Jeremiah Windsor '23 Recruiting Profile

The pathway to get here was both unusual and challenging.  On faith in my skills, my family uprooted from Maryland, and we moved to Germany without any contacts or contracts. I struggled through the pandemic with DFB leagues and games canceled, clubs' reduced capability, and opportunities disappearing due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. I was afraid my family's sacrifice was for nothing. I had a difficult decision to make; pack up or press on.  I took to the pitch with everything I had. I trained by myself using a wall.  With no or little games available; I went "Rocky" and took to pick-up games wherever I could find them. The days were passed with hope and highly intense training plans of 20+ hours a week on the pitch and 15+ hours improving strength and conditioning. I needed to separate myself from my competition. I put on close to 23 lbs and grew a few inches during that time. As a 3rd quarter ’04, transitioning from Regionala league to Bundesliga (U19), from the North Leagues to the Southern League, over a year and a half with a three month delay from a botched transfer, three teams later, and now my opportunity has arrived. Signing with Hertha Zehlendorf for the 2022/23 season is a welcomed uplift. I'm one of the few Americans in all of Germany playing at this level, and I would wager the only one who got here from pure grit.

In the US, I played a traditional 8, box-to-box midfielder because of my field awareness, drive for the ball, and endurance at Pipeline SC, just outside Baltimore, Maryland.  In Germany, I started in winger (7 & 11) roles.  Under Head Coach Siebert, I will be playing 8 and 10.  Coach Siebert says 10 (Attacking Midfield) is where I excel.

Hertha Zehlendorf 03 is a gem in the west end of Belin; not all that far from Hertha BSC. With almost 120 years of history and a strong youth department that developed several international players. Berlin is a hot spot for upcoming talent, and Hertha 03’s U19 team fought hard to earn promotion back into the U19 Bundesliga. Under U19 Head Coach Max Seibert’s strategy, we agreed it is an excellent opportunity for us.