In defense, for example, Timo Baumgartl, who once ran in Germany for VfB Stuttgart, Union Berlin and Schalke 04. Michael Wentzel also plays in central defense, but who is rarely used. The 23-year-old was born in the United States, but also has German citizenship. He was trained in youth at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The former Herthaner, Ingolstadt and Düsseldorf Alfredo Morales also owns dual citizenship, came to St. Louis from the San José Earthquakes in January. The Australian Jake Girdwood Reich also has a German passport, but never played in Germany. Marcel Hartel, Cedric Teuchert and Eduard Löwen did so.
Hartel moved to the United States as a promotion hero of FC St. Pauli. Teuchert, who was already hunting goals for Nuremberg, Schalke and Union Berlin, came in the same transfer window of Hannover 96. Löwen has been playing in St. Louis since 2022, the Hertha BSC club was hired at the time.
With the Swiss goalkeeper Roman Bürki (formerly Freiburg and BVB) and the ex-Hoffenheim João Klauss, other former Bundesliga players are in the squad. In his second MLS game, Thomas Müller meets numerous known faces. A situation that should occur again and again in the rest of the season. In September, Müller, for example, will be against Kansas City with Erik Thommy (formerly UA Stuttgart and Düsseldorf) and Tim Leibold (formerly Nuremberg and HSV).
There will probably be no duel with Marco Reus for the time being. Müller’s ex-national team colleague is under contract with La Galaxy, won the MLS championship with the 2024 team. This year it is anything but round for the club from California.
La Galaxy is currently in the last place in the Western Conference table. The chances of the playoffs are low. The two direct duels with Vancouver had already existed in March (2-1 for the Whitecaps) and in July (3-0 for La Galaxy). To see you again on the pitch, Müller and Reus are expected to wait.