Jermaine Jones
- U.S. National Team: MNT
- Position: Midfielder
- Date Of Birth: Nov. 3, 1981
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 170
- Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
- Club: Schalke (Germany)
A powerful box-to-box midfielder who is strong on the tackle, Jones made his name in the German Bundesliga where he has played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04. Born to a German mother and American father in Frankfurt, Jones was capped by Germany three times before applying for a change of association granted by FIFA allowed him to become eligible to represent the United States. Dealing with a shin injury for more than a year ruled Jones out of contention for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but his top-level experience and great athleticism have now finally been on display in a U.S. uniform as Jones helped the U.S. to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
- Started each of the USA’s six games in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup and scored the opening goal against Jamaica
- Made his long-awaited U.S. National Team debut on Oct. 9, 2010, against Poland in Chicago, sending a cleverly delivered pass into the path of Jozy Altidore who converted the assist into the USA’s first goal of the match
- Became eligible to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team in October of 2009, though injury prevented him from being called into a camp for another year
- After playing for Germany in qualifying for the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup and being capped three times by the full team for Germany in 2008 in friendlies, he submitted the paperwork to FIFA to change associations and play for the USA
- After stints with Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, he has spent four seasons at Schalke.
2011: Made a career-high 12 appearances for the U.S., including eight starts … Started all six of the U.S.’s games in the CONCACAF Gold Cup … Scored his first U.S. goal and the game-winner against Jamaica on June 19 to lift the U.S. into the Gold Cup semifinal …His ‘military salute’ goal celebration in honor of his father was a finalist for U.S. Soccer’s Best Goal Celebration … 2010: Debuted on Oct. 9 against Poland in Chicago in fine fashion, sending a cleverly delivered pass into the path of Jozy Altidore who converted for the USA’s first goal of the match … Went 90 minutes that day and in the 0-0 draw against Colombia in Philadelphia three days later … 2009: He became eligible to represent the USA after his documentation was approved by FIFA on Oct. 20 … Injury prevented him from being called into Bob Bradley’s team and at the end of 2009 he had yet to return to first team action … First Appearance: Oct. 9, 2010, vs. Poland … First Goal: June 19, 2011, vs. Jamaica.
Germany National Team: Made three total appearances for Germany in friendlies in 2008 and 2009.
Germany National Team: Made three total appearances for Germany in friendlies in 2008 and 2009.
2011: Returned to Schalke and made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions in the first half of the season, including starts in the Europa League … Remained relegated to the bench until Huub Stevens became the new coach Sept. 27 and gave him another opportunity … 2010-11: Made 10 starts for Schalke before being assigned to the reserve team in early December … Made his long-awaited return to action since May of 2009 when he started on Aug. 14 against VfR Aalen in the first round of the German Cup … Scored the lone goal in the 2-1 loss on Aug. 28 to Hannover … Spent the second half of the season with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, where he made 15 appearances, including 90 minutes in the 1-0 win against Bolton Wanderers on April 30, 2011 … 2009-10: Missed the entire Bundesliga campaign attempting to recover from a shin injury … 2008-09: Made 37 appearances in all competitions for Schalke … Started all 30 league games he appeared in, scoring three goals and adding five assists as Schalke finished eighth in the Bundesliga … 2007-08: Made 29 league appearances in his first season at Schalke … Started eight games during Schalke’s run to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League … 2006-07: Made five appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt before leaving for Schalke at the end of the season … 2005-06: Appeared in 20 games for Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring twice … 2004-05: In an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen, he made five appearances, including one in the UEFA Champions League … 2003-04: Made five appearances with Eintracht Frankfurt before going on loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
Born to a German mother and an American father … Growing up, he lived in Chicago and Greenwood, Miss., before moving back to Germany … Married to Sarah Gerth, a former Miss Germany.
