Florian Jungwirth Explained

Fullname:Florian Jungwirth[1]
Birth Date:1989 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Gräfelfing, West Germany
Height:1.81 m
Position:Defender, midfielder
Youthyears1:1995–2000
Youthclubs1:TSV Eintracht Karlsfeld
Youthyears2:2000–2007
Youthclubs2:1860 Munich
Years1:2007–2010
Clubs1:1860 Munich II
Caps1:48
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2010
Clubs2:1860 Munich
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2010–2013
Clubs3:Dynamo Dresden
Caps3:89
Goals3:0
Years4:2013–2014
Clubs4:VfL Bochum
Caps4:29
Goals4:1
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:VfL Bochum II
Caps5:4
Goals5:1
Years6:2014–2017
Clubs6:Darmstadt 98
Caps6:62
Goals6:0
Years7:2017–2021
Clubs7:San Jose Earthquakes
Caps7:124
Goals7:5
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps8:27
Goals8:1
Years9:2022
Clubs9:Whitecaps FC 2
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2004–2005
Nationalteam1:Germany U16
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2005–2006
Nationalteam2:Germany U17
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2006–2007
Nationalteam3:Germany U18
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2007–2008
Nationalteam4:Germany U19
Nationalcaps4:17
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2008–2009
Nationalteam5:Germany U20
Nationalcaps5:10
Nationalgoals5:2
Manageryears1:2023–
Managerclubs1:Vancouver Whitecaps FC (assistant)

Florian Jungwirth (born 27 January 1989) is a German professional former footballer who played as a defender or midfielder.[2]

Club career

1860 Munich

Jungwirth began his career as a defender with his hometown club TSV Eintracht Karlsfeld when he was ten years old, before moving to TSV 1860 Munich, and progressing through the reserve team from age groups U-11 to U-19. He won the Deutsche Fußballmeisterschaft der B-Junioren (German B-Juniors Championship) with the U-17 team in 2006 and again in 2007 with the U-19s. Jungwirth became a member of the U-23 squad during the 2007–08 season, making his senior debut with a start on 15 September 2007 in a 3–0 victory at home against VfR Aalen. At the end of the 2009 season, he had made 48 appearances for the reserve side. He was named to the first team in the summer of 2008, but appeared only as an unused substitute eleven times during the 2008–09 season and was entirely unused for the first half of the 2009–10 season, before moving to Dynamo Dresden in January 2010.

Dynamo Dresden

Jungwirth made his debut in a 3. Fußball-Liga match during a 2–0 home win against Bayern Munich II. However, after making only eleven appearances for Dresden, he tore his cruciate ligament on 10 April 2010 during a match against FC Ingolstadt 04 and thus was sidelined until October. He helped Dresden win promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and stayed with the club, making 53 appearances over the next seasons, until his contract was up in 2013. Despite a desire to stay in Dresden, the club did not renew his contract.[3]

VfL Bochum

Jungwirth signed with VfL Bochum in June 2013.[4] However, due to the club's financial struggles, he moved to Darmstadt 98 in the 2014 summer transfer window.[5]

Darmstadt 98

Jungwirth joined SV Darmstadt 98, newly promoted from the third division, in time for the 2014–15 season. He helped the club get promoted yet again, this time to the Bundesliga, and made his Bundesliga debut on opening day of the 2015–16 season against Hannover 96. He was released in January 2017 after requesting a transfer to Major League Soccer several months earlier. Darmstadt coach and former MLS player Torsten Frings tried to block his move and criticized him heavily in the media after leaving him out of the squad in what ended up being a 6–1 defeat at home to 1. FC Köln.[6] Jungwirth responded, "Sure, the coach can criticize my training performances in public. But whether that belongs on a news conference following a 6–1 defeat where I wasn't even in the squad is anyone's guess."[7] His signing by the San Jose Earthquakes was announced several days later.

San Jose Earthquakes

Jungwirth moved to MLS, signing a contract with the San Jose Earthquakes in February 2017. His first start for the club came on 4 March 2017 in the season-opening 1–0 home victory over the Montreal Impact.[8] His first MLS goal was scored in stoppage time in a 2–1 road loss to Sporting Kansas City on 18 March 2017.[9] On 14 October 2017, Jungwirth was announced as a nominee for three different league awards: the Landon Donovan MVP Award alongside teammate Chris Wondolowski, the MLS Defender of the Year Award along with teammate Nick Lima, and the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.[10]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On 6 August 2021, Jungwirth was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for $200,000 in General Allocation Money and a further $100,000 in conditional GAM.[11] On 2 December 2021, Vancouver confirmed they had exercised his contract option, keeping him at the club through 2022.[12]

