Niko Kovac believes Mathis Albert can expect to play a more significant role at Borussia Dortmund following the teenager’s bright start with the U.S. men’s national team.
“Sooner or later, probably sooner”
Ahead of Dortmund’s 2‑2 home draw with Werder Bremen, Kovac told the league site that there are “no restrictions” on what Albert, 17, can achieve in the professional game.
The youngster didn’t feature against Bremen and still hasn’t logged a Bundesliga minute for Dortmund this campaign. His only appearance this term came in the DFB‑Pokal, a 5‑0 rout of HEBC Hamburg in early September.
Yet Albert is slated for much more game time, Kovac assured the American.
[He’s] a very talented youngster showing great signs in training, already featured in a cup match, and sooner or later, probably sooner, will get a lot more minutes here at BVB than half a year ago, Kovac added. In my view, Albert could become Dortmund’s next breakout star.
Albert shines for the Stars and Stripes
The day before the Bremen stalemate, Albert flew back to Germany after a successful first international window with the USMNT. Debuting versus Peru, he then played in all four fall friendlies as Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful squad won every match.
After the 4‑1 win over Peru, a pleased Pochettino noted of Albert: “He says: I want to get out there, I want to play, I want to show myself. That’s what we need and that’s why I’m happy.”
The September‑October stretch even saw Albert make USMNT history – albeit briefly. At 17 years, four months and eight days he became the youngest scorer when he struck in a 4‑2 victory over Chile.
Less than a week later, Cavan Sullivan beat his teammate’s mark in a 3‑0 win over Mexico, having turned 17 just five days earlier.
One record still belongs to Albert: the youngest American ever to play in the Bundesliga. In April, 16 days shy of 17, he cameoed against Freiburg, eclipsing Gio Reyna’s 2020 Dortmund milestone.
For now, Albert’s league debut remains his only appearance in the German top flight.
When does Albert’s Dortmund play next?
His next chance to double that tally arrives on Saturday, October 17, when Dortmund travels to Union Berlin on matchday six. Before then, Kovac’s side faces Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Wednesday, October 14, in the Champions League.
After surrendering a two‑goal lead late against Bremen, Dortmund has slipped to second in the Bundesliga, trailing Freiburg on goal difference. In Europe, the 1997 champions opened the group stage with a 3‑2 win over Villarreal in September.
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