U.S. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann's Path to Match His Father Jürgen's Achievements
U.S. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann's Path to Match His Father Jürgen's Achievements
Jurgen Klinsmann is a name that resonates on both sides of the ocean.
In 2011, American soccer enthusiasts got to know the legendary footballer who played for Tottenham and Inter Milan, when he accepted the role of coaching the US Men's National Team (USMNT).
He soon claimed the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2013 and followed it up by qualifying the team for the FIFA World Cup knockouts in 2014.
However, his quest to win over the skeptics started twenty years earlier in the English Premier League.
He was extensively criticized by a hyper-critical British media for his excessive use of simulation. Despite this, he managed to charm Tottenham supporters with his now-iconic diving goal celebration, which is still appreciated by his son, Jonathan.
During an interview, the 27-year-old Jonathan revealed, "Yeah, I know that dive. That would be my celebration if I scored a goal."
In February, following in his father's footsteps, Jonathan moved to an Italian club, Cesena FC, which had earned promotion to Serie C along with Juve Stabia, Carrarese, and Mantova.
Unlike his father, who scored over 300 goals for clubs and countries, Jonathan is more focused on preventing goals.
"I do get to dive," he laughs, referring to his father's famous FA Cup celebration. "If I ever score a goal on the other side, I would definitely choose that celebration."
Trained as a striker in Bayern Munich's youth academy, Jonathan's skill with the ball is something he inherited genetically and is a requirement for most modern-day coaches, including Cesena's Michele Mignani.
Klinsmann's inclusion in the starting eleven coincided with a four-match winning streak, causing trouble for the displaced goalkeeper Matteo Pisseri.
"It's more about us focusing on what our coach wants to do and then defensively, having our own style. So, the league, the style, it's really strong in mentality," Klinsmann said.
Mignani's leadership and Klinsmann's goal-scoring ability, along with Christian Shpendi's goals, have increased Cesena's chances of returning to Serie A for the first time in ten years.
However, Serie B is a league known for its competitiveness, as Sampdoria, Spezia, and Parma have found out in recent years. There's rarely an easy game.
"Any team can really come out and play well on any day," Klinsmann said. "So, I think that's one of the things I enjoy about this league - it's a fight every time you go out on the field."
This weekend, sixth-placed Cesena host Cosenza (17th) at Orogel Stadium. The recently-promoted team risks falling out of the Playoff placings (top eight) but could climb back into the top four with a victory. Momentum is everything.
After the match, Jurgen will likely be waiting for a call from his son.
"We talk after every game and he gives me his striker's perspective on certain things,” Klinsmann admitted. “He speaks to me from a striker's point of view. If it involves the entire team and all that stuff, he can talk about it as a manager as well."
Four years after Jurgen coached the USMNT to a Gold Cup trophy, Jonathan also tasted international tournament glory when Team USA beat Honduras in the 2017 CONCACAF Under-20 Championships' final.
Jonathan was named in the Best XI side and earned the Golden Glove award, securing a deal with Hertha Berlin, where he made his professional debut in the UEFA Europa League. An opportunity to return to the States arrived in 2020 when LA Galaxy offered him a three-year deal.
Born in Munich and raised in Newport Beach, California, Jonathan is still eligible to represent either Germany or the USMNT at senior level. In 2018, he was called up by the USMNT for two friendly matches against England and Italy but did not debut.
Promotion to Serie A could draw the attention of incumbent USA coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has called upon Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Timothy Weah, Gianluca Busio, and Weston McKennie from Serie A and Kristoffer Lund from Serie B side Palermo FC.
Playing professionally in Italy, even in the second tier, is a notable platform that helps aspiring Americans get noticed, including Bari attacker Andrija Novakovich.
"We have guys all over Italy now in the first and second divisions," Klinsmann said. "So, I think more eyes are going to be on that naturally, with our major stars being at Juventus and AC Milan."
"We have a couple of guys in the second division as well. I think that's fantastic. In any way you can grow the game in the States, it's going to be a tremendous help."
Maybe advancing to Serie A and scoring the game-winning goal in extra time against his dad's ex-employer is the next goal on the agenda?
Promoting to the San Siro, Inter is the desired stadium for Klinsmann according to his response. He'd be thrilled to compete there and equally delighted to secure a victory there.
- Jonathan Klinsmann, following in his father's footsteps, is currently playing for Cesena FC in Serie C, after earning promotion along with other clubs.
- Despite his focus on defense, Klinsmann still enjoys the opportunity to dive, paying homage to his father's famous FA Cup celebration.
- Cesena's coach, Michele Mignani, values Klinsmann's skill with the ball, a trait he inherited from his father, who scored over 300 goals throughout his career.
- Jurgen Klinsmann's inclusion in Cesena's starting eleven coincided with a four-match winning streak, causing some disruption in the team's goalkeeper position.
- With his father's coaching experience and his own talent, Jonathan Klinsmann could potentially attract the attention of USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino if Cesena manages to secure promotion to Serie A.