Yanks have no special benefits allowing us to get work permits in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Australia (though we can work in Australia for 3 months I believe). I'm not sure about NZ and Japan but I would assume those work the same. We can get a work permit if we are transferred to the above named countries for work, or if we get a job where the company is willing to prove that they cannot find similar quality employees existing in the country (such as an IT shortage, etc). On a side note, Norway and Iceland have some of the toughest immigration rules in the world (much like Sweden).
You are so right about that. Iceland has the most beautiful women in the world. All those Viking raids-- they only hauled off the good-looking ones (actually a fact, not just senseless male twaddle).
Not sure this is the right forum to ask this but, here goes: My wife was born in Germany (her dad was stationed there with the U.S. Army). Looking into my crystal ball, I see that my son, now 4, will become an exceptional soccer player. Would he be able to attain the appropriate paperwork to play in Germany based on his mother's place of birth?
He can play in Germany but not as a German/EU passport holder. And he'll count against the foreign (non-EU) player limit.
I actually meant that citizens of those countries have a special status in Germany. Citizens from Norway and Iceland do not need a work permit at all in Germany, for example. For US citizens it's at least much easier to get a WP in Germany then for citizens from other countries (except those already mentioned by me, of course). I have to admit that I'm not really sure about the situation in normal jobs, but in sports it's definitely the case that US players have a special status (e.g. Regionalliga clubs are actually not allowed to sign non-EU players anymore, except those who are citizens of the countries I mentioned - a player from Cameroon or Brazil couldn't sign for a Regionalliga club anymore, but Americans or Australians can).
The reason is basically to have more German players play on the teams. Because of this non-EU players do not get work permits to play professionaly in the Regionalliga (or below) anymore (unless they already live in Germany, e.g. a player who was signed by a 2. Bundesliga club can play in the Regionalliga if his club gets relegated for example - or have a contract with a Bundesliga club, e.g. players who play for a Bundesliga reserve side). This does not affect players from countries who have special treaties with Germany, e.g. Norway. The US and Canada are among those countries, but don't ask me what the specific reasons for the single countries are (the reason for Norway etc. is that they are EEC members).
Some VERY interesting quotes given to YA by a club rep. Lots of conversations could be pulled out of this one piece, frankly. To give full credit to the site and writers I'll link rather than excerpt. Full article: http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=001317
Nice work, bluedaddy, way to follow the story. Looks like Hamburg are a lot higher on this kid than many BS posters were. If they can't work anything out soon -- which seems probable -- what would Zimmer be doing soccerwise for the next year?
After seeing the quotes this afternoon this one stood out to me... Ouch, MLS will be thrilled to see this.
Harris, take a bow. Not that anyone recalls that but I was not all that impressed with Preston at the U-17s, though the kid definitely brought his lunch bucket to work, very much like Brian McBride. So I am not sure what his upside is but I'll defer to Hamburg's director of scouting on this one. Right, this is the reason to limit the number of foreign players. Now, I happen to think it's utterly moronic rule because I know some of the reasons for this was Völler's whining about not having any more good young German players. Voila, Klinsmann replaces him and die Mannschaft is full of 19-21 year olds. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga teams are forcerd to bid on the UEFA players which are in a greater demand since most EU nations have similar restrictions. Norway is under the Schengen Accord but, even if it hadn't been, Bundesliga is counting all UEFA players - including those in the non-EU nations - to count as German/EU members. So, this opens up the Serbians, the Bulgarians, the Romanians, the Ukrainians and so forth to come into the league unimpeded. I have long assumed that, much like the Asians or the South Americans, the Yanks were also deemed the "non-EU foreigners". If it's not so - and from Greg's and Harris' article, it certainly appears to be that - I'd like to find out for sure. Gentlemen?
I mentioned Ruud earlier only half-jokingly. Zimmerman reminds me most of Ruud- and I think he could be successful at high levels as an inside the box poacher-type who uses his strength/hips + shimmy to create space, and quickly shoot-score. From my viewings- he is not a great open field player, nor all that fast. But very interesting in small spaces, and seems to have a very good eye for goal (instinct). If, indeed, Hamburg would want to play him w/Feilhaber's group immediately- that speaks volumes IMO. At the end of the day, its about numbers. Who knows which of our young talents will really break up and out- (some, obviously, look stronger candidates than others), but the more numbers we got in such programs- the better a shot that we will have a strong Nat team in future. I hope he goes to Hamburg.
I was actually more impressed with him than anyone else besides Sarkodie and Alston. His speed is fine (not remarkable but good enough), he can score numerous ways effeciently, passes well, runs all day, and I thought he passed well. His scoring rate is very good and seems to be getting better. Had the US any service in the U17 games, I think that he would have had more a chance to have been a star. Farfan and the wings just did not come through with the necessary crosses.
I agree- he can be a clever passer. But I think he 'raison d'etre' will be his strength in poaching, and creating in tight spaces in the final 20...not because he is strong from 50 to 20 yards before goal. We'll see.
MLS never had a chance on him anyways. He made that choice last year by not going into the draft and committing to Duke. I'm a big supporter of him, but I've also seen his abilities up close in many games. He is fantastic anywhere aorund the 18 at putting shots on frame, and getting his shot off in tight spaces. Give him an inch and he'll make you pay. For now though....looks like he'll be heading to Duke if things don't get worked all the way out.