I was doing my usual periodic trolling of random games around European football, and the Bundesliga just happens to be my favorite league to check games out from because 1) their atmospheres and overall games are more likely to be entertaining and 2) you never know which breakout stars you’re going to stumble upon. And I decided to check out Schalke both out of a feeling of nostalgia and a desire to look at what Loris Karius is up to these days, as well as scout up Timo Becker and Nikola Katic defensively.
Schalke managed to keep the clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with new Bundesliga darlings Elversberg, but the player who jumped off the page the most to me was still an Elversberg attacker. And I couldn’t help but notice their 20-year-old American left winger Cole Campbell.
Now, Americans in the Bundesliga are obviously nothing new, and while most of them don’t go on to have long careers there like Steve Cherundolo or become world stars like Christian Pulisic, we’ve seen a lot of starters emerge in the league over the years, especially attackers like Matthew Hoppe, Josh Sargent, and Ricardo Pepi. These days, there are more exciting attackers from the American ranks than before, as the USMNT was mostly producing goalkeeping stars in European football – and specifically in the Bundesliga, more rugged lunchpail players like Jermaine Jones and John Brooks.
Cole Campbell is one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting wingers
But Campbell looks to be more in that Pulisic or Gio Reyna mold, and while he isn’t a nauseatingly discussed Borussia Dortmund player like he could have been before being transferred rather quickly out of the Ruhrpott, I think that only increases his charm. Because Campbell looks like one of the best touchline wingers in the Bundesliga. He is so, so good, even against quality one-on-one defenders, at getting around the outside and putting in dangerous low crosses into that “Corridor of Uncertainty” in the six yard box.
Campbell was having his way with the Schalke defense, and his Bundesliga stats so far through four games look very impressive. The U21 talent is averaging 2.3 dribbles completed and 2.3 fouls drawn per game, which make him one of the most effective dribblers in a league that tends to be a great showcase of dribbling talent. (I mean, just look at how Yan Diomande, another guy with American roots, made his name off the dribble last season for RB Leipzig.)
Now, Cole Campbell is obviously no Diomande, but he is a real young gem in his own right. I’d like to see him develop more range to his passing and refine his game defensively so he can be a more complete winger, but in terms of his ability to take players on and destabilize defenses, he’s already looking like one of the best in the league. And unfortunately because he plays for an underdog team, his creative output probably isn’t going to reflect his one-on-one quality. But if you tune in to an Elverbserg game, I think you are going to love watching Campbell, and while a lot of people are to used to us ugly Yanks hyping up the most mid players, I think Campbell is a guy actually flying under the radar a bit who is worth getting excited about. Hopefully, ESPN and the usual suspects don’t jump the shark and get him Reyna’d.
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.