By DAN KARELL
American soccer fans weren’t the only ones high-fiving and fist-bumping after hearing the news that Gedion Zelalen had become a U.S. citizen.
In his first public comments of 2015, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach and technical director Jurgen Klinsmann expressed his delight at last Monday’s events, claiming he is “thrilled” that the 17-year-old Arsenal midfielder could be appearing in a U.S. uniform in the near future.
“Obviously we are thrilled that Gedion Zelalem has received an American passport and is hopefully soon eligible for us,” Klinsmann said. “I think more talent’s coming through, whether on U.S. soil or if it’s coming through other systems.”
Zelalem flew from London to Washington D.C. last Monday to receive his new passport, which he adds to his German passport. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati confirmed that the 17-year-old had started the process of becoming eligible to join the USMNT.
Gedion Zelalem is now a U.S. citizen. At his request we have started the FIFA process which would allow him to be eligible for the #USMNT.
— Sunil Gulati (@sunilgulati) December 30, 2014
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What do you think of these comments? Do you see Klinsmann calling up Zelalem to the senior national team once his paperwork is approved?
Share your thoughts below.
Can’t wait to see this kid with the U-20s, lining up with Thompson, Gall, Shaq, Arriola, etc.
Wake me up when JZ is gone so I can buy merchandise and tickets again and watch US Soccer. Until then, all this news is a big yawn.
Mr Again,
Go back to bed. JZ is not leaving Beyonce any time soon. New baby on the way.
http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2015/beyonce-jay-z-divorce-off-beyonce-pregnant-with-baby-number-2-spotted-with-a-baby-bump/
with all due respect, mr. president, give me a break–he’s obviously referring to juan zarate. don’t pretend like you don’t know him.
Juan went to Harvard. The Ivies actually have had some pretty good soccer players over the years but why Mr. WCT Again is so upset with Juan I have no idea.
Yes, we do! Although, it was better in the 90’s.
The way this whole story reads, it sounds like JK had little if anything to do with this one. Sounds like the kid wanted the US passport and to play for the USA. Kind of fell into JK’s lap
Green – I think that those that say negative things about that decision believe the issue was that he had done nothing to earn that ticket while others (you know who) were left behind by a petty coach that was seeking some kind of revenge. The fact that he scored a goal means nothing. The end does not justify the mans and others were far more deserving of his spot.
If this kid works out to be a player then good for us, but let’s not give the anointed savior of US Soccer any more credit than he deserves.
this “earn that ticket” and “deserving” stuff is bullish!t; you take whoever you think will help you win.
i still think klinsmann made the wrong decision in cutting donovan, but only because i believe our results could’ve been better with donovan in the team–not because he “earned” it. in sports, the ends absolutely do justify the means (as long as you’re not cheating).
To me “earn that ticket” and “deserving” means a player who has proven he could make an impact at the International level or top league, first team level. Green had yet to do that when he was given his ticket to the WC. There were many players left home who had proven their worth. Results matter like you say.
You say, “i still think klinsmann made the wrong decision in cutting donovan, but only because i believe our results could’ve been better with donovan in the team–not because he “earned” it”. In other words you think he should have taken Donovan because he had proven to you he can make a difference, proven he can help the team win. Had Green done that for you?
Mr. zip,
“he had proven to you he can make a difference, proven he can help the team win.”
That was true of LD before the period the decision had to be made.
The question JK, and any manager in his position has to ask is “That was then, can he do it again in Brazil?”.
All player selections are a gamble.
Did any of you think Mikey would have such a weird tournament?
Did any of you think Jones would do his King Kong impersonation instead being a red card disaster?
Did any of you think Green, Brooks and Jones would score such vital goals?
Did any of you Yedlin would have such a breakout tournament.
Yet you claim to be certain Donovan would have made the USMNT a better team than what was there.
Bullshit.
Mr. zip,
“he had proven to you he can make a difference, proven he can help the team win.”
That was true of LD before the period the decision had to be made.
The question JK, and any manager in his position has to ask is “That was then, can he do it again in Brazil?”.
All player selections are a gamble.
Did any of you think Mikey would have such a weird tournament?
Did any of you think Jones would do his King Kong impersonation instead being a red card disaster?
Did any of you think Green, Brooks and Jones would score such vital goals?
Did any of you Yedlin would have such a breakout tournament.
Yet you claim to be certain Donovan would have made the USMNT a better team than what was there.
BS
not sure what is worse, the comment section on SBI or Fox News
NIce one.
strong take
cnn hands down
I think he needs the switch because he has played non binding youth games. Hence a switch now binds him..due to the one time rule.
This is such a good get. of course he’s young etc but the fact a prospect like this is moving with such speed and purpose to the U.S. is big. It’s
validation and possibly a watershed moment that Rossi coulda been. IE a legit star for kids to look up to.
