Niko Ilicevic became a joint-youngest Bundesliga player at 16 years and one day, according to Eintracht Frankfurt's match accounts dated 1 November. Eintracht Frankfurt also beat Hamburg 3–1 at home, its 1 November report confirms.
A late appearance, then a shot
Ilicevic was one of Frankfurt’s substitutes for the league game. According to Frankfurt’s English report, he replaced Can Uzun in the second half. Frankfurt’s German report states that Uzun was subbed out in added time and after the home team had taken the lead.
SportsRivo cross-checked the club’s English report with the German match account. The English report documented a substitution; the German account placed the substitution in added time, and mentioned Ilicevic taking a shot afterward. Both accounts therefore point to an appearance in the match, as opposed to merely being a substitute who was referred to, but didn’t participate in the match.
Frankfurt had taken the lead when Warmed Omari turned Farès Chaibi's delivery into his own net. Hamburg answered through Terem Moffi, leaving the teams level at the interval. Raphael Onyedika then converted after a parried header, and Younes Ebnoutalib finished a move created by Uzun to complete the home victory. The sequence comes from Frankfurt's English match report.
Hamburg still pressed in the closing stages. The club account describes goalkeeper Noah Atubolu making saves from Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit and Otto Stange, while Omari struck the bar. Ilicevic's introduction came after those chances, as Frankfurt protected its lead.
Frankfurt's youth route meets a league mark
The club report calls Ilicevic Frankfurt's youngest debutant as well as a joint holder of the Bundesliga mark. Frankfurt had also beaten Hamburg in the DFB-Pokal earlier in the week, but this appearance came in the league rematch. The distinction matters because the age mark concerns Bundesliga appearances.
Eintracht head coach Adi Hütter said after the match: “There is opportunity at Eintracht: Elias Baum, Jeremiaha Maluze and now Niko Ilicevic.” Hütter's comment describes the debut as part of a pathway from youth football into the senior side.
Record and result for Frankfurt
- Ilicevic's appearance put him level with the Bundesliga's youngest players and made him Frankfurt's youngest debutant, according to the club's match report.
- Frankfurt secured a league win over Hamburg after also beating the same opponent in the cup earlier that week, the club's report confirms.
Paderborn away next
Eintracht Frankfurt's official schedule lists an away Bundesliga fixture against Paderborn on 7 November. The club now moves from the Hamburg rematch to that league visit.