Schalke 04: 10 reasons to support Schalke this Bundesliga season
By Josh Sippie
3. Knappenschmiede
One of the main things that keep a fanbase invigorated, other than trophies, is new players. But new players don’t just come in the form of marquee signings. They can come in the form of a young teenager promoted to the first team.
No club in the world of football has a better track record of producing superstars from their youth ranks than Schalke and their storied Knappenschmiede. It seems like every single year they have someone new to tell the world about.
The list of Knappenschmiede products is extensive, but includes Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Höwedes, İlkay Gündoğan, Mesut Özil, Julian Draxler, and Leroy Sané. You may notice that this shortlist alone is composed of World Cup winners, Bundesliga winners, Premier League winners, Ligue 1 winners, La Liga winners, Serie A winners, and Champions League winners.
Basically any major trophy that can be won has been won by someone from the historic Knappenschmiede.