Plus it’s legit that a kid embraced USA so quickly.
If GZ pans out and he makes Arsenal’s first team one of the nice things about this is that along with Deandre Yedlin it gives us two outfield players to watch in the EPL, assuming of course they both become regulars.
The EPL is probably the most accessible foreign league for the average US soccer fan. It has been a while since we’ve had American outfield players there to watch on a regular basis.
no, he doesn’t need a ‘switch’, because he hasn’t played in official fifa tournaments. he’s getting the fifa paperwork done to simply be eligible for the usmnt, but he’s still eligible for germany and ethiopia. this is *not* the one-time switch that jones, green, and others had to file.
Correct. A “one-time switch” is only needed if you play in an official youth competition. GZ will still be in play for Germany & Ethiopia for a while.
Contained optimism, with a dash of relief that he won’t be a missed opportunity.
Thomas Dooley is no older than Freddy Adu
Hah, well that might be a bit much but lets say he is as honest as Obafemi Martins. Could be nothing. Could be a lot.
What is the most number players not born in the USA that the USMNT has included in a starting XI in a single game?
Gold Cup United Nations XI:
——–Green—-Agudelo——
Morales—Zelalam—Diskerud—Williams
Fabian—Jones—Brooks—Chandler
——————Yelldell————–
Add Thomas Dooley to that list. Bit old but uh I’ve been told rather good.
Julian Green was born in Tampa Bay, Florida
Crap, replace Green with Wooten I guess.
You could always throw in Benny F.
Or Sydney Leroux
A surprisingly good team but Julian Green was born in Tampa and lived in FL for two years before his Mom took him to Germany.
People still fist bump?
fist bump, bro
Before people start praising Klinsmann for Zelalem, just know that he was going to choose the US regardless as he said feels more American than German due to growing up in DC.
Before people start praising Klinsmann for Zelalem, just know that he is still eligible for Germany and Ethiopia.
Zing!
Though I do think Jurgen’s involvement helped the family decide to go through with the process. It wasn’t easy to do and it costs dad his German citizenship (probably).
Mr. Goss,
Gedion’s mom and dad were Ethiopian refugees in Germany. I’m not sure they ever became German citizens but Gedion was born in Berlin so that’s why he has a German passport.
If his dad did become a German citizen then yes he will have to lose his German passport but it seems like he’ll be living either in the US or England so it probably does not matter.
Originally, Gedion’s Dad wanted him to play for Germany as he was grateful that they took him and his wife ( who has since died) in as refugees but obviously Gedion seems to feel more attached to the US where his friends are so he is being a great dad and giving his son what he wants.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/12/30/everything-you-need-to-know-about-u-s-prospect-gedion-zelalem/
Mr. Goss,
Gedion’s mom and dad were Ethiopian refugees in Germany. I’m not sure they ever became German citizens but Gedion was born in Berlin so that’s why he has a German passport.
If his dad did become a German citizen then yes he will have to lose his German passport but it seems like he’ll be living either in the US or England so it probably does not matter.
Originally, Gedion’s Dad wanted him to play for Germany as he was grateful that they took him and his wife ( who has since died) in as refugees but obviously Gedion seems to feel more attached to the US where his friends are so he is being a great dad and giving his son what he wants.
You cannot assume he is a citizen by birth. You cannot assume that just because it is one way in America, it that way in most of the world. Most countries outside North and South America won’t grant you citizen by birth unless either one of your parents is a citizen (or in some cases a legal resident).
I used to live in Germany as well, and I am pretty sure they do not grant citizenship by birth. I just checked, and I am right. If you are born after 2000, you get German citizenship at birth if at least 1 parent: (1) has a permanent residence permit; and
has been residing in Germany for at least eight years or (2) is a citizen (for a long time, your father had to be German, if your mother was German, you did not become citizen by birth).
Gedion was born in ’97. In his case, he was not granted automatic citizenship, but had to apply for citizenship before he turned 23. His dad probably applied for naturalization and Gideon got it when he got as a minor/their child according to German law. It’s complicated…
Well, here’s what I do know:
GZ has a German passport and now an American passport.
His dad .now has a US passport and, if he had a German one, Germany will ask him to choose between the two.
GZ’s parents were originally Ethiopian refugees taken in by Germany.
Regardless of where he lives (and a German passport if he lives in the UK would be useful), it would have been earlier for Mr. Woldyes to simply not bother with US citizenship at this time because he already has a Green Card. This had to be completed in a certain timeline and having JK interest could have been an incentive to make sure it was done by the time Gedion turned 18… that’s all I am saying.
I think it did cost his dad his Germany citizenship, but he could apply for UK residency.
I’m kind of rooting for some cap-tying Gold Cup appearances, but I know the youth national teams probably are more appropriate for him right now.
