Wentzel is listed as German-American in TM. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michael-wentzel/profil/spieler/592356 he's a 02 born player who plays CB for Gladbach U17 and seems to be 1.84m in height. Transferred to the club in Summer 2018 from Karlsruher. He's also Gladbach U17 captain. currently this season he's played 15 games and 1200 min in U17. also 2nd German-American from Gladbach U17 with the fellow 02-Pablo Santana Soares (although he seems like a triple national). well that's how these things always go. Lack of information for younger players which later on comes out.
I was actually preparing a post about him for the Detective Work thread, because I don't consider T'Markt conclusive, though there are some interesting dots to connect here. (I reached out to the club but haven't heard back.) He has an American flag in his Instagram profile, which is usually a decent clue. He also sometimes posts there in English. https://www.instagram.com/michi_wentzel This is his older brother, Peter, who was a freshman GK at Elon this fall: https://elonphoenix.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5723 His profile doesn't offer any obvious links to the U.S. -- the North American high school mentioned is Canadian. His father appears to be a economics professor with no obvious American links, though that doesn't mean anything. The name Elon gives for his mother has a typo, and the person I think it is also doesn't have any immediately obvious American connections. Hi and Peter both seem to "present" as American to some degree, and are certainly of interest. I just couldn't pin it down. Birthplace seems like the likeliest connection.
http://www.pforzheim-international.info/resources/competences_BS.pdf Dirk Wentzel In 2001 he completed his habilitation in media economics, also at the University of Marburg. He has had multiple research stays abroad, including at Lomonosov Moscow State University, at New York University, and at Pennsylvania State University. He was a visiting professor between 2000 and 2002 at Penn State, where he also founded a summer school in cooperation with the Smeal College of Business. Dad could very well have been in the US for the time that Michael was born.
usa flag on instagram is usually a pretty good clue. People wouldn't put it for the heck of it. birthplace does seem the most likely reason as his family seems German.
Thanks for running this down. Makes sense. And to think we've been relying so heavily on American servicemen for dual-eligible players when we could be benefiting further from globetrotting academics!
Michi is a great young man, born in Pennsylvania while his father was an Economics Professor at Penn State. He moved to Gladbach over the Summer (from Karlsruhe) and moved into Gladbach's residential academy. He was handed the captain's armband in his first season with the u17's and is a mainstay at center back. He's a big kid who is strong in the air and has good pace for his size. He is proudly American (perfect English speaker) and has said it would be a dream to get a chance to play for the US National Team. Let's hope Raphael Wicky is watching. He would be a great addition to our u17 national team. Pablo Santana Soares is a versatile central midfielder on the same Gladbach u17 team. He has great vision and passing, plus good finishing instincts. He was part of the u17 training camp in Florida in January, where he scored the only goal in the u20 intersquad scrimmage. Another really great kid whose father lives in New York City, who would welcome the chance to play for the red, white and blue.
it doesn't really matter much, he's a defensive player, goals scoring won't factor much into pros. he's been playing a lot more recently due to the U19 playing 3 at the back. But all indication points towards the club rating his 2 older teammates both 01s more.They also got another player they really rate highly who's played a lot of 1BL and on Winter loan to 2BL. Seems like Rose sees that player as CB instead of RB, can play both positions. They can't all make it at the club and they won't promote too many players especially of same age groups. So far there are 2 02s they rate highly there as well in other positions. How many cbs can you promote? They've already promoted 1. I mean the 1st team coach, Rose has openly spoken highly of one of the 2 01 CBs and both have played 1st team friendlies. When naming 1st team prospects, neither Wentzel nor Soares were mentioned from the 7 obvious names of 01-02s but the 2 CBs were by Virkus youth director. Who even called the 2 01 CBs, one of the best cb pairs in the entire U19 West.
