32 year old German/American midfielder, Jermaine Jones signed a deal with the New England Revolution earlier this week that bought out his services to the team for the next one and a half years. The former US men's soccer team starter will bring a brutal shot from set pieces to the Revolution midfield that as of now is really just the Lee Nugyn show and a kind of weathered leadership that even coach Jay Heaps may not be capable of administering. All and all, it is blatantly apparent why New England soccer fans are rejoicing this week.
Born to an US military family stationed in 1982 West Germany, Jones developed a keen love for Germany and its national pastime- soccer- at a very young age. At age 12 he was playing for a club team by the name of SV Bonames before, just days after his 13th birthday, young Jones made the jump so semiprofessional ball when he signed with FV Bad Vipel in 1994. Following the '94 season, Jermaine Jones enrolled at Eintracht Frankfurt, a soccer oriented private high school where he played in excess of 70 games on the schools primary and secondary squads. Following his senior season at Frankfurt, Jones, sporting a greatly refined defensive game and a growing left footed shot was bought out by Bayer Leverkusen of Bundesliga, Germany's elite soccer league. In Bayer, Jones added 15 starts in the secondary league and 5 caps in the actual Bundesliga before he was loaned back to Frankfurt.
Born to an US military family stationed in 1982 West Germany, Jones developed a keen love for Germany and its national pastime- soccer- at a very young age. At age 12 he was playing for a club team by the name of SV Bonames before, just days after his 13th birthday, young Jones made the jump so semiprofessional ball when he signed with FV Bad Vipel in 1994. Following the '94 season, Jermaine Jones enrolled at Eintracht Frankfurt, a soccer oriented private high school where he played in excess of 70 games on the schools primary and secondary squads. Following his senior season at Frankfurt, Jones, sporting a greatly refined defensive game and a growing left footed shot was bought out by Bayer Leverkusen of Bundesliga, Germany's elite soccer league. In Bayer, Jones added 15 starts in the secondary league and 5 caps in the actual Bundesliga before he was loaned back to Frankfurt.
Over the next 7+ seasons, Jermaein Jones bounced around Germany not because of any lack of talent but rather due to the whopping salaries he was suddenly commanding. His 30 goals from the defensive portion of the field up through 2010, caught the eye of then USMT coach, Bob Bradley and as that year's World Cup in South Africa rolled around, Jones was given his big break- a starting spot on the US roster. However after injuring himself prior to the cup, he did not make the trip to South Africa.
Four years later when FIFA took its ultimate tournament to Brazil, he was displaying his brutal skill in its greatest form. With what could possibly go down as the iconic goal of the US run to the Round of 16 in 2014, Jones took a shot from 25 yards out that eventually curled into the net and equalized a pivotal US game with Portugal.
However since the US eventually lost to Belgium last month, Jones has not played for any professional team and had been searching ridiculously for a team who could help him change that. He found that in the MLS who in turn found another international superstar that they could sign and boost their global profile. For the Revs in particular though, Jones is more than just a big name.
After Andy Dorman tore his MCL last month, the Revolution who, at one point, held the best record in the conference have fallen from grace. Excluding the efforts of superstar midfielder Lee Nugyn, the Revolution middies have managed to net just 3 goals and have also left vast holes wide open for opposing strikers to capitalize on. Jones, a midfielder known best for gritty challenges and physical battles in the corners and on the outer portions of the field could help shove attackers away from the prime scoring areas in the Revs end.
Jones is excited to do just that and hopefully help the Revs make it to the playoffs for the second time this decade.
“I’m very excited to come to MLS and join the Revolution,” Jones said earlier this week. “New England is an exciting team on the rise, and I believe I can come in and help the team make a push toward MLS Cup. Playing with the U.S. National Team has given me a great connection with the American fans and I’m looking forward to playing in front of them every weekend. I’m ready to get started with the Revs."
All and all, Jermaine Jones brings both name recognition and a perceived boost in ticket sales as well as some immense midfield skill to a team right on the fringe of playoff success. If Jones can perform in the blue and red uniform than the Revolution could not only make the playoffs but contend for the title they have never won, the MLS cup.
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