Signed with Bahlinger SC in the Regionalliga (4th division, promoted for this season): Der Regionalligist Bahlinger SC hat einen neuen Spieler verpflichtet: Vom Saint Louis FC aus der US-amerikanischen „United Soccer League“ wechselt der 26-jährige Bryan Gaul zum BSC. Der Defensivakteur stand zuvor zwischen 2012 und 2014 bei Los Angeles Galaxy in der Major Soccer League unter Vertrag, wo er unter anderem Teamkollege von David Beckham war. Gaul stamt aus Naperville im US-Bundesstaat Illinois und erhielt seine fußballerische Ausbildung bei den Bradley Braves in Peoria (Illinois). http://www.bahlingersc.de/bahlinger-sc-verpflichtet-bryan-gaul/ http://www.bahlingersc.de/bsc-spieler/bryan-gaul/ An '89 with MLS and lower-division US pro experience. 🏄🏼 pic.twitter.com/esumKvZi2c— Bryan Gaul (@BryanGaul17) February 6, 2016
Two ex-Galaxy guys met in Germany as Gaul's team lost 1-0 to Charlie Rugg's team in the "Charlie Rugg's Team Against Bryan Gaul's Team Derby." http://www.wochenspiegellive.de/tri...oy-rugg-schiesst-eintracht-zum-10-sieg-37698/
It should be mentioned that this is Bryan's first league appearance after having been injured 23 minutes into his debut in late Feburary and thus being sidelined for a month. He's listed as a defender (he played left fullback with the Galaxy) but the game highlights seem to indicate he's playing striker (which he played with St. Louis). He had a decent opportunity in the first half (about 1:45 into the highlights linked previously) but Bahlinger couldn't convert. Bahlinger are in trouble. They're 4 from getting out of the relegation playoffs and only 1 point ahead of the direct relegation spots. Eight games remain in the season.
Gaul got the opening goal (his first goal of the season) in Bahlinger's 5-0 drubbing of fellow league strugglers Neckarelz. He started and was subbed out in the 76th minute when the score was 3-0.
Bryan scored a brace in Bahlinger's 3-0 win over FC-Astoria Walldorf before being subbed out in the 90th minute. His goals are at 2:28 and 3:00. Bahlinger is in 14th, 2 points from direct safety and 4 points ahead of the direct relegation spots. Gaul has 3 goals in 4 league games. In those four league games, Bahlinger is 2-1-1 with 8 goals for and 1 against.
Here's a feature (in German) on Gaul, which of course mentions Beckham: http://www.badische-zeitung.de/spor...rossstadt-typ-auf-landausflug--121872081.html His sister, a GK named Alexa, appears to also be playing in Germany. Possibly everybody else already knew that. http://www.bceagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5642
This article has a brief mention of Gaul, the upshot of which may be that he may or may not remain in Europe next season: Keinen Vertrag für die neue Spielzeit besitzt der junge Rico Wehrle, der mit dem SC Freiburg II in Verbindung gebracht wird (wir berichteten). Hier deutet sich wohl ein Wechsel an, genauso wie beim US-Amerikaner Bryan Gaul, der gerne bei einem europäischen Profiklub seine Karriere fortsetzen will, notfalls aber in die USA zurückkehrt. Bekannt sind bereits folgende Personalien: Bernhard Wiesler beendet seine Karriere und wird Teammanager beim BSC, Nico Beck wechselt zum Verbandsligisten SV Endingen. Im Gegenzug kommt Michael Respondek vom Oberligisten Freiburger FC. http://www.badische-zeitung.de/spor.../eine-zitter-und-haengepartie--122404226.html
I imagine whether he stays with the team depends heavily on whether they avoid relegation. Bahlinger avoided direct (sort of) relegation by finishing in 14th place (including earning a draw against Freiburg II on the last day to ensure they finished 14th and not 15th. However, their fate isn't in their hands. They will only remain safe if both Waldhof Mannheim and Elversberg get promoted to the 3.Liga. Both of those teams play the first leg of their two legged promotion playoff ties today (in fact both games are 0-0 in the first half) and the second leg on Sunday.
