by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over the past few months, Jurgen Klinsmann's travel destinations have mostly been Italy.
The former German international went to Cesena, where his son, Jonathan, had joined the second-division team FC Cesena and had now received his first call-up to the U.S. national team.
He has both German and U.S. passports.
The recent call represents both the greatest success and the continuation of a family tradition.
"I always wanted to play in Italy because of the football culture and because my father played there," the 28-year-old said after his 61-year-old dad had worn the shirts of Inter and Sampdoria.
Now, he admitted, happiness could be even greater since it represents an intermediate milestone on a challenging journey to becoming a professional football player as the son of a sports icon.
To enter high-level football with a prominent name can turn into a burden, Klinsmann junior admitted.
While his father collected various titles with Inter, Bayern, Tottenham, and Genoa as a player, alongside having coached the German, the U.S., and South Korean national teams and Bayern, he had to travel on bumpy roads to achieve his breakthrough.
As if a contrary position would help, Jonathan Klinsmann, other than his striker father, went for the job of a goalkeeper.
Starting at Hertha and the Swiss side of St. Gallen, the Munich-born sprout enjoyed the anonymity of the U.S. in the shirt of the Los Angeles Galaxy, far away from Germany.
Being in the spotlight and constantly compared to his famous father made things even more difficult. Klinsmann junior regularly found himself in the headlines of German media.
"I always tried to find my way. This might have been more challenging compared to others," he said.
"But as a fact, today it gives me additional energy when he or the rest of the family is around. And as a goalkeeper, I am happy about any advice from a striker."
With the difficulties came resilience for the young keeper.
"It was a hard way for him, but I think he got the resilience I had to develop in my career to deal with Ups and Downs," Jurgen Klinsmann said, claiming his son has developed the required robustness to survive in professional football.
"Step by step, he is receiving the attention he deserves," the 1996 European champion said, referring to several clubs reportedly eying the keeper.
The U.S. team's nomination for the games against South Korea and Japan in September could boost interest.
Jonathan Klinsmann, meanwhile, claimed to have the "good sporting genes" from his father.
The famous head of the family appears amused at that point and is discussing his wife, Debbie, who played basketball at a high level.
"When it comes to his long arms, giving him a wide range, they are from his mother. She is 1.80 meters tall and has really long arms," father Jurgen said. ■