Liverpool's New Hope: Dominik Szoboszlai and the Journey to Strengthen the Midfield

Liverpool's New Hope: Dominik Szoboszlai and the Journey to Strengthen the Midfield

Liverpool's New Hope: Dominik Szoboszlai(Getty)

 Since the beginning of the last season, Liverpool has been at the center of discussion due to their midfield weakness. As much as the season progressed, the cries of the "All Reds" supporters increased. Even during the January transfer window, Liverpool fans were eagerly awaiting a midfielder. However, no rescue came for Liverpool through the Anfield tunnel. It is said that the weakness in the midfield, combined with the gloom of the club's management, brought an end to the season for Liverpool. The result is that the club had to end the season outside the top four.

Perhaps the failure of the previous season has shaken the management, as they have quickly brought in two midfielders without waiting for the start of the upcoming season. First, Liverpool brought in Argentine World Cup-winning hero Alexis MacAllister, and now another midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai, is set to join the team. BBC has reported that Liverpool is paying €70 million to bring him from RB Leipzig.

At 22 years old, Szoboszlai is not an unfamiliar name, but in the coming days, he will establish himself as a trusted figure among Liverpool supporters. Joining Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool has given him a fantastic platform. This journey of the Hungarian prodigy, which suddenly came into the limelight at Liverpool, actually started much earlier. Perhaps even before his birth. Football runs in his blood!

Szoboszlai's father, Jolt, himself was a professional footballer. He has the experience of playing in Hungary's top league. His father did not think differently when it came to his son. Instead, he passed on the story of kicking the ball with Szoboszlai's feet. Rather, listen to it from his father's mouth, "When Dominik (Szoboszlai) started walking, I immediately put a ball at his feet. He used to come to watch me play, and he seemed very interested."

In 2007, Jolt left Video Tone Club and established a club of his own called Phoenix Gold. The academy of that club paved the way for Sobosolai's success. Jolt, referring to his affinity for football and the camaraderie with boys, said, "If he didn't go to school, he could be found on the training field. I can't remember if he had any other toys; my entire focus was on the ball."

During Sobosolai's early days, Video Tone (which later changed its name to Feharbar) was a pilgrimage site for children aspiring to be footballers in the Secesfeherbar region. That's why he too walked the same path. However, Sobosolai did not do it himself; his father established a club for himself. Sobosolai spent most of his childhood time in the club gym. Alongside his father and a group of coaches, they worked to groom this school-going child.

This club had a relatively new coaching approach, where more emphasis was placed on technique and focus. In training, golf balls were often given to the players, so they couldn't hold onto each other's clothes. Jolt said, "My focus was to improve the technical skills of the players. The philosophy here was primarily about playing football well. When you excel in skill, the game becomes even more enjoyable."

This football philosophy quickly brought a new wave to Hungarian football. In 2011 and 2013, Sobosolai won the Cardinal Cup in the age group categories. On the path to victory, Phoenix Gold defeated clubs like Bayern Munich, Norwich City, FC Basel, and Red Bull Salzburg. During this time, everyone called Sobosolai the "Small One" or the "Little One." This name was given because he played with footballers older than himself. Despite leaving Phoenix Gold, he has also played for MTK Budapest for a season.

Among them, Sobosalai catches the eye of the scouts. Before this, he had also participated in trials in Italy and the Netherlands. However, his fate was determined to play for the country in the top 15 teams. Seeing his game, Salzburg decides to take him into the team. However, due to being only 15 years old, the Austrian club cannot immediately include him in the team. According to the rules, Sobosalai had been given regular trials until he was eligible to be included in the team. They signed him once he turned 16. However, Sobosalai has also played for Salzburg's affiliate club FC Liefering for a few days.

The environment in Salzburg was completely new for him. He had no trouble finding a place in the team before. But in Salzburg, he had to compete with some talented players. Even in his first training session, he had to face tough challenges in midfield. He was tackled quite harshly. Despite all this, Sobosalai did not lose his temper. He responded to the aggression with counterattacks. As a result, at the end of the training session, he left his opponents with bloody mouths.

Regarding him, Red Bull's Sporting Director Christoph Freund said, "He comes to Red Bull as a young player. He was extraordinary at that time. He had tremendous self-confidence." However, there were also some drawbacks for Sobosalai, which he got rid of while playing for FC Liefering. Mentally, he gained great strength there. When he was crowned with the main team's jersey, he was not even eighteen years old."

Sobosalai also appears on the radar of the national team. With his help, Hungary's youth team won the European Championship under-17. As a result, Hungary gained the ability to compete in any major tournament for almost a decade. After that, at the age of 16, he was also called up to the national team. Although he was crowned with Hungary in 2018. After that, gradually, Sobosalai established himself as a symbol of hope and expectation in Hungarian football. He has played 32 matches before the age of 22.

The country dreams of rediscovering the lost tradition with him. Once, Puskás and Hidekuti of Ferencváros revived the Hungarian romance by offering football as a gift. However, beneath the weight of failure, those happy memories have faded over time. Now, Szoboszlai is dreaming anew.

According to many, a talented player like him has not emerged since the 1986 World Cup. He certainly has the ability to become one of them in the near future. To witness glimpses of his talent, one must go back to the UEFA Euro qualifiers in 2019. On that day, Szoboszlai showcased his tremendous skill on the path to a 2-1 victory over Croatia. He dominated the match and expanded his influence. Later, in 2020, he rose to the top of the Golden Boy Award list, further solidifying his status as the best.

Szoboszlai arrived at RB Leipzig in 2021 from Salzburg. Even in the German club, he was outstanding throughout the previous season. In 46 matches, he scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists. He played a crucial role in Leipzig's success, not only winning the German Cup but also securing a third-place position in the Bundesliga. He can also contribute to attacking plays as a midfielder, and his passing and free-kick abilities are exceptional. This versatility is what attracted Liverpool, who have mainly focused on midfield challenges, to sign Szoboszlai.