Even if he plays for the USA now, he could always switch to Ethiopia or Germany. He has not played in an official match for Germany (remember he pulled out of tournament to not foreclose on playing for the USA). If he had played for an official game, he could only have played for Germany/Ethiopia and NEVER played for USA. He trained with USA and Germany youth teams and played in friendlies with Germany youth teams.
That’s what the OP is saying… a Gold Cup match would cap tie him. That’s the only cap-tying opportunity in 2015.
this is a great example of ‘build it and they will come’ and should be a great start to the wild transfer window that should bring some more strong players to ‘our’ league for the upcoming USL Pro season!
ROFL
Let me see how this commentary will go:
1. People yelling calm down, he’s only a prospect
2. Complaints / 30 post discussion about his “americanness” and whether he merits inclusion into the team
3. Tons of Julian Green references and whining
4. Complaints about Klinsy who will play him over some “more deserving” player here at home
5. More complaints about usmnt, gulati, donovan
6. Some undecipherable comments from nasl to el paso tx
Your number 6 was dead on, and perfectly timed
+1
Home run. It often seems to me that a high percentage of the posts on stories like this are of the “cut and paste” variety.
Zelalem is in large part a US soccer product so I haven’t seen many complaints, if any, about his “Americaness”.
I like this far better than other similar situations. This kid has got a passport first and want’s to be an American, not just play soccer for America. I hope he gets his switch approved and the JK assigns him to Tab to start out. If he can dominate at that level then give him a shot at the full team. No more golden paths to the big time like Green got. Make him earn his way
Dennis,
Once Green was eligible he had a chance to play in 4 competitive games.
He played in one, the Belgium game.
He immediately made the score 2-1 with seven minutes to go. That goal sparked a US comeback and Clint really should have scored off that last gasp free kick with a minute left. Had Clint done so, the game would have been tied with about a minute left and then who knows what happens?
Whatever went on before , Green, whose inclusion was based on the idea that he would provide offense off the bench, validated his selection for that team, even if he never plays another second for the USMNT.
GW,
When Dennis says “golden paths” he means offering Green a ticket to the World Cup in exchange for committing to the USA. Sending a player with no USA background, 1 cap and zero first team minutes to the World Cup is not right.
I’m glad Green scored a goal against Belgium, but it made no difference in the end. He wasn’t the savior, he was a last minute desperate substitution. It didn’t change the outcome and therefore it’s wishful thinking to believe it validated anything. It was also a great pass by an exhausted Bradley that set the goal up.
bml
Mr. l,
“When Dennis says “golden paths” he means offering Green a ticket to the World Cup in exchange for committing to the USA.”
That is speculation which is unproven.
“Sending a player with no USA background, 1 cap and zero first team minutes to the World Cup is not right.”
If he had one cap then you can’t say he had zero first team minutes.
“I’m glad Green scored a goal against Belgium, but it made no difference in the end. He wasn’t the savior,”
No one said he was a savior but he did do his part. Clint did not do his. It’s a team game remember?
“ he was a last minute desperate substitution.”
He came on in the 105th minute and scored at the 107 minute mark; which means the US had 13 minutes to tie the game. (120 minutes for overtime). This is hardly last minute desperation. Clearly, you did not watch the game. The US came back and very nearly tied it and probably should have.
“It didn’t change the outcome and therefore it’s wishful thinking to believe it validated anything.”
If you bring a guy into your tournament squad because you think you may need him to provide some instant offense then Green did exactly that. Scoring almost immediately after coming in is what I call instant offense. He did what he was supposed to. That validates his selection.
“ It was also a great pass by an exhausted Bradley that set the goal up.”
So that somehow takes credit away from the guy who actually scored the goal? How many times have you blasted guys for missing sitters? How great is Joe Montana if Jerry Rice dropped all his passes?
Did you see Germany vs Ghana in the World Cup? Muller put in a great cross that hit Goetze’s thigh and then his face and then went into the goal. Or maybe it hit his face and then his thigh and then went into the goal. Either way most people don’t remember Muller’s cross but rather remember it as a goal by Goetze. You’re grasping at straws to deny Green any semblance of credit for his goal and that is not right.
+1000 bml
There isn’t really a “switch” to be approved. It’s probably more of a registration process, perhaps with a FIFA confirmation of eligibility.
I guess this kid gets Dempsey’s spot at the Gold Cup. That’s how this works, right?
no switch is needed…he was not played in an official match otherwise he would not be able to play for the US.
“Yeah that’s right!”
-Diego Costa
He played in the German youth setup before he was eligible to play for the US setup so he has to file a one time switch.
A one time switch is *only* required if you play in a competitive youth match. Edwin Lara who has moved from the US to Mexico hasn’t filed a one-time switch; neither did Mix, who bounced back and forth.