The kicker ranking of Germans in foreign countries caused the idea to open this thread: German players in foreign first divisions with pro clubs. AUSTRALIA Andre Gumprecht, 28, Perth Glory, Offensive mid AUSTRIA Daniel Hoffmann, 31, Sturm Graz, Goalie Steffen Hoffmann, 22, Rapid Vienna, Offensive mid Heiko Laessig, 34, Austria Salzburg, Defensive mid Adam Ledwon, 28, Mödling, Defensive mid ??? Michl, 22, SV Ried, Goalie Markus Oberleitner, 29, FC Carinthia, Defensive mid Thomas Sobotzik, 28, Rapid Vienna, Right wing Lars Unger, 30, SW Bregenz, Central defender ??? Woldeab, 22, Austria Salzburg, Offensive mid Mark Ziegler, 29, Austria Vienna, Goalie CYPRUS Stefan Brasas, 35, Omonia Nicosia, Goalie Holger Greilich, 31, Omonia Nicosia, Central defender Marko Haber, 31, Omonia Nicosia, Defensive mid DENMARK ??? Patschinsky, 19, Viborg IF, Forward ENGLAND Markus Babbel, 30, FC Liverpool, Right Backer Steffen Freund, 32, Tottenham Hotspur, Defensive mid Dietmar Hamann, 29, FC Liverpool, Defensive mid Thomas Hitzlsperger, 20, Aston Villa, Offensive mid Robert Huth, 18, Chelsea London, Central defender Sebastian Kneissl, 20, Chelsea London, Offensive mid Sebastian Pelzer, 22, Blackburn Rovers, Central Defender Moritz Volz, 18, Arsenal London, Central Defender Christian Ziege, 30, Tottenham Hotspur, Left Backer ITALY Oliver Bierhoff, 34, AC Chievo, Forward Giuseppe Gemiti, 21, Udinese Calcio, Backer Carsten Jancker, 28, Udinese Calcio, Forward NETHERLANDS Simon Cziommer, 22, Twente Enschede, Offensive mid NORWAY Uwe Rösler, 34, Lillestrom SK, Forward ROMANIA Markus Pleuler, 32, UT Arad, Defensive mid SCOTLAND Matthias Jack, 33, Hibernians Edinburgh, Defensive mid Stefan Klos, 31, Glasgow Rangers, Goalie Matthias (?) Lehmann, 31, FC Motherwell, Forward Christian Nerlinger, 29, Glasgow Rangers, Defensive mid ??? Sengewald, 27, FC Motherwell, Central defender SINGAPORE ??? Steinebrunner, 31, Balestier, Defensive mid SPAIN Robert Enke, 25, FC Barcelona, Goalie SWITZERLAND Christian Brand, 30, FC Luzern, Offensive mid TURKEY Mustafa Dogan, 27, Fenerbahce Istanbul, Central defender Dirk Heinen, 32, Denizlispor, Goalie Did they miss someone? First I thought Rainer Rauffmann, but he meanwhile took over the citizenship of Cyprus. Horst Heldt is on kicker’s list, but he signed with Stuttgart, so he’s back in Germany. Then Kolja Afriye is coming to mind – he’s playing for AC Hoersens in Denmark, but it probably is second division.
Lehmann is known as 'Dirk' Sengewald's first name is Daniel. Both of these players have done fairly well for a very young (apart from them!) Motherwell team. Klos has been the best goalkeeper in Scotland this year, performing particularly well in Rangers' matches with Celtic (despite conceding 5 goals in the two games). Nerlinger has hardly played since joining Rangers due to injuries. I think he was attempting a comeback just before the winter break, but didn't look 100% fit. A very curious signing, as he had injury problems before Rangers signed him. Jack has only featured as a substitute for Hibs, losing his place as the defensive midfielder to the Finnish player Wiss. There is speculation linking him with a move to Partick Thistle. (also in the SPL)
Re: Re: Germans in Foreign Leagues I remember Lehmann a bit, his first name just didn't come to my mind. He had some Bundesliga games I think (at least 2.Bundesliga), for a short while he also was successful, maybe with Leipzig, I don't quite remember that. Sengewald is completely unknown for me. Klos is quite a good goalie. Not close to Kahn or Lehmann, but the last time I saw him he would have been able to compete for the number 3 in the German goal. His problem is that some others are on this level - and they can be scouted much easier as they play here. Nerlinger had his best years when he was young. Already at Dortmund he had problems with his injuries. Everybody expected him in the national team, but injuries and too many good players on this position stopped him. Jack is in Scotland already for quite a while I think. He was in Düsseldorf's last Bundesliga roster if I'm not mistaken. Might have spent some time with Essen also, but surely no top player.
Wow, I had never even heard of some of those young german players in England. Are they all members of the german u-21 and under squads?
Yes. They all went to England about two to five years ago as the clubs over there give the youth players an earlier chance to play, and at least back then they invested more in youth education. Today I think this is not allowed anymore with the new transfer rules - you got to be 16 or 18 for an international transfer now. For a youth player nothing can be better than being educated in two different systems, this only brings them ahead, next to the personal maturing of having lived in a foreign country.
Thanks for the info olaf, I know that hitzlsperger is getting playing time with aston villa, do any of the other young players get any playing time on the first teams?
@Mehr: Robert Huth definitely got several games for Chelsea this season (shortly after the start), where he played alongside Marcel Desailly due to injuries of the experienced defenders, and got some attention and good reviews. About Sebastian Kneissl, Kicker recently mentioned in his outlook on the next U20 World Cup (I think..) that it would be "a good chance for a new start after he had gotten himself into kind of a slump at the Chelsea reserves" Not literal, but kind of that. So he is at the moment not in such a good position at the team, it seems.