In recent football history, there are plenty midfielders to compete for the title of the greatest. From Nedved and Seedorf to Xavi and Iniesta, the comparisons among the fans are frequent and demonstrate the difficulty of answering that question. One of the modern players, who can easily be compared with the legends of the past, is Toni Kroos.

Relentlessly ambitious and commercialized professional clubs recruit thousands of boys into intensive, four‑times‑a‑week training from the age of eight. Their development is of great importance for the clubs as well as their stakeholders. But why is this happening? Is it economically viable to invest in the training of young home-grown athletes, while time is pressing for good results?