Frans Krätzig: Who is Bayern Munich's on-loan young full-back?
Heidenheim will be delighted by the perfect start from the young Frans Krätzig who has shown many flashes of brilliance in a Bayern shirt..
bundesliga.com introduces the Bayern academy graduate...
*stats correct as of 12 January 2025
Age: 21 (born 14 January 2003)
Club: Heidenheim (on loan from Bayern Munich)
Position: Left-back/midfielder
Country: Germany
Key stats
Krätzig was born on 14 January 2003 in Nuremberg and joined his local side as a youngster. After impressing in the Nuremberg youth teams, he was snapped up by Bayern in 2017 at the age of 14. With the club persuading his parents to allow him to board with them in Munich, he became one of the first players at the new, state-of-the-art, FC Bayern Campus.
Originally a midfielder, Krätzig was converted to a left-back by reserves coach Holger Seitz, and his attacking production increased as a result, with the youngster contributing two goals and three assists for Bayern's second team in 2022/23.
He was handed a new contract until 2025 in March 2023, before opening his unofficial account for the seniors in a high-profile summer friendly against Liverpool in Singapore. In September, Krätzig made his first Bundesliga appearance as a substitute in a 7-0 win over Bochum, and followed that a few days later with his first strike in competitive action as Bayern beat Münster 4-0 in the DFB Cup.
Krätzig made four Bundesliga appearances to go along with one UEFA Champions League outing and two DFB Cup games before a winter loan to Austria Vienna. There, Krätzig immediately became a first-team regular and his 17 appearances - including one goal and three assists - ended in the team qualifying for the UEFA Conference League.
A new challenge in the 2024/25 season was then confirmed with a loan spell at Bundesliga runners-up VfB Stuttgart, and after one Bundesliga appearance there he joined Heidenheim on loan in January 2025 until the end of the season, hoping to finally gain regular playing time in the top flight.
With that in mind, he's done his chances for first-team football no harm after scoring the opener against Union Berlin on Matchday 16 for Heidenheim on his loan debut, thundering in a shot with his left-foot past Alexander Schwolow in the Union goal.
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Plays a bit like: David Alaba
Although he is a midfielder-turned left-back providing cover for Davies, Krätzig is stylistically more similar to a Davies predecessor in the Austrian, with his technique setting him apart more than his pace. Whether Krätzig later makes the journey to centre-back like the current Real Madrid man remains to be seen.
Did you know?
Krätzig may have looked pretty carefree in celebrating his wonder goal against Liverpool, but the youngster has developed a reputation for discipline and diligence at the Bayern Campus with his teammates jokingly nicknaming him "the boarding school manager."
What they're saying
"First and foremost it's about defending the goal and not thinking too offensively. The coach quickly drummed that into me. When I have moves forward, the qualities I've learned over the years in attacking midfield obviously help me. It's cool back there on the left!" - Krätzig on his positional evolution.
"He has deserved this chance for weeks. He always concentrates in training and is full of enjoyment. I didn't expect anything less than this performance from him, as he always shows that in training." - Former Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel on Krätzig's first Bundesliga appearance in September 2023.
"In Frans Krätzig, we are loaning a highly talented player from Bayern until the end of the season who has enormous potential. We are very pleased that Frans now wants to take the next steps in his still young career with us." - Heidenheim chairman Holger Sanwald.
Related news
Heidenheim triumph over 10-man Union Berlin
Goals from Frans Krätzig and Adrian Beck secured Heidenheim a 2-0 win over a Union Berlin side, who had Tom Rothe sent off in Steffen Baumgart's first game in charge as coach.
Zivzivadze and Krätzig: Heidenheim's new dream duo?
Heidenheim's January signings are shades of former stars Kleindienst and Beste, but can Frank Schmidt replicate the formula for success?
Krätzig shines on Heidenheim debut
The 21-year-old Bayern loanee was on the scoresheet as Frank Schmidt's men beat Union Berlin 2-0.