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Americans Abroad Premier League is in Kirovski's future after he signs with Birmingham City; Fulham looks to move Lewis.
By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
(Monday, August 5, 2002) -- American midfielder\forward Jovan Kirovski, 26, became the sixth American player in England's Premier League today after signing a contract with newly-promoted Birmingham City. Kirovski left Crystal Palace on a free transfer to rejoin coach Steve Bruce who brought the American to Palace in London and the First Division in the summer of 2001 from Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. Kirovski started his professional career at age 16 with the Premier League's legendary Manchester United, playing with the reserve team from July 1992 to May 1996, part of a young class that contained current England star midfielders David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. In the 1995-96 season, Kirovski recorded 20 goals in 21 games for United, then signed with Borussia Dortmund, the two-time defending champion of Germany's Bundesliga in August 1996. At 20, the youngest U.S. player to sign in the Bundesliga, he became the youngest American to score at age 21 in a 3-0 victory over Czechloslavakia's Sparta Prague in a European Champions League match on December 26, 1996. Dortmund won the Champions League that year, but Kirovski did not play much for the club in 1997-98 and was loaned to Fortuna Cologne where he was a key player in 1998-99. Kirovski returned to Dortmund the next season before moving to Sporting in the summer of 2000. "We are hoping to tie up a move for Jovan subject to securing a work permit for him," Bruce said. "He's got a good pedigree. He has got Man U., Borussia Dortmund, and Sporting Lisbon under his belt. He gave up a lot to come back to this country with Palace, because he had a hell of a contract with Lisbon. I know all about Jovan. I knew him when he was a kid at Manchester United and, of course, when he won a European Cup winner's medal with Borussia Dortmund five years ago." Palace's current coach, Trevor Francis, who replaced Bruce in the middle of the 2001-02, extolled Kirovski's virtues when he offered the Escondido, Calif., native a contract extension during the season, but when it was rejected, his public opinion of the player's ability deteriorated quickly. He told the veteran of 52 appearances with the United States national team he no longer fit into Palace's long-term plans. Bruce, who left Palace under a veil of controversy, recently raided Palace to capture Ireland international striker Clinton Morrison for $7.8 million, and told the British media the arrival of Kirovski will add further depth to the striking ranks at St Andrew's. Kirovski, who has 34 starts and seven goals for the U.S. national team, still must obtain a new work permit from the English government, required when players from non-European Union nations change teams. Strictly speaking, Kirovski, a World Cup team alternate, does not qualify because, despite his 52 caps, he made only two appearances, one start, for a total of 70 minutes for the U.S. in 2002. United States Soccer Federation officials said Kirovski's request will likely be turned down, but it is hoped he will be granted a permit on appeal because of other factors, such as having played for nearly six years in England and his entire career in Europe. While Kirovski has moved on, Crystal Palace will probably start the season with U.S. defender Gregg Berhalter on its bench for the final year of his contract. In one of the summer's odd stories, Berhalter agreed to a transfer from Palace to Iraklis Thessaloniki of Greece after he completed his World Cup service. At the time, Thessaloniki spokesperson Vassilis Voulgarakis said, "He appears very satisfied with the deal reached in Thessaloniki and has expressed his desire to join us." Berhalter, who turned 29 on Thursday, trained with the club in Greece, but before actually signing a contract, he announced he had to return to England to settle some outstanding financial issues with Palace. His departure reportedly angered Thessaloniki, enough to withdraw its offer. Meanwhile, it looks like Fulham of the Premier League is readying to transfer U.S. World Cup veteran midfielder Eddie Lewis, 28, to Preston North End in the First Division. Lewis, who apparently impressed North End boss Craig Brown with his World Cup performance, played in just one game for Fulham in 2001-02.
Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be
e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.. Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes managing editor and can be
e-mailed at editor@soccertimes.com.. |
