Max Dowman was hailed as a ‘miracle player’ by Sparta Prague after he made Champions League history with Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their perfect begin to their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 victory in Prague as Bukayo Saka scored a penalty before Mikel Merino netted twice within the second half.
Dowman, meanwhile, became the youngest player in Champions League history after he was brought on as a second-half substitute by Arteta.
At 15 years and 308 days old, Dowman has broken the record previously held by Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days when he made his Champions League debut for Borussia Dortmund in December 2020.
‘I do know which player it was, but I had no idea he was fifteen years old,’ Sparta captain Lukas Provod said with a smile after his side’s defeat to Arsenal.
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‘And hats off to him for making it here in Eden – the youngest player within the Champions League in history. I will likely be watching him and I consider he’ll only grow.’
Sparta defender David Zima added: ‘The difference is in how the players are approached. After all, there are numerous more footballers in England, it’s a much bigger country and every so often a miracle player is born.
‘There are some physical flaws but I looked completely different at fifteen. This is definitely a grown-up player while you see him on the pitch.’
Meanwhile, Sparta head coach, Jindrich Trpisovsky, insisted that Dowman didn’t look misplaced against his players.
When asked if was ‘extreme’ to see a 15-year-old play in a senior Champions League game, Trpisovsky replied: ‘It definitely is but when you see him on the sector, you wouldn’t say that.
‘He had resilience, for instance in a duel at the road, after all the substitute player is at all times more energizing and has more strength, but he withstood big things. His technique is great.
‘At fifteen years old, he’s an incredible extreme at this level. For Arsenal, one other great player, who will likely be produced from their very own incubator to the highest level. Which is the toughest thing in a giant club.’
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