[Lovefutball]

A player who played international before club? Yes this does sound strange, but let me give you an example. Some countries are ranked very low by fifa and really, there teams and players just aren't good. So, lets say an American immigrant comes to the states and becomes great at soccer, but like all players, is struggling to get trials and make it on to a club team. But on his native countries standards, his playing would be considered godlike.

So has this ever happened before?

[Excape Goat]

I can think many, many American players before the start of MLS. Most of the Misson Viejo team never played professional soccer while gearing up for USMNT. Lalas, Meola Jones and Moore are just a few names I could come up with. They only played amateur NCAA soccer before playing international soccer. Of course, the situation in the US is different. At the same time, it is not surprise that some players actually got called up before they broke through club soccer(that is first team club soccer). I do not want to ue another American for an example. Kirovski was playing for the USMNT before he made it past the Junior rank at Manchester United. Donavan also did not mke it to Leverkusen first team when he was playing for the USMNT. Reyna as well, but he was called up while he was still with UVA and part of Mission Viejo.

I believed that some other non-American players had done it before. Usually, a player showed promises on the club's reserve team. The coach on his NT gives him a chance on the senior NT before he actually breaks through the first team on club level. It is not unusal for players outside the big soccer power who played on the reserve team at a big club liked AC Milan or Manchester Utd. It was not easy to break through in a big club. Those players from weaker national teams are probably godlike in their home country.

[Sagy]

Does Ben Sahar count?

He had 8 min in the EPL (some more as a substitute in a FA & Carling cup games) and none at a senior level in the Israeli leagues when he played for Israel on Feb. 7th, 2007 against Ukraine. He also played against England on Mar. 24th and scored twice against Estonia four days later.

[Lovefutball]

Ah I see, thanks guys. The reason I ask this was because I am 100% Lebanese, but have lived all my life in the US. Lebanon is ranked 135th in the FIFA rankings and there national team is getting a bit better. But like any other soccer obsessed teenager with wild dreams, although it would be an honor, never before had I dreamed of playing for Lebanon. I also would hope to play for a stronger country, essentially, the one I played club in. Than it came to me...would it be more likely to play for my home country(Lebanon) and even more probable before playing for a club(or a larger club that is).

Well, I'm still 15 and these dreams are currently way out of my league

[Sagy]

Good luck, just remember us when you play in the WC.

Originally Posted by Lovefutball

...But like any other soccer obsessed teenager with wild dreams, although it would be an honor, never before had I dreamed of playing for Lebanon. I also would hope to play for a stronger country, essentially, the one I played club in.

Just keep in mind that once you play for one country in a "A" international (basically senior side vs. a senior side) you can no longer play for another country.

[Excape Goat]

Originally Posted by Lovefutball

Ah I see, thanks guys. The reason I ask this was because I am 100% Lebanese, but have lived all my life in the US. Lebanon is ranked 135th in the FIFA rankings and there national team is getting a bit better. But like any other soccer obsessed teenager with wild dreams, although it would be an honor, never before had I dreamed of playing for Lebanon. I also would hope to play for a stronger country, essentially, the one I played club in. Than it came to me...would it be more likely to play for my home country(Lebanon) and even more probable before playing for a club(or a larger club that is).

Well, I'm still 15 and these dreams are currently way out of my league

Your case is very likely. Lebanon has been known to look for overseas Lebanonese players. And if you show enough promise, let's say on theyouth team of an European club, they may cap you before you crack the first team.

[Lovefutball]

Just keep in mind that once you play for one country in a "A" international (basically senior side vs. a senior side) you can no longer play for another country.

Definitely always something to think about, good call

Your case is very likely. Lebanon has been known to look for overseas Lebanonese players. And if you show enough promise, let's say on theyouth team of an European club, they may cap you before you crack the first team.

That boosts my dreams and hopes so much! Definitely a nice thing to day dream about



Does someone have a link to the laws of players regarding international play?

[Sagy]

Originally Posted by Lovefutball

Does someone have a link to the laws of players regarding international play?

See FIFA Statutes (Article 15 on page 60).

A quick summary from the FA basically says

The new Article 15 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes has been amended to state that that "a player may exercise his right to change Associations only if he has not played at "A" international level for his country and if, at the time of his first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition of any other category, he already had such nationalities."

...

The new regulation also states that up to their 21st birthday, a player with dual nationality, a player may only once request changing the association for which he is eligible to play international matches.

[Lovefutball]

So any international match, no matter the ranking of the country, is considered "A" league. Or are 'A' matches the name given to higher ranked teams?

Also, if I understand this correctly, you can switch national association once as long as your under21?

[Sagy]

Originally Posted by Lovefutball

So any international match, no matter the ranking of the country, is considered "A" league. Or are 'A' matches the name given to higher ranked teams?

Basically any time a senior level team from one FIFA association plays a senior level team from another FIFA association it is an "A" level international (regardless of the teams ranking or ability). For friendlies, each association get to "declare" if this is their "A" (senior) team; for WC, WCQ, Confederation championships and qualifiers the team is the "A" team (even if the team is made up of the U-17 team).

Originally Posted by Lovefutball

Also, if I understand this correctly, you can switch national association once as long as your under21?

If you only played at a U-x level game (e.g. U20 WCQ) then yes (if you were a citizen of the "switch to" country at the time you played for the other country).

If you played in an "A" international (see above) then you are "cap tied" and can no longer switch regardless of your age.