Who Is Set to Be Bayern Munich's Next Big Star?

The name on the back of the shirt is the same, as is the No. 7, and there are high hopes at Bayern Munich that Steven Ribery will follow in the footsteps of brother Franck to become one of the club’s big stars.

At 12 years the junior of the five-time Bundesliga winner and 2013 Ballon d’Or nominee, the younger Ribery has plenty of time ahead of him to try and forge a career even half as successful as his big brother’s, but even before the 19-year-old has emerged on the radar of Pep Guardiola’s first-team selection, he’s been catching the eye for the German club’s second string.

As per transfermarkt.co.uk, Ribery has one goal and three assists in his four matches for Bayern Munich II this season, with his 263 minutes on the pitch meaning he has had a hand in a goal every 66 minutes or so.

They are numbers Franck would be proud of, but the elder Ribery sibling isn’t the player who immediately comes to mind for those within the club when they think of Steven.

Back in January, Bayern Munich II coach Heiko Vogel told Le Parisien, via ESPN FC:

"

Steven has a lot of qualities.

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.

"

The genes of Franck Ribery mixed with the talent of Robben makes for a pretty formidable figure, and the wide man has impressed onlookers with a couple of fine goals for the second string following his move from France.

However, such is the level of talent demanded of any player in the Bayern first-team squad, it will be tough for him to make a breakthrough, as indicated by older brother, Franck, who said in that Le Parisien piece, again via ESPN FC.

"

Steven has talent.

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.

"

Bayern aren’t just any old professional club, though, and there would appear to be others who are ahead of Ribery in the pecking order as they bid for a place in Guardiola’s plans.

VI-Images/Getty Images

As Bleacher Report featured columnist Clark Whitney noted in June, the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Sinan Kurt, Gianluca Gaudino, Niklas Dorsch and Marco Stefandl are certainly five names who are more at the forefront of the manager’s mind.

Among that quintet, Kimmich, 20, is probably the player who is furthest down the road in his Bayern career right now having made five appearances for the first team this season, including a first Bundesliga start and the full 90 minutes in the win over Darmstadt last week.

As Whitney indicated in June, Dorsch, 17, is a hugely promising youngster, while Gaudino managed to appear 11 times for the first team last season and will only turn 19 in November.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Any one of these players could go on and reach star status for Bayern Munich in the years to come, but they are going to need the combination of an awful lot of factors.

It isn’t just about having a famous brother or the comparisons to a club legend, it is about the hard work and dedication which allow players to reach the very top.

Steven Ribery might never pull on a Bayern first-team jersey, and some of those promising youngsters mentioned above might not play too much for the senior setup either, but they are in the best position possible to become the club’s new star.

Now it’s all down to them.