Latza handed contract to 2011
23.01.2009
At the beginning of the year Danny Latza made the transition from Schalke's second team to the senior squad. And now the 19-year-old midfielder has signed professional terms in a deal that will tie him to the Royal Blues until 30 June 2011.
Fred Rutten expressed his delight at signing the talented youngster, saying: "Last year I ran the rule over our young talents by inviting them to train with the senior squad and watching them in youth-team games. Danny made a good impression", the Schalke boss said. "He's a good lad who has earned himself a contract through steady hard work. He can also play in a variety of positions."
General manager Andreas Müller sees Latza's development as further evidence of the quality of Schalke's youth work. "It shows that the road to the Bundesliga doesn't always lead directly from the under-19s. Danny Latza has great potential and I'm sure he'll make even more of it by training with the senior squad."
Latza, a member of the Germany under-19 team that won the European Championship last summer after beating Italy 3-1 in the final, is feverishly looking forward to his new role. "I'm delighted things have worked out. I feel I put in some good performances in the second team last year, and now I've now got my reward, which shows you should never give up if things don't work out straightaway", he said.
Born in Gelsenkirchen, Latza (7.12.1989, 1.79 m, 75 kg) joined Schalke back in 1998, having begun his club career with DJK Germania Ückendorf in 1995. The defensive all-rounder will wear the number 26 shirt for the Royal Blues.