On 27 January 2023, Jungwirth announced his retirement from playing professional footballer, and was named an assistant coach for Vancouver's first team.[13]

International career

Jungwirth has represented Germany at various youth levels, and was the captain of the team that won the 2008 UEFA Under-19 Championship, despite being ejected from the championship game prior to half-time on a second yellow card.[14]

Personal life

Jungwirth is known for his animal welfare work and specifically his efforts aiding the rescue of dogs from Spanish kill shelters.[15] He has also stated that he would never play in China, because of his opposition to the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival and general treatment of dogs in the country.[16]

He married his wife Kathleen officially on 23 December 2015, and on 4 June 2016 they married in the church.[17]

As of 27 February 2018, Jungwirth holds a U.S. green card, qualifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[19] [20]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1860 Munich II2007–08Regionalliga Süd200200
2008–09210210
2009–107070
Total4800000480
Dynamo Dresden2009–103. Liga110110
2010–1125020270
2011–122. Bundesliga26020280
2012–132702020310
Total8904040970
VfL Bochum2013–142. Bundesliga29110301
VfL Bochum II2013–14Regionalliga West1111
2014–153131
Total3330000333
Darmstadt 982014–152. Bundesliga27000270
2015–16Bundesliga19020210
2016–1716000160
Total6202000640
San Jose Earthquakes2017MLS3023010342
20183130000313
20193001000310
20201900010200
20211400000140
Total124540201305
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2021MLS1410010151
20221300000130
Total2710010281
Career total4129110704309

Honours

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Germany. FIFA . 8 . 6 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091013164551/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/10/28/62/fwyc_2009_squadlists.pdf . 13 October 2009 .
  2. Web site: Jungwirth, Florian . de . . 19 February 2012.
  3. Web site: Jungwirth wollte bei Dynamo bleiben. Bild. de. 8 June 2013. 28 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Jungwirth unterschreibt beim VfL. Kicker. de. 24 June 2013. 28 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Darmstadt verlängert mit Jungwirth bis 2017. Bundesliga.com. de. 4 May 2015. 28 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Nach Frings' Tirade: Jetzt spricht Jungwirth. kicker.de. de. 30 January 2017. 4 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Darmstadt's Torsten Frings blasts Florian Jungwirth over MLS 'dream'. Stephen Uersfeld. ESPN. 30 January 2017. 4 February 2018.
  8. Web site: RECAP: Quakes take the first game of the season 1-0 vs. Montreal. sjearthquakes.com. 7 May 2017. en.
  9. Web site: RECAP: Sporting KC 2, Quakes 1 - San Jose drop first points of 2017 in tough away loss. sjearthquakes.com. 7 May 2017. en.
  10. Web site: FEATURE: Several San Jose Earthquakes nominated for MLS awards. San Jose Earthquakes. Jake Pisani. 14 October 2017. 16 October 2017.
  11. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire experienced defender/midfielder Florian Jungwirth. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 6 August 2021. 6 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Whitecaps FC announce end of season roster decisions. December 2, 2021. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  13. Web site: Florian Jungwirth retires, joins Vancouver Whitecaps coaching staff | MLSSoccer.com. mlssoccer. 23 April 2023.
  14. Web site: Glorious Germany sweep to victory . UEFA . 27 January 2018.
  15. Web site: Darmstadt-Profi rettet Straßenhunde vor dem Tod. Bild. de. 6 March 2015. 28 January 2018.
  16. Web site: INTERVIEW MIT MLS-PROFI JUNGWIRTH: "SCHWEINI UND ICH HÄTTEN ES AUCH EINFACHER HABEN KÖNNEN!". SportBuzzer. de. 10 April 2017. 28 January 2018.
  17. Web site: IN MY WORDS: FLORIAN JUNGWIRTH. San Jose Earthquakes. 17 November 2017. 28 January 2018.
  18. Web site: NEWS: Two Earthquakes Players Obtain Green Cards, No Longer Occupy International Spots. San Jose Earthquakes. 27 February 2018. 27 February 2018.
  19. Web site: Florian Jungwirth » Club matches. World Football. 3 February 2017.
  20. Web site: F. Jungwirth. Soccerway. Perform Group. 7 May 2017.
  21. Web site: FRITZ-WALTER-MEDAILLE FÜR VIER DEUTSCHE U 19-EUROPAMEISTER. Deutscher Fussball-Bund. de. 20 August 2008. 27 January 2018.
  22. Web site: NEWS: Earthquakes Announce 2017 Club Award Winners. San Jose Earthquakes. 22 October 2017. 27 January 2018.