—TYAC Team
As the United States Men’s National Team enters a critical 2020 campaign, one reason for optimism has been the return to form of VfL Wolfsburg defender John Brooks. The 26-year-old center back returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the US friendlies in September and returned to action for Wolfsburg in late October, starting 8 of the club’s final 9 matches before the winter break.
Despite his young age, Brooks has already proven an anchor for the US Men’s National team defense, where he’s earned 38 caps in 6 years. His most famous moment- and one of the best moments of the last decade in US Soccer, of course, came at the 2014 World Cup, when a 21-year old Brooks came off the bench for the injured Matt Besler at halftime and scored the US winner against Ghana in the opening group stage match.
The goal- and Brooks’s hands-to-the-sky celebration that followed it- are now forever part of US Soccer lore- and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the American’s career.
Brooks built on his World Cup heroics with a monstrous performance at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, where he was one of the best defenders in the field. His last ditch, length of the field pursuit tackle against Paraguay in the group stage was one of the defining American moments of the tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPFxTept6Y
In 2017, Wolfsburg purchased Brooks from Herth Berlin for 22.4 million dollars, then the highest-ever transfer fee for an American player. Brooks has now appeared in 57 matches for DIe Wölfe, scoring three goals and adding four assists. He is well-regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s best emergency defenders and highly competent with the ball at his feet.
With the national team, Brooks has battled injuries, but remained a vital figure. Sadly, his absence at some difficult times has been hard felt by the Yanks. Brooks was sidelined with a thigh injury for the critical September and October 2017 qualifiers, and the US fell from a qualifying position to eliminated in the process.
“I believe we would have qualified with John Brooks available,” Bruce Arena said in the aftermath of the US failure, a quote that points to his value and, in truth, is difficult to argue given the bulk of Brooks’s past US performances.
Brooks and Wolfsburg return to action Saturday morning against FC Cologne at 9:30 AM.
In partnership with VfL Wolfsburg and to commemorate both the return of the Bundesliga from winter break and Brooks’s six years of service to the USMNT, we will be giving away a signed John Brooks jersey to a lucky fan.
To be eligible to win, all you have to do is the following:
- Follow Vfl Wolfsburg’s US account @VfL_Wolfsburg;
- Follow TYAC on Twitter @yanksarecoming;
- Like the post announcing the giveaway;
- Retweet the post announcing the giveaway.
Good luck to all who participate!!