Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 9y

Steven Ribery likened to Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben

Bayern Munich's reserve team coach says Franck Ribery's younger brother reminds him of Arjen Robben but warned he would have work hard to make the grade.

Steven Ribery, 19, joined the club where his elder brother, 31, has become an icon last season after failing to earn himself a professional contract at Lens, where he had come through the youth academy.

As part of Bayern's second-string outfit, the younger Ribery has caught the eye, and Heiko Vogel told Le Parisien the winger's qualities remind him of those Robben has used to such devastating effect with the first team.

"Steven has a lot of qualities," Vogel said. "He generally plays on the right wing. As a left-footer, he often cuts inside. He sometimes reminds me of Arjen Robben. He still has a lot of room for improvement.

"Steven can have a career, but he has no guarantee. He has to continue his efforts and not give up on anything."

While his brother plays in front of more than 60,000 at the Allianz Arena, Ribery turns out at the more modest Grunwalder Stadion, where Bayern's first team played their matches until the Olympic Stadium was opened in the early 1970s.

Franck often joins the 8,000-strong crowd that watch Vogel's men in action in the fourth tier of German football, and has faith his younger sibling can follow in his footsteps.

"Steven has talent," the former France international is quoted as saying by Le Parisien. "In my opinion, he has the ability to play for a professional club one day, but it's clear the road will be long and complicated.

"He has to work an enormous amount to achieve that. In any case, I have faith in him, and he will have all of my support."

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