Klinsmann's goalkeeper son named to US under-20 team

Chicago (AFP) – Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of fired US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, has been called into the American squad for the North American regional under-20 championship tournament.

The younger Klinsmann, a goalkeeper for the University of California, was among five college players in the lineup, which also included defender Marlon Fossey and midfielder Luca de la Torre from English Championship side Fulham.

It’s a situation reminiscent of when the elder Klinsmann took over the American squad in 2011 after the firing of coach Bob Bradley with Bradley’s son Michael serving as one of the midfielders in his squad.

This time, Jonathan Klinsmann gets his call from American under-20 coach Tab Ramos less than three months after his father was dumped following two losses to open the final round of regional 2018 World Cup qualifying.

The under-20 US squad will compete at the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Under-20 Championship from February 17-March 5 in Costa Rica. 

The Americans will face Panama, Haiti and St. Kitts and Nevis in first-round group play.

“When selecting a roster for a tournament like this, where you are trying to qualify to the (under-20) World Cup, you are putting together a best 11 and then players who can play multiple positions. So that’s what we’ve done,” Ramos said. 

“We are happy with the team and we are looking forward to qualifying.”

The younger Klinsmann was best known for having sent a gloating tweet after US all-time scoring leader Landon Donovan was left off the US roster for the 2014 World Cup by his father, a move for which he later apologized.