyk’s line.
Somewhere you can compare Artem with Matvii Ponomarenko from Dynamo. Thanks to natural data and physical strength, he is effective at the level of his peers. When you have to play against adult football players, then strength virtues are a little lacking. A little more than good anthropometry is needed. Matvii still cannot overcome this problem. Let’s see how it will turn out for Artem at the adult level.
Stepanov is a classic nine. A striker who is focused on finishing and needs the support of the midfielders. Can play in one touch, in advance, finish. He cannot create moments by himself. In adult football, defenders also have good physical data and anthropometry.
Stepanov’s main flaw is his character. He had misunderstandings with the coaches of the youth national teams of Ukraine. The player expressed dissatisfaction with the substitutions. He put himself above other players. All this spoils the atmosphere within the team. It is possible that Stepanov was not called up to the national team in 2006 not because of his football qualities, but because of his personal qualities.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Artem Stepanov Perhaps selfishness is a good thing for an attacker. Remember the same Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also has a very difficult character. But thanks to his own charisma, he achieved a lot in football. Only Artem’s further career will give an answer to this question. Difficult character is not only negative. You can also benefit from this.
It is worth noting that Ukraine can really lose Stepanov in terms of the national team. Now Germany has simplified the form of acquiring citizenship. You can already have a passport in 3-4 years, and if we are talking about a talented athlete, the procedure can be faster. If Artem continues to progress quickly, to participate in the matches of the first team of “Bayer”, then already at the level of the youth national team, he can change his football citizenship. Perhaps the national team of Ukraine should think about it now and play it for the first team, so that no questions arise later.
Artem Stepanov’s future depends on himself. It is very important that after leaving for the first team, his head does not spin and star sickness does not begin. He has a penchant for such things. How many examples have there been that after the first success a young player was lost. Especially if it concerns the Ukrainian mentality. It is very dangerous to praise our football players. Now it is very important for Stepanov to concentrate on football and set himself the next goal – constant playing practice at the level of the first team of Bayer Leverkusen.
Serhii Tyshchenko
Source: sport.ua