Enzo Millot: Who is the young French playmaker starring for VfB Stuttgart?
Enzo Millot has helped VfB Stuttgart to a runners-up finish in the Bundesliga, into the UEFA Champions League and now also has an Olympic silver medal. But there's plenty more to come from the French youngster...
bundesliga.com profiles the midfield marvel...
Data correct as of 23 September 2024
Age: 22 (born 17 July 2002)
Club: VfB Stuttgart
Position: Midfield
Country: France (39 caps and six goals at youth level)
Key stats
Millot played a key role as Stuttgart qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 14 years, scoring five goals and providing five assists in 31 league appearances. Unsurprisingly, the club's hierarchy were desperate to tie him down to a long-term contract, and they did just that at the start of 2024 as Millot put pen to paper on a deal that runs through to 2028. That leaves him plenty of time to write several chapters in a career that started at Monaco when he was just 15 years old.
Having grown up within 100 miles of Paris, it was in the principality that Millot's professional journey would begin. However, despite showing glimpses of his talent at youth level, the Lucé native managed just three first-team appearances as he struggled to displace Cesc Fàbregas, Aleksandr Golovin and Aurélien Tchouaméni in central midfield.
Watch: The best of Enzo Millot for VfB Stuttgart
Millot, though, appeared on the radar of Stuttgart under their policy of targeting promising young players, making the switch to Swabia in 2021. Initially, a knee injury curtailed his progress, meaning he was restricted to just six appearances in 2021/22. He finally became a regular the following campaign, featuring 23 times in the league, although he wasn't able to stop Die Schwaben from finishing in the relegation play-off spot.
He did, though, save his first goals in Bundesliga action for the best possible time - a brace in a 3-1 win in Hamburg ensured his side's top-flight status. In 2023/24, he needed just four outings to match his tally from the previous season, with strikes against Freiburg, RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim contributing to a second-place finish. This term, we have perhaps seen the best Millot yet, especially when he ran rings around Borussia Dortmund by scoring one and creating two more in a 5-1 triumph.
At international level, he is still waiting for his first call-up from Didier Deschamps. However, he has racked up 33 caps for France's U16s and U17s, and was part of the latter Les Bleus side that made the semi-finals at both the European Championship and World Cup. He was also a part of the France squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics, even finding the back of the net in the final as the hosts ultimately departed with a silver medal.
Watch: VfB Stuttgart 5-1 Borussia Dortmund - highlights
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Plays a bit like: Dani Olmo
Although having started his career as a deeper central midfielder, it has become apparent in Stuttgart that Millot's comfort on the ball and eye for a neat pass is better deployed in an attacking midfield role like the former playmaker. Both players have a slender physique but the agility to pop into pockets of space between the opposition lines to become a key attacking fulcrum.
Did you know?
While at the Monaco academy, Millot's dreams of making the big time saw him work as a ball boy for the Ligue 1 outfit and collect players' shirts when he could. A 15-year-old Millot boasted of having jerseys from Rony Lopes and Fabinho.
What they're saying
"Enzo was one of the key engines in such a successful first half of the season. His personal development has been remarkable. He has taken the step as a very young player to becoming a dependable performer." - Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth on Millot's contract extension in January 2024
"We have a top team, a great coach and we have been very successful recently - that is why I want to stay at Stuttgart." - Millot himself on his contract extension
"The boy is blessed with exceptional qualities, really unbelievable. He often flies a little under the radar, but against Dortmund he deserved to be on the big stage. That was outstanding, a different level. He set a standard that he is welcome to repeat." - Sebastian Hoeneß following Millot's showing in the 5-1 win over Dortmund in September 2024
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