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When he was 14-years-old, Levan Kenia arrived at FC Barcelona's training ground for a trial. Surely it must have been a dream for a kid from Georgia. But, Kenia was sent home after two weeks without signing for the Spanish side.
He joined Schalke 04 from Lokomotivi Tbilisi in January 2008, signing a contract with the club that runs until June 2012. Kenia made his debut for Schalke 04 against APOEL F.C. in a UEFA Cup match on 2 October 2008 coming on as a 65th minute substitute for Gerald Asamoah.
Now, five years later, it seems the Georgian whiz kid, who still dreams about playing in Spain, may be at the beginning of a truly wonderful career which may lead him to the cream of European football. On 11 April 2009, Kenia made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke in a match against Karlsruher SC.
Kenia is a special and rare talent. At the age of 16 he made his debut for his national team against Ukraine in a Euro 2008 qualifier, under German coach Klaus Toppmöller, making him the youngest ever player to represent Georgia. Kenia was so impressive with the youth national sides that Toppmöller couldn't ignore him.
He made his debut for the national team on 8 September 2007 against Ukraine, replacing Alexander Iashvili. Georgia's former head coach Klaus Toppmöller said he had never before seen a player of his age with such accomplished technical abilities. Kenia, along with fellow teenagers Levan Mchedlidze and Giorgi Makaridze, played in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign starring in a 2–0 victory over Scotland. Toppmöller praised Kenia, "Kenia was one of the best on the pitch."
He scored his first international goal in 27 May 2008 against Estonia.
Kenia was expected to play last season with Schalke's youth side but he was crippled with ankle and hip injuries that kept him out for long periods, and basically ruined his season. Manager Fred Rutten chose to use him during only one game in 2008/2009.
The Georgian midfielder has fully proven by now that he is capable of facing the Bundesliga's physical requirements whilst showing his enormous skills on the ball. Kenia is a modern playmaker – he can also play on the wings if needed or in the attack (as he has great natural pace), and he has wonderful dribbling and perfect technique plus a good eye for the situation and his teammates.
Kenia has been compared by many in Germany to Lionel Messi. But as tempting as this comparison might be, it is wrong as Kenia is a classic number 10. He can go and operate on the wings but his creativity, vision, and playmaking skills come into life only when he plays just behind the forward.
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