Who is Aleksandar Pavlovic? Germany's 'next Toni Kroos' starring for Bayern

Tom Weber

• Updated: 6 Mar 2024 19:03 GMT
• 9 min read

Aleksandar Pavlovic has burst onto the scene at Bayern Munich this term.

Few Bundesliga fans knew his name prior to this season, but the young midfielder has quickly managed to establish himself as a vital cog in Bayern Munich's team and he is already being likened to a Germany great despite the fact that his international allegiances had been up in the air for some time.

So, who is Aleksandar Pavlovic and how good is he really?

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What position does Pavlovic play?

Pavlovic is a central midfielder, typically playing in a more withdrawn holding role.

How good is Pavlovic?

Born in Munich to Serbian parents, Pavlovic has been with Bayern for pretty much as long as he can remember, joining the club as a seven-year-old. After working his way through the age groups in the academy, he got his first taste of senior football by playing for Bayern II in the fourth-tier Regionalliga in March 2023.

It quickly became clear that the youngster was destined for more than just the semi-professional fourth division. Pavlovic frequently trained with Bayern's first team already under Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel was equally impressed with him and named him as a substitute on two occasions towards the end of the 2022/23 season.

This season, the 19-year-old has fully burst onto the scene. Given his first-team bow by Tuchel in what has been a difficult campaign, Pavlovic immediately stole the show and has since gone on to become a real bright spot in the side. He only has 14 senior appearances to his name to date, but such has been his impact that a BILD editorial compared him to none other than Toni Kroos in February 2024.

Pavlovic shares the playmaking abilities of Kroos, though he is more comfortable sitting at the base of midfield than the World Cup-winning Real Madrid legend. What really makes him seem like a Kroos clone is his unbelievable set-piece delivery, which has already seen him rack up two assists in addition to his two Bundesliga goals. It is a testament to his quality that, when he came into Bayern's side, he immediately took on set-piece duties as if he were a seasoned veteran.

In Germany, Pavlovic is being hailed as a 'Supertalent' and the youngster is already on the radar of national team boss Nagelsmann, though the Serbian FA is still trying to convince him to switch allegiances. However, it is said that he has no intention of doing so. If he keeps going on his current trajectory, he could be part of Nagelsmann's EURO 2024 squad.

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What clubs are interested in Pavlovic?

Bayern would be foolish to entertain offers for Pavlovic and so far there have been no suggestions that any European giant would even attempt to sign the youngster.

When does Pavlovic's contract expire?

Pavlovic's contract expires on June 30, 2027.

How old is Pavlovic?

Pavlovic was born on May 3, 2004, making him 19 years old.

What is Pavlovic's Instagram?

Pavlovic's Instagram is @alekspavlovic_ and has 125k followers as of March 2024.