Born and raised in Germany, Timmy Chandler is eligible for the U.S national team thanks to his American father. The 20-year-old defender debuted for Bundesliga club FC Nuremberg inJanuary and was called up by Coach Bob Bradley for friendlies against Argentina March 26 and Paraguay March 29.
Chandler was born in Frankfurt while his father, a U.S.serviceman, was stationed in Germany. He spent three years while a young child in New York before returning to Germany, where he’s lived since. His path to the U.S. team began with a phone call fromformer U.S. international Tony Sanneh, who played for Nuremberg in 2001-04.
“Tony Sanneh called me and asked if I was interested in playing for the U.S. team,” saysChandler. “Then, [U.S. assistant coach] Lubos Kubik came to training and we spoke for a bit. I gave him my number, and then I heard from Bob Bradley. He asked me if I was interestedin playing for the U.S. and told me to think about it. I told him that I definitely wanted to play for the United States, and then I received the invitation. …
“I was very, veryhappy. I told my mom. She screamed she was so happy. Everything happened so fast. First I get to the Bundesliga quickly, and then soon after, I get a call from the national team coach. Last year I amwatching guys like Tim Howard and Landon Donovan on TV, and now I am getting the chance to play with them.”