The European soccer season is almost here, and with 2018 World Cup qualifying to start in the fall, it’s an important time for Americans abroad. The rise of the MLS has been a boon to soccer in the US, but proving oneself in Europe is still the benchmark for US soccer players.
One of the biggest proponents of this ideology has been Jürgen Klinsmann, the US national team coach. Klinsmann has been critical of the MLS, chiding the league’s lack of promotion and relegation, the scheduling conflicts and its overall quality. While he’s been criticized for his outspokenness, he also has a point: US players need to play at the highest level in order to improve. And all things considered, the impact of Americans in Europe has been relatively muted in recent times.
Two stalwarts of the national team, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, have retuned to North America in their prime, and even Clint Dempsey, who could still deliver the goods for many European teams, decided to come home earlier than expected. Is the onus on American players to improve their local league, or to gain experience abroad? Whatever the answer, here are six American overseas players to watch closely this season:
Aron Johannsson
After an impressive performance in the Gold Cup, where he won a starting position from the injured and off-form Altidore, the Icelandic-American forward will play this season in what’s long been a haven for US soccer players in Europe: the Bundesliga. Earlier this week, Johannsson completed his move to Werder Bremen from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, where he scored 38 goals in 84 games.
Johannsson will likely be the only first American forward to see consistent starting time in one of Europe’s elite leagues, and the first since Dempsey with Fulham and Tottenham a few years ago. Johannsson is unlikely to be a cosmetic figure at the end of the bench, either, since Bremen lost last season’s top scorer Franco Di Santo to Schalke. Thus, Johannsson will be afforded ample opportunities to impress.
Fabian Johnson
Possibly the best American player abroad, Fabian Johnson will be on display at the highest level next season, as Borussia Mönchengladbach take part in the Champions League after an impressive third place in the Bundesliga last campaign. The versatile Johnson, who plays at full-back for the national team but is shunted further forward for his club, initially struggled after completing a free transfer from Hoffenheim last summer. World Cup fatigue seemed to play a role as he was surprisingly inconsistent and had to fight his way into coach Lucien Favre’s plans over time. Johnson even went as far as admitting his shortcomings to Fox Soccer after Mönchenglabach’s victory over Bayern Munich last season.
“At the beginning of the season, it was quite hard for me,” Johnson said. “I had the pre-season. I had just come from the World Cup in Brazil. So the first half of the season was quite hard. I didn’t have so many games as I thought I would have. Now I think I’m doing pretty good and I’m going to keep going.”
As the second half of the season continued and Monchengladbach made their push for the Champions League, Johnson improved, eventually becoming one of the key cogs on the left side of midfield for Favre’s dynamic outfit. This season will bring with it increased expectations, but nothing that the 27-year-old can’t handle.
DeAndre Yedlin
After sprinting onto the scene against Belgium and Eden Hazard in last year’s World Cup, DeAndre Yedlin quickly earned the interest of many European teams. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur from the Seattle Sounders in a move that excited many American fans. Since his move, however, Yedlin has struggled to find his footing, and he’s only played in one competitive league match for Spurs.
However, it’s not clear exactly what role Yedlin will play for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. Already behind England’s Kyle Walker in the pecking order, the arrival of Kieran Trippier from Burnley severely limits Yedlin’s chances, unless Pochettino sees him as a winger instead, a position that Klinsmann used Yedlin in during the Gold Cup. Yedlin is still raw, and at 22, is lacking the experience to play at a high level in Europe. The best bet for him is to go out on loan.
Tottenham are hoping to challenge for a top-four place and currently starting for even a top-six Premier League team is above Yedlin’s punching weight. With his searing speed he will always be a late-game option against tired legs but if Yedlin is relegated to nothing more than a specialist speedster on the wing for an entire season it massively hinders his development. Yedlin was also recently left home from Tottenham’s Audi Cup squad, leaving heavy speculation that he’ll spend this season away from White Hart Lane.
