Long, winding road
TFC draftee Tim Kubel fell out of love with soccer. Now the Dortmund product is eager to join Reds
Robert Lewandowski. Mats Hummels. Mario Gotze. Tim Kubel.
One of these things is not like the other.
Lewandowski, of course, is one of the world’s top scorers.
His former Borussia Dortmund teammate, Hummels, is a top centreback in a top league.
Gotze, you’ll recall, scored the game-winner for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
Kubel? Well, he was drafted last week 28th overall by MLS Cup champs Toronto FC after spending four years competing for renowned NCAA coach Ken Lolla at Louisville — a much, uh, different professional path compared to the aforementioned worldclass trio.
Yet Kubel, a 24-year-old relative unknown, shares a connection with each of them.
Toronto’s second-round pick trained alongside Dortmund’s first team twice a week four years ago before moving to the States to pursue a degree and compete for the Cardinals.
“I played for Dortmund’s second team,” Kubel explained to the Toronto Sun this week. “The first half of the season I didn’t (play) because I was 18 years old and I was still in school. I missed half the training sessions so I never got to travel to away games.”
While his Dortmund II teammates were off competing in Dritte Liga — Germany’s third division — Kubel was living “a dream.” The right fullback recalls going toe-to-toe with Lewandowski, Hummels and Gotze; Antonio Rudiger, Marcel Schmelzer and Erik Durm.
“I got to experience this entirely professional environment,” Kubel told the Sun.
“It was literally a dream come true,” he continued, adding he wasn’t overwhelmed while playing 11-a-side against Dortmund’s top guys.
“I fit in there decently. I did my job. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a professional.”
A series of events, though, altered the course of Kubel’s early 20s.
Dortmund II was relegated to the German fourth division, leading Kubel to ink a new deal with Schalke II – where he thought he’d continue his path to the Bundesliga.
As Kubel learned, though, things don’t always work out like they’re supposed to.
“The coach (at Schalke II) was really old school,” Kubel explained. “He loved tall defenders who stayed back; Stayed safe. I was the exact opposite.”
The 5-foot-9 Kubel told reporters this week how former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp identified him as a pure winger before his departure. There wasn’t a spot for him at Schalke II.
“It took away all the joy from soccer,” Kubel said. “I knew the (Schalke) coach hated me.”
From competing against Hummels to Schalke II reject, Kubel was somewhat lost.
Then he heard from a German friend – a swimmer – competing at Louisville.
“He told me I could get a degree,” Kubel said. “I was like, ‘Man, that sounds amazing.’”
Kubel said he spurned opportunities to play at North Carolina and UCLA after speaking with Lolla.
“(Ken) told me, ‘I want to make you a better person and a better soccer player,’” Kubel said.
He enjoyed Louisville so much he decided to spurn Major League Soccer on multiple occasions. Kubel was offered GA deals to leave school early but instead elected to play all four years in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Toronto FC’s top brass were eager to select Kubel three years ago. Now, there are questions as to whether he stunted his development by staying in the college game.
Asked if he’s concerned after falling into the second round of the draft, Kubel hypothesized his international roster status might have been a turn off.
This after both Columbus and Chicago told Kubel they intended to draft him in the opening round at last week’s draft.
But Kubel looks back even further; Back to Schalke, where he fell out of love with soccer.
“I literally forced myself in Schalke to go to training. It wasn’t a joy anymore,” Kubel said. “At Louisville, I loved going to training; I loved giving all I had. Right now, it’s the same thing. I can’t wait to finally start training (with Toronto FC).”
Kubel entered his first week of pre-season in Los Angeles unsigned and looking to earn a first-team deal. The Reds might not be willing to sign Kubel to a USL (TFC II) deal due to his age. The question now is whether he can push Nico Hasler following Steven Beitashour’s departure. The Reds are actively seeking solutions on the right side of the field.
“They know exactly what kind of player I am; What I bring to the table,” Kubel added. “That’s why they wanted me.”