Klinsmann Starts In Series B: “My Thought Was Always That I Was Number 1”

From LA to Cesena

Training, lunch, Italian lessons – and then a Transfermarkt interview. Jonathan Klinsmann’s Wednesday is tightly scheduled, but fortunately not so full that he couldn’t report on what he’s currently experiencing. The 27-year-old goalkeeper found happiness at Cesena FC. The Munich-born American has been number one in the Serie B newcomers since the end of October and can prove his skills between the posts for the previously untouchable Matteo Pisseri (33). In an interview with Transfermarkt, he talks about his journey up to this point, his apprenticeship at Hertha BSC, the difficult existence as a permanent number 2 and the intimate exchange with his famous father Jürgen.

Junior Jonathan understands everything in German, but he prefers communicating in English. Although the native language of his father, ex-scorer, world champion, European champion and summer fairytale national coach Jürgen Klinsmann, is for him the easier language compared to Italian. To his delight, unlike after his arrival, he is no longer studying alone. “A new language is always difficult. But it’s more fun when you learn with others. We have a few other players this year who don’t speak Italian very well,” says Jonathan Klinsmann. At his previous station, Los Angeles Galaxy, Klinsmann primarily used golf to relieve stress, also because many of his teammates were addicted to the same sport – in Italy, language training kept him constantly on his toes. “It takes up a lot of my time,” he laughs.

The keeper left Hertha for St. Gallen in the summer of 2019, and a year later he moved from Switzerland to LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, where he spent three and a half years before opting for the adventure in the third at the beginning of 2024 Italian league decided. Klinsmann has had 62 competitive games (as of December 12, 2024) in the TM database since the beginning of his professional career. A goalkeeper’s lot is a difficult one because there is only one fixed spot up for grabs. But at some point it should be enough with being a reservist and waiting for the bigger chance. A small “coincidence” contributed to Klinsmann ending up at Cesena. “The owner (Mike Melby; editor’s note) lives in California and my father, who is also my advisor, met him through a friend. He was asked if I was interested in coming to Cesena. We said the doors were open and we could talk about it. Of course we looked at the team and the situation with the third division.”

Club History All Cesena FC rankings This way! After a period of deliberation, the Klinsmanns got things done. “We took the risk and said, ‘Let’s do it. Why not?’” reveals Jonathan. The belief in the team and the task was there. With a delay, he has now arrived where he originally wanted to be at the beginning of the year, but was only allowed to be in the last few weeks: in the box. “If you look back, it gave me more time to learn.” In Italy, a lot of things are different than he was used to, and the transformation has never been so challenging for him as a goalkeeper. But he’s coping well with it now. “I really appreciate being here. The teammates are a great group.” He also includes his goalkeeping coach. “You don’t want to stand still, you want to constantly improve.” That’s why his yes to Cesena was the right decision. “I enjoy it.”

Which of course also has to do with his change in status. It feels “great” to be in the front row now. “As the second goalkeeper, your priority is always to become the first. And I have been on this path for a very long time.” It once started in Germany at Hertha BSC. “It wasn’t about playing, but primarily about learning.” And as much of that as possible from the established Rune Jarstein and Thomas Kraft. “As a child, you dream of playing for a Bundesliga team. When I look back, it was a very positive time in my life.” He once stepped onto the big stage with the professionals. During the 1-1 draw in the Europa League against Östersunds FK on December 7, 2017. “One of the best experiences I ever had,” remembers Klinsmann, who was trained “fantastically” by Zsolt Petry, the coach responsible for the goalkeepers . The basis of his current abilities was laid in Germany, he reports. Berlin was “a fantastic place to start my career.”

