The small German town where Juventus Kenan Yildiz became a star

The distance from his childhood home to the small pitch where it all began is only 800 meters. Young Kenan Yildiz used to make that journey countless times, first holding the hand of his uncle Ulli, and later on his own bike, fearlessly navigating the banks of the Danube. The neighborhood of Stadtamhof, a gray expanse of houses and factories in southern Regensburg, seemed like the biggest metropolis on earth to a young Kenan. That small green space? It was his stadium. The games he played with friends? The Champions League.

A steep descent was his final ritual before the magic began. With a ball at his feet, he would attack and defend, covering the 50 meters between the goals. This was his life. It was until a youth coach from Sallern, Detlef Staude, noticed him and asked, "Why don't you come and play for us?" Any initial hesitation quickly gave way to a newfound passion. Kenan began to think about football day and night, eventually becoming the best player in his team and later in the entire neighborhood.

Discovered by Bayern Munich

The move to local club Regensburg led to a call from Bayern Munich when he was just seven years old. Everything happened at supersonic speed as the football world began to take notice of his exceptional quality. One has to wonder what would have happened if Detlef Staude hadn't spotted a young boy with an unusually refined technique, kicking a ball against a wall and making a perfect, beautiful sound.

It was on that pitch, with the freshly cut grass and the river flowing nearby, that a star was born. And it's no surprise that today, you can still find people there who remember his story. Like Jurgen, 62, who has always lived on Weichser Damm, the street that runs alongside the pitch. "I know very well who Yildiz is and I've followed his story," he said in fragmented English. "The 'Fußballplatz' is an institution in Regensburg because it's one of the most beautiful and still free spaces. Many kids started playing here, especially those who live nearby."

Yildiz's first team: Sallern SV

Yildiz and his best friend, Talha, and their schoolmates would improvise teams and games until the sun went down. About six kilometers away, at a small club with a similar modest setting, Yildiz donned his first real jersey for Sallern SV. The club's simple sign, the white lines on the field, and the backdrop of mountains tell a story of a place trapped in its past. There’s a small bar, a terrace, and some chairs, with the only sponsors being a local beer and a chip brand.

An old man near the pitch was surprised to see visitors from Italy. He explained he had been involved with the club for a long time but was now "just a local." He only saw Yildiz play when the Juventus star had already become famous. "But when I think that he started right here, where we are now, it gives me goosebumps," he said. "This is a place for families, for having fun."

At Sallern, Yildiz learned what it meant to be part of a team. "We didn't have tactics or a defensive phase, and often there wasn't even a goalkeeper. You just came and enjoyed the afternoon." But Kenan was always a little bit more. He didn't just live with the label of a "prodigy"; he made everyone who saw him believe it.

From Bayern to Juve

At the age of six, his next step took him to Regensburg, which was enough to earn him a trial at Bayern Munich. He became a beacon for the Bayern youth teams, not just as a soloist but as a captain who helped his teammates. The climb to the senior level culminated in his move to Juventus, where he progressed from the Primavera team to the senior squad, earning the trust of Massimiliano Allegri and, more recently, Igor Tudor. It seems like an eternity has passed, but it has only been a decade since his world was turned upside down.

After concluding his Club World Cup experience, another mini-milestone in his career, Yildiz recently returned home and everyone wanted to see him. He visited his family and friends, including Can Uzun, now at Eintracht Frankfurt. Uzun convinced him to train on the fields of Wenzenbach, a football school a few kilometers north of Regensburg. "He was with us for just a couple of sessions," said Matthias Beier, who runs the facility. "We knew Can, but we had only seen Kenan on TV. He's an incredible talent."

A perfect example

Yildiz signed autographs and took selfies with the children at the center, even training under the rain. He also left a gift: a Juventus No. 10 jersey in a display case next to one from Can Uzun. "For our boys, he is the perfect example," Beier said. "We have rarely seen such a talented footballer who is also so humble. Can he win the Ballon d'Or? Who knows. But he has everything to try. He particularly has the will to leave no stone unturned."

Beier recounts how Yildiz immediately got back into his training routine despite just returning from the US. "Usually, when you go home, you just want to relax. He immediately got into it. There was another season to prepare."

The rain outside intensified, but the children on the pitch didn't stop playing, continuing their work, tempering their spirits, and hoping that the storm was only temporary. It seemed like another lesson, another reference to Kenan: you're not allowed to stop, not now.