David Wagner (soccer)
Encyclopedia
David Wagner is a German American
soccer player.
Wagner grew up in Germany
, playing soccer from a young age. He eventually found himself playing at Schalke 04
with Thomas Dooley, who, like Wagner, had an American father and German mother and grew up in Germany.
On the recommendation of Dooley, Steve Sampson
brought Wagner into the US national team
in 1996 despite never having seen him play. Wagner had a U.S. passport, but had played for Germany’s U-18 and U-21 teams. This gave him additional credibility with Sampson but posed a problem as he could be considered ineligible to play for the United States.
In April 1997, after Canada lost to the U.S. in a World Cup qualifying match in which Wagner played, the Canadian Soccer Federation complained to FIFA that Wagner should be ineligible to play for the U.S. based on his appearances for Germany's youth teams. On May 2, 1997, FIFA announced that Wagner was eligible to play for the U.S. because his games with the German teams were exhibitions, not official matches.
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
soccer player.
Wagner grew up in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, playing soccer from a young age. He eventually found himself playing at Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
with Thomas Dooley, who, like Wagner, had an American father and German mother and grew up in Germany.
On the recommendation of Dooley, Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson is a soccer coach and the former head coach of the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer...
brought Wagner into the US national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1996 despite never having seen him play. Wagner had a U.S. passport, but had played for Germany’s U-18 and U-21 teams. This gave him additional credibility with Sampson but posed a problem as he could be considered ineligible to play for the United States.
In April 1997, after Canada lost to the U.S. in a World Cup qualifying match in which Wagner played, the Canadian Soccer Federation complained to FIFA that Wagner should be ineligible to play for the U.S. based on his appearances for Germany's youth teams. On May 2, 1997, FIFA announced that Wagner was eligible to play for the U.S. because his games with the German teams were exhibitions, not official matches.
National team appearances
- August 30, 1996 United States 3-1 El Salvador
- March 16, 1997 United States 3-0 Canada 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
Qualifier - March 23, 1997 Costa Rica 3-2 United States 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
Qualifier - April 20, 1997 United States 2-2 Mexico 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
Qualifier - June 17, 1997 United States 2-1 Israel
- June 29, 1997 El Salvador 1-1 United States 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
Qualifier - March 14, 1998 United States 2-2 Paraguay
- April 22, 1998 Austria 0-3 United States