[AMERICANS ABROAD] Eight Americans -- Steve Cherundolo, Michael Bradley and six players born and raised in Germany -- begin play in the 1. Bundesliga, which kicks off the 2011-12 season this weekend ...

Steven Cherundolo (Hannover 96, 326 games, 7 goals)
Left the University of Portland as an underclassman to sign with Hannover in 1999. At 32 the longest-serving American at one club abroad. Begins his 12th season at Hannover, where in 2010-11 he captained it to its best season ever, fourth in the Bundesliga.

Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04, 159 games, 17 goals).
Born in Germany but spent time in Chicago and Mississippi before returning to Germany after his parents divorced. He debuted with Eintracht Frankfurt a decade ago and moved to Schalke 04 in 2007. Back with Schalke after spending the second half of the 2010-11 season on loan to Blackburn Rovers in England. At 29, finally earned first cap for the USA during Bob Bradley's last year as national team coach.

David Yelldell, Bayer Leverkusen (85 games)
Spent two seasons at Blackburn in England as the backup to American keeper Brad Friedel. Now will be backup at Bayer Leverkusen after helping second division Duisburg reach the 2011 German Cup final. At 29, looking to make his Bundesliga debut. Earned his first cap for the USA in 2011.

Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, 76 games, 10 goals)
Spent the second half of the 2010-11 season at Aston Villa, hoping it would turn into a permanent moved to the EPL, but a change in managers ended that possibility. In his absence, Gladbach staved off relegation with a miraculous fight. Club says it wants to unload Bradley by the end of August. There's been talk of a move to Italy but nothing has yet materialized. At the age of 24, already has played three Bundesliga seasons.

Timothy Chandler (Nuremberg, 14 games, 1 goal)
Burst on the scene last winter when he debuted for Nuremberg shortly before his 21st birthday. A key to Nuremberg's strong run in the second half of the 2010-11 season. Moved from Eintracht Frankfurt II to Nuremberg II last summer and spent the fall on Nuremberg's under-23 team. At 20, the youngest German-American brought into the national team program. Questionable for the Nuremberg opener against Hertha Berlin -- and therefore the USA-Mexico friendly -- with a knee injury.

Daniel Williams (Freiburg, 13 games)
Another son of an American GI and German mother, Williams debuted in the Bundesliga for Freiburg in early 2000 at the age of 20. Like Chandler, can play in midfield or at outside back. The only one of the German-Americans who has yet to represent the USA.

Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin, 3 games)
Joined Hertha in his native Berlin at the age of 10 and moved up to the Hertha II reserve team at the age of 17. Debuted last season at the age of 20. One of four German-Americans in Hertha system to catch the eye of U.S. national team scouts. (John Anthony Brooks has moved up to the first team. Terence Boyd has joined Borussia Dortmund II; Jerome Kiesewetter should debut with Hertha II this season.)

John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin, 0 games)
At 18 one of the most promising players at Hertha, which won promotion to the First Division in 2011. Defender signed first pro contract -- a four-year deal -- over the summer. Played for the U.S. U-20 national team in France this last spring.