Aidan McHenry is back again to recommend some 2. Bundesliga players to sign on FM23. Aidan works as a scout across Germany and Spain.
The 2. Bundesliga has been stacked with historic clubs like Hamburg and Hannover the past couple seasons and with that has come some quietly higher quality football in the second tier. This has allowed Germany’s second tier to become a steppingstone for many talents to get noticed and begin thriving earlier than ever before. I have compiled 5 players who have taken advantage and should be in consideration for your next German Football Manager 2023 save.
Lennard Maloney (23), FC Heidenheim
Maloney is an American center back who signed from Borussia Dortmund II in the summer and quickly earned a starting spot for Heidenheim. He has been one of their most consistent defenders all season and has showed some ball-playing ability, too. He performed well in a cup match against Bundesliga table-leader Union Berlin, suggesting the US men’s national team could have come calling for the World Cup if he were not playing at a higher tier. Bring Maloney to your next Bundesliga club for a cheap and reliable player trained in Germany.
Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer (21), Hamburg SV
Königsdörffer is a special talent as a pacy dribbler and creator down the right wing with his magical right foot. Not only is he a technical dribbler with vision, but he is a clutch finisher, too. He has scored a few key goals for Hamburg already this season. Königsdörffer signed with Hamburg in the summer to stay in 2. Bundesliga after Dynamo Dresden was relegated and has only improved. He can also play center forward as a false 9 and recently made his senior national debut for Ghana. Keep him on your radar when searching for a dynamic attacker to support your front line.
Patric Pfeiffer (23), SV Darmstadt 98
Pfeiffer has proven to be an impressive physical and technical presence leading Darmstadt’s back line at right center back. Pick him up before he is gone—a player of his height and aerial ability combined with his surprising movement skills will be off the market quickly. Add that to Pfeiffer’s ball-playing ability and defensive technique, and that is a must have player to build your back line around regardless of tactics. Bringing Pfeiffer into the fold would mean recruiting arguably the best center back in the league from a title contender in 2. Bundesliga.
Igor Matanovic (19), FC St. Pauli
If your club needs an eventual successor at target man, look no further than Matanovic. The Croatian is a tall threat in the box with a nice right foot to finish and pass with. He is still developing but is flashing poacher’s instincts with his youth club St. Pauli on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt. Matanovic is a little thin for his height and will need to fill out, while the technical side of his game needs refinement, too. Once he overcomes that he will be a fine target man in Germany. Approach him for another loan at the expiration of his current one, as another season in 2. Bundesliga will likely be needed for his development.
Derrick Köhn (23), Hannover 96
Statistically, Köhn has been the best attacker on the left wing in 2. Bundesliga this season after returning to Germany from Willem II this summer. He is mainly a left wingback and left back and has great vision and crossing ability. Along with that his ball-carrying ability and pace pose a great threat to his opposition whenever he is on ball. Köhn is very offensive-minded and would be best used in a 3 or 5 at the back system. Sign him up to instantly improve play down the wing wide left.
Thanks again to Aidan for these great recommendations of 2.Bundesliga players to sign on FM23
