Earlier this summer, Bayern Munich agreed to loan Paul Wanner to Heidenheim, giving him his first loan to a Bundesliga club. The attacking midfielder had spent last season on loan at SV Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga.
So far, it looks to have been a very fruitful decision for Wanner's development. Even in pre-season, he scored four goals in four friendlies for his new side.
He has taken all of that form into the new season, and has been scoring goals for fun for Heidenheim. Firstly, he scored on his competitive debut, with a goal away at FC 08 Villingen in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, as Heidenheim cruised to a 4-0 victory.
Then, he scored away to newly promoted St. Pauli on his Bundesliga debut for Heidenheim. With the game a stalemate after 65 minutes, Wanner found the back of the net from close range after a fast break, and Heidenheim went onto win the game 2-0.
Finally, after being an unused sub in the first leg of Heidenheim's Conference League qualifier against BK Hacken, and on the bench last night in the second leg, Wanner came on in the 63rd minute. With six minutes to go, and the score 3-3 on aggregate, the on-loan Bayern man scored to make it 2-2 on the night and 4-3 to Heidenheim on aggregate.
In the 92nd min, with Hacken throwing everyone forward, Heidenheim sprung a counter attack, and Wanner teed up fellow substitute Mathias Honsak to make it 3-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.
Wanner's goal and assist to win the tie means Heidenheim have qualified for their first ever European campaign, and will compete in the Conference League this season, despite last season being their first ever season in Germany's top flight.
Whatever happens from here, the Bayern teenager has written himself in Heidenheim folklore forever, and he can be very proud of his achievements. Next up for Wanner and his counterparts is a home game against Bayern's local rivals FC Augsburg this Sunday, as he looks to make it four goals in as many games.
The development of Paul Wanner will certainly be one to watch for Bayern Munich fans in the coming months.