German-American CB Michael Wentzel made his debut for the Gladbach u23s today.Reminder that he is u19 BL eligible and that squad's captain. pic.twitter.com/l7aRXGtzoc— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) October 3, 2020
Has moved up to II team: Speaking of Wentzel, it seems he’s made the jump from u19 captain to Gladbach II CB option.7 total apps, 3 starts, 270ish mins.With the German youth leagues postponed, it’s good to see the club has moved him to their next level and getting him in games. https://t.co/gFktuM1iWt— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) December 31, 2020
Starts for reserves: Michael Wentzel and Joe Scally start for the Gladbach reserves vs. the Köln reserves.Scally played left back last weekend (literally the first time I’ve ever seen him play there) so it’ll be interesting to see if he lines up there again today.— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) March 6, 2021
Comes off the bench in friendly: Unsere #FohlenElf für das erste Testspiel der Saison-Vorbereitung. #BMGVIKAb 15:15 Uhr im 📺 Livestream bei YouTube:https://t.co/WsTKHOKsw7 pic.twitter.com/jRf0ihXRN0— Borussia (@borussia) July 10, 2021 Kurz vor der Pause muss Bensebaini angeschlagen den Platz verlassen. Gute Besserung, @bensebainiRams. 🤞Michael Wentzel kommt in die Partie. #BMGVIK— Borussia (@borussia) July 10, 2021
Starts 2nd half: Die zweiten 45 Minuten laufen. Adi Hütter hat eine neue #FohlenElf auf den Platz geschickt. Auf geht's! ✊-----#BMGVIK 1:2 pic.twitter.com/tMn6zcmh4H— Borussia (@borussia) July 10, 2021
Starts 2nd half: 👀1st half and 2nd half lineups for Gladbach's friendly today.18 yr old 🇺🇸 Joe Scally19 yr old 🇺🇸🇩🇪 dual nat Mike Wentzel pic.twitter.com/Ji7A409CI8— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) July 24, 2021
Subbed on at the 70' 8️⃣ changes from the boss:➡️ Lockl, Lieder, Moustafa, Wentzel, Quizera, Skraback, Borges Sanches, Reitz⬅️ Beyer, Bennetts, Kramer, Wolf, Herrmann, Bénes, Jantschke, Scally(70') #DieFohlen #FCBBMG 0-1— Gladbach (@borussia_en) July 28, 2021 Scores 1420438126867124226 is not a valid tweet id
On the bench for friendly: Team news 📋Captain @stindl28 leads the side as five players return! 🤩#Die Fohlen #BMGGRO pic.twitter.com/srPhfzhpfv— Gladbach (@borussia_en) July 31, 2021
Went 85' for BMG2: Borussia: Olschowsky – Wentzel (85. Schlosser), Lieder (85. Santana Soares), Gaal (85. Boeder) – Lofolomo (65. Moustafa), Lockl (71. Kemper), Kurt (87. Atty), Italiano (46. Skraback) – Beckhoff (65. Quizera), Meuer (85. Arslan), Schroers (71. Touray)
Starts for U23s: Die U23 gegen @rot_weiss_essen im BORUSSIA-PARK👇🏼💚 pic.twitter.com/yoBwOSC7mf— bmg.edits (@bmg_edits) November 5, 2021
I can't access the underlying article, but seems he has been moved to the first team and has the possibility of making the bench this weekend: CB Michael Wentzel is promoted to first team training (along with CB Tom Gaal) and "at least one of them will almost certainly be on the bench on Saturday against SpVgg Greuther Fürth".Potentially exciting weekend for Wentzel, the club's former u17 and u19 captain. https://t.co/ZOJxZtAxAb— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) November 16, 2021
The coach remembers his name, at least: Hütter: Für Stefan Lainer kommt das Spiel am Samstag noch zu früh. Es ist gut möglich, dass Tom Gaal oder Michael Wentzel im Kader stehen wird. #BMGSGF— Borussia (@borussia) November 18, 2021 Hütter: The game on Saturday comes too early for Stefan Lainer. It is very possible that Tom Gaal or Michael Wentzel will be in the squad.
Did not make the 1st team bench today: 🔥 Das ist die #FohlenElf fürs Heimspiel gegen @kleeblattfuerth 👇#Bundesliga #BMGSGF pic.twitter.com/Y494i3mjEi— Borussia (@borussia) November 20, 2021