Preston Mark Zimmerman (born November 21, 1988) is a retired American soccer player.

Preston Zimmerman
Personal information
Full name Preston Mark Zimmerman[1]
Date of birth (1988-11-21) November 21, 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Pasco, Washington, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
0000–2004 Crossfire Premier
2004–2006 IMG Soccer Academy
2006–2007 Hibernian & Caledonian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Hamburger SV II 36 (9)
2008–2009 Kapfenberger SV 21 (3)
2010–2011 Mainz 05 II 44 (10)
2011–2013 SV Darmstadt 98 64 (12)
2013–2016 TSV Schott Mainz 28 (17)
International career
2007 United States U20 10 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

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Zimmerman was born in Auburn, Washington. He attended McLoughlin Middle School in Pasco, Washington.

Club career

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Hamburger SV

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As an 18-year-old, Zimmerman joined the German team Hamburger SV, where he spent most of his time with Hamburg's reserve team.[2] As a striker, Zimmerman played 14 games and scored three goals for the reserves during the 2006–2007 season.[3] Zimmerman was originally signed while he was only 17 but the contract did not become official until he turned 18, skirting FIFA's rules on foreign transfers by minors.[4]

Kapfenberger SV

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After a trial stint at Belgian club Cercle Brugge, it was announced on August 29, 2008, that Zimmerman was sold to the newly promoted Austrian Bundesliga club Kapfenberger SV, where he signed a two-year deal.[5] Zimmerman made his Austrian Bundesliga debut as a second-half substitute in a losing effort to SK Austria Kärnten, and scored his first goal for KSV on November 22 against Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg.

Mainz 05

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On January 21, 2010, he returned to Germany, signing an amateur contract for FSV Mainz 05, where he played for the reserve team.[6]

SV Darmstadt 98

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On June 2, 2011, it was announced that Zimmerman would be joining recently promoted 3. Liga side SV Darmstadt. After two seasons with the club, Zimmerman left the club on June 17, 2013, with the plan to retire and return to school.[7]

TSV Schott Mainz

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In July 2013, he joined six-tier club TSV Schott Mainz.[8] In his first season there, he achieved promotion to the fifth-tier Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar with the club.[9]

International career

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Zimmerman was a last-minute addition to the U.S. team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada following an injury to Johann Smith, but he did not see any playing time. He has since been called up to U-23 camps.

USMNT Controversy

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Zimmerman made news with his comments regarding the selection of certain players by Jürgen Klinsmann whom Zimmerman considered to be "fake Americans". However it has been pointed out that many of the players active on the USMNT prior to Klinsmann's takeover hold dual nationality as well.[10][better source needed]

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "Preston Zimmermann". Yanks Abroad. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved June 9, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Preston Zimmerman » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  4. ^ Canales, Andrea (September 18, 2006). "At home in Hamburg". ESPNsoccernet – Americans Abroad. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
  5. ^ "Zimmerman geht nach Österreich". kicker Online (in German). August 29, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "Mainz 05 II: Zimmermann erhält Vertrag/Markowitz geht" (in German). 1. FSV Mainz 05. January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  7. ^ "Socceroverthere.com". www.socceroverthere.com.
  8. ^ Imruck, Martin (August 17, 2013). "Gekommen um zu bleiben". FuPa.net (in German). Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Schröder, Torben (May 4, 2014). "Polonaise übers Schott-Gelände". FuPa.net (in German). Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Preston Zimmerman is an Idiot". broadstreethooligans.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
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