Neven Subotic

His nationality is all over the place - Croatian by descent, Bosnian by birthplace, lived in Germany until age 11 or so, in the USA until age 17 or so, a year with Mainz's youth squad, a year with their senior squad, and transferred to Dortmund this summer when Mainz went down. Played for USA U17 and U20; his Wikipedia page says that he's interested in playing for Germany as a senior international. Per a Babelfish translation of a linked German interview, his parents still live in the USA. On which country he wants to play for (apologies for the bad translation):

"They have junior international matches denied for the United States, you might play probably in addition, for Croatia, Bosnia and probably Germany. For whom do you decide?

Subotic: I think over it now no. I play only times my first year in Dortmund, up to my 21. Birthday in one and a half years I must decide then."

 

Translated by a friend who speaks German:

"You've competed in junior national team games for the US. But you could also play for Croatia, Bosnia or even Germany. For whom have you decided?"
"I'm not thinking about that at all right now. I'm just now playing my first year in Dortmund; I have until my 21st birthday in one and a half years to decide."

 

Serial dunce Thomas Rongen snubbed him for the u20 tournament in Canada, causing Subotnic to question whether he to take his International future elsewhere.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... ad&cc=5901

 

Not that this is necessarily incorrect but is was previously reported by the Serbian foot association (if my memory serves correctly) that Subotic had chosen to play for them and that comment was refuted by Subotic's agent. At this point I am going to take reports over his future with a grain of salt until he actullay makes an announcement.

 

Much as I have to take the unusual step of defending Wrongen in this case... I STILL love the descriptor of his managerial abilities.

Especially as at least one idiot {probably a secret DC or NY fan} recommended the Crew hire him to replace Sigi.

 

I'm with Barry, I'll wait until I hear it from him. Below is a podcast link where he says, after playing for the US, playing for anyone else would be "kinda like backstabbing", and he says that he plans to stay with the US team. He also talks about how he owe's it to the US to repay them for the second chance his family got here. However, I think all of this was said before he wasnt chosen for the US U20 2007 World Cup.

If you want to hear the part in question it is about 3/4 of the way through the podcast. He sounds like a nice kid. If he does play for Serbia, I wish him luck against everyone but the US. We have Boca and Gooch anyway, both of them know how to score too!

http://podcast.ussoccer.com/11-14-2006_Subotic.mp3[/url]

 

#$$#$#@!#@$$!!!!!

Why are we not surprised? !!

How many MORE teams will he be allowed to f&&k up?

Yeah... I guess I changed my mind.

 

Subotic and Vedad Ibisevic

Reading that article made me sick to my stomach. Neven was obviously going to play for us and that idiot Rongen pulls the rug out. Glad to see Rongen is constantly asked about it and has changed his story a few times.

Now comes a story about a player that I had no idea could be lining up for the USMNT, Vedad Ibisevic. The 24 year old 6'2" striker is only leading the BUNDESLIGA w/18 goals in 17 games for first place Hoffenheim.

His family had to leave Bosnia and he ended going to high school in St. Louis and played his freshman year at St. Louis Univ. He wasn't a late bloomer either, he was an All-American as a freshman at SLU scoring 18 goals in 22 games.

There is an interview w/Ibisevic currently on soccernet (his english is excellent). When asked if the USSF had ever contacted him he said no, and he said the playing for the US would've been a definite option if only he'd been asked. His assistant coach in college was Mike Sorber (a former USMNT player) who finally approached him about playing for the US after he left St. Louis for PSG (france) and had decided to play for Bosnia/Herz.

Subotic was a bitter pill and this one might be worse. An established star forward in a top league? and all we can do is pray Jozy turns out okay.

From the what might have been file...2010 in South Africa and the starting US strike force is Rossi and Ibisevic... that's world class and sadly only a pipe dream

 

Re: Subotic and Vedad Ibisevic

Rossi believed all along that he was too good for us so I don't know if "what might have been" is really a realistic description. Altidore and Ibisevic would be good too but oh well.