A number of German teams will have a distinct MLS flavor this winter, as several MLS players have set up offseason training stints on the Continent.
Real Salt Lake and US national team midfielder Kyle Beckerman is one of them. The veteran is headed to Germany to train with Kaiserslautern.
“In an effort to have USMNT players stay more fit during the MLS offseason, coach Klinsmann arranged for me to train at FC Kaiserslautern for a few weeks,” Beckerman said via the RSL press office on Wednesday. “Although I'm not sure exactly how long I'll be training, the plan was to train for a few weeks. So far we have been treated very well and I'm looking forward to this new experience.”
Joining Beckerman with the Red Devils will be fellow US midfielder Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew. Rogers had previously spent time in the Netherlands, beginning his professional career with SC Heerenveen before coming back stateside.
Also headed to Germany is New York Red Bulls striker Juan Agudelo, who’s set for a stint with Stuttgart.
"We are excited that Juan has the opportunity to train with a top club like VfB Stuttgart during this MLS offseason,” New York GM Erik Solér said on Wednesday. “They have been one of the elite Bundesliga clubs for years and are widely renowned for developing young talent. It should be a very good experience for him and we're looking forward to continue tracking his development as we make preparations for the 2012 season."
Agudelo’s former U-20 and current U-23 teammate Perry Kitchen of D.C. United is also headed across the Atlantic, slated to train with FC Freiburg. Kitchen and Agudelo are currently wrapping up a U-23 training camp in Germany under head coach Caleb Porter.