Gaul has signed with Kickers Offenbach in the fourth division: Der 26-jährige Byran Gaul hat heute einen Einjahresvertrag bei Kickers Offenbach unterschrieben. Der gebürtige Amerikaner, der zu Beginn seiner Karriere mit Kollegen wie David Beckham und Robbie Keane den Titel in der Major League Soccer mit LA Galaxy gewann, wagte in der Winterpause der vergangenen Saison den Sprung nach Deutschland. http://www.ofc.de/news/bryan-gaul-ist-der-fuenfte-ofc-neuzugang.html#gallery[g580443]/0/
Seems like a decent move. Kickers Offenbach have fallen on hard times but historically have operated a higher levels. A bigger club than his last one, for sure, even if he'll be playing at the same level this coming season.
Here's a story about "US-Amerikaner Bryan Gaul" with the headline: Kicken mit Beckham http://www.fnp.de/regionalsport/frankfurt/Kicken-mit-Beckham;art701,2134405
Gaul scored his first goal for the club on Friday, the last game before the winter break. He leads the team in minutes, starting all 23 league games thus far and only missing out on 36 minutes the entire season. He has been playing as a central midfielder most of the season but played in defense on Friday. His goal starts at 1:10:25: His post game interview starts at 6:25: Offenbach sit in 15th place on 23 points, but only due to Offenbach's 9 point deduction at the beginning of the season. Without that, they'd be in 9th place.
For the coming season, the first new entry at SV Elversberg is confirmed. 27-year-old Bryan Gaul will join the SVE. The US-American, who can play in numerous positions, but most recently in the defensive midfield and defense, will receive a league-dependent two-year contract until summer 2019. http://sv07elversberg.de/2017/bryan-gaul-schliesst-sich-im-sommer-der-sve-an/ (in German) SV Elversberg is currently in Regionalliga Südwest (4th tier), but appears to have qualified for the promotion playoff to 3.Liga.
Gaul's future club plays Unterhaching in the first leg of the Regionalliga promotion playoff tomorrow. It would seem to be a tough assignment; Unterhaching finished with a 25-8-1 record in Regionalliga Bayern, winning the league by 20 points with a +72 (!) goal differential. In years past, I know some of our German posters have written that Regionalliga Bayern tends to be a bit weaker than the other fourth-tier leagues, but still. Unterhaching is one of those obscure clubs that stands out in my memory because their very brief Bundesliga history happened to unfold right when I started follow to Euro leagues. (Also in 1999-00: Deportivo won La Liga, Real Madrid finished fifth, and both Atlético + Sevilla were relegated!)
And in mine because of its occasional connections to obscure former YAs -- like the ghost known as Hermann "Mandi" Urbas.
Unfortunately for Gaul, he won't be playing in the 3. Liga next year as Elversberg lost 5-2 on aggregate to Unterhaching in the promotion playoffs. He leaves Offenbach having played 34 of 36 league games this season, only missing games due to yellow card accumulation and once due to injury.
Gaul has been a true utility man. According to T'markt, he started at least one game at CF, CB, DM, and AM in 2016-17. The season before, he also had a start at RB.
Two articles give plaudits to Gaul for the season. This one is a season end review of Offenbach players, which he was placed in the highest group says (mostly using Google translate): At the beginning of the season he played in offense due to a lack of options then moved further back. (He was) first strong at defensive mid, then partially outstanding at centerback. (He) leaves a gap after his move to SV Elversberg. This article calls him an outstanding defensive organizer.
Bryan starts for Elversberg today as they take on FSV Frankfurt - Jovan Howell starts Kouami Dalmeida on the bench. Regionalliga (Sudwest)
Starts: Und hier ist sie - unsere heutige Aufstellung! #fsvlive #fsvsve ⚽️☀️ pic.twitter.com/z8x8RDPrfW— FSV Frankfurt 1899 (@fsv_frankfurt) April 21, 2018
It's too bad he's played more than three positions. "Bryan Gaul: Est omnis divisa in partes tres," would've made for an uber-dorky thread title.
Congrats to Gaul, who is evidently getting a jump up to the B3 with a move to FSV Zwickau -- even if it means another round of stories in which he's still just David Beckham's former teammate. https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/...mpartner-von-david-beckham-55838612.bild.html