Goalkeeper Klinsmann via St. Gallen to LA Galaxy: An “up and down”

Afterwards “it didn’t work out” at FC St. Gallen, to which injuries also contributed. The 1.95 meter tall goalkeeper was only allowed to play twice in the cup in the summer of 2019 and was shown a red card after half an hour. Jürgen Klinsmann, who was Hertha coach during his time, is said to have campaigned for his son’s return in Berlin, which met with resistance from the then sports director Michael Preetz. “I read about it and thought it was funny. That wasn’t really an idea. I had to assert myself at St. Gallen,” says Klinsmann Junior. However, the idea of ​​being trained by his own father really appeals to him. “An experience that not many people in the world have.” That hasn’t worked so far – just as it hasn’t been implemented in St. Gallen. So off to new shores at LA Galaxy, where he was able to prove himself in 24 games. It was an “up and down” for him.

Klinsmann states: “It’s a constant battle to break through that.” His current missions in Cesena are great, “but you have to keep going in the same way. My goal is to play as well as I can. To show my teammates and the coach why I’m here.” Because he knows best how quickly it can be over again. “When you’re not playing there’s so much frustration and anger, but you grow from those times in different ways. Now, as I play, the experiences I have are completely different. Both help immensely.” Every game is shown on video afterwards in order to filter out what could be done better. Is Klinsmann currently experiencing the best phase of his career? The goalkeeper thinks about it and “definitely” agrees with regard to his playing time. However, he had already felt great in training.

Giving up or rethinking was not an option in the past. “I believed in myself. That’s the most important thing. My thinking was always that I was a number 1 keeper. I believe you are responsible for your own happiness,” says Klinsmann. Staying in LA was also an issue for him. “There was also an option in Germany, but you have to have a good feeling for the situation and whether you are ultimately in the right place. And I had a good feeling at Cesena, even though it was my goal to play last season.” Luckily for him, he has now made up for that. Serie A, B or C were on his agenda for the first time in 2024, although Klinsmann emphasizes: “Italy was always a place where I wanted to play – because of the football culture and the fact that my father also played here. He always said that he loved Italy.” The decision to choose Cesena was, on the one hand, a footballing one, “but secondly, it was also a life experience.” In football, some things work, others don’t. “But you have a new language and new experience under your belt.”

Having a successful and well-known father doesn’t just have advantages. Jonathan Klinsmann, unlike Jürgen Klinsmann, chose the place between the posts and against the life of a striker. “People like to compare, the focus is on statistics. That would have made it a little more difficult for me. When I decided to become a goalkeeper, I didn’t think about it. But in the end it was a good decision. I enjoy my game.” His parents did a great job and didn’t put any pressure on him when he was young. “He was an idol for many people, including me,” he says of the famous father. Enough drive to be able to handle the demands of a professional. Jonathan feels great gratitude to his father for every help in his life. Basketball was even a priority during his high school years. Jonathan, his eyes shining, reveals how his dad enjoyed watching him. Until football won in the end. Before he was able to impress on a trial basis at Hertha BSC, Jonathan Klinsmann played for Berkeley University and made it to the quarter-finals of the 2017 U20 World Cup in South Korea with the USA.

Jonathan and Jürgen Klinsmann talk on the phone after every game

The contact between father and son is still close today. When Jonathan had to make the bench, he went through all the potential for improvement with Jürgen. That hasn’t changed even as number 1. “I’ll call him straight after the game. He’s in LA, so it’s usually lunchtime at his place. He watched my match and we talk about all situations. It’s nice to have a conversation with someone who really understands the game and gives me immediate feedback.” Klinsmann Senior was even there against Reggiana (1:1) and Frosinone (2:3). The support is always there, “no matter what happens”. For the most part, their views are the same, laughs the junior. And who knows where the advice will lead him and Cesena – the promoted team is sixth in the table and well in the race for a playoff ticket – this season. But no rush. Or as Jonathan Klinsmann, who wants to continue to “grow,” puts it: “One step at a time.”

By Philipp Marquardt

Jürgen Klinsmann in an interview – Part 1 | “Stood in front of Trapattoni crying and said: ‘Mister, I’m sorry'”

Jürgen Klinsmann in an interview – Part 2 | “Fiasco” and “short-circuit” reaction at Hertha: “But that’s just how I am”

Jürgen Klinsmann in an interview – Part 3 | “Merkel kept asking if everything was okay and if she could help”