Rubio Rubin
Rubin may be one of the lesser-known entitles on this list but he could be a household name sooner than later. The 19-year-old forward can play all along the front line, and he could be set to have a breakout campaign for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
The 2012 young male athlete of the year and former Portland Timbers academy prospect made his move to Holland last season. Rubin appeared in 28 games for Utrecht, starting 21 of those encounters. Although his end output of three goals and five assists wasn’t exactly spectacular, it was still a positive step forward for a young player.
Rubin is one of the most fluid attackers at in US soccer. His composure in front of goal is still lacking, but at 19, there is no limit to his potential. In fact the amount of playing time he received last season was a surprise. As he told Goal.com “I did more than I expected,” he said. “Obviously, it could have gone better with us scoring more goals, but playing matches, 90 minutes every game, being in a starting position, really taught me a lot. It’s been a great first year for me.”
Watch out for a more mature Rubin this season.
Emerson Hyndman
Adding to the youth theme, Emerson Hyndman could be on the cusp of consistent top-level football. Heralded as America’s next formidable central midfielder (but perhaps with far more natural talent than Michael Bradley) the 19-year-old midfielder is entering the last year of his contract with Fulham, and is gaining interest from a bevy of European teams. He recently rejected a contract offer from the Cottagers, so he could be on the move before the season gets going.
Hyndman captained USA at the U-20 World Cup in June, and should be a major part of the senior set-up for 2018. Regarded as one of Fulham’s top prospects, Hyndman made his first-team debut last season and saw considerable playing time. Commitments to the national team and some niggling injuries hampered the second half of his campaign, but Hyndman, who joined Fulham at 15, has benefited from his time in English football. At Fulham he’s been moved from natural attacking role into a more defensive position. If Hyndman is to move, expect to see him get some consistent playing time: it shouldn’t be long before he solidifies his spot at the heart of the US midfield.
Julian Green
Green, on the other hand, has been America’s great hope ever since Klinsmann prised him from the German FA last year. At the World Cup, he signaled his arrival with an impressive volley against Belgium, a goal that gave the US a sliver of hope in what would eventually be their exit from the tournament.
At 20, Green is at a crucial stage in his career, and last year represented a setback. On loan at struggling Hamburg, Green found little playing time, only recording five competitive appearances in a weak team that were almost relegated. Now back at Bayern he intends to fight for his position at the club, though that may be a delusional goal at the German giants.
Green has been given the number 37 shirt this season, a clear indication that he is far from Pep Guardiola’s plans. Another wasted season could be detrimental to his development. I will gladly eat my words if Green somehow usurps the likes of Mario Gotze, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Douglas Costa and Thomas Müller, but I’m not counting on it. There is a thin line between self-confidence and naiveté and Green appears to transcend it at times. He must move if he wants to live up to his lofty potential, he has far too much natural talent and it needs to be properly nurtured with consistent playing time.
Ethan Horvath
Sadly, Horvath could have been the other American in the Champions League, but Molde, where Horvath earns his keep, were knocked out in the third round of qualifying by Dynamo Zagreb. Instead, Horvath and Molde, last year’s Norwegian champions, will have to qualify for the Europa League.
Horvath, who recently won his starting position after the sale of Ørjan Nyland to German club Ingolstadt, has been touted as a future starter for the national team, and Klinsmann will be keeping a close eye on his development. Starting in goal for a European team at the age of 20, is no small feat. Horvath will be disappointed that he won’t get to rub shoulders with the best Europe has to offer, this will still be a massive season for the 6ft 3in youngster.
Remember: the Norwegian Tippeligaen runs from April to November, so Horvath is already thick in the middle of Molde’s title defense. With a little more than half the season gone, they sit seventh, 17 points adrift of league leaders Rosenborg. But look out for Horvath’s growth as a starter in the second half of the season: he’s only played in five of their first 17 matches so far.
