Julian Green Reflects on His Unexpected Journey and Stability
Julian Green is no stranger to the unpredictable nature of professional soccer. Once hailed as a rising star for the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT), Green’s career has taken many turns since his unforgettable World Cup goal against Belgium in 2014. Ten years later, the now 29-year-old has found an unexpected home and stability at German club Greuther Fürth, a role far removed from what many anticipated when he first burst onto the scene.
From World Cup Hero to Club Veteran
A decade ago, Green’s star was rapidly rising. After scoring a stunning goal against Belgium with his first touch in a World Cup knockout match, and having made a brief Champions League appearance for Bayern Munich, many expected his career to continue skyrocketing at the elite level. However, things didn’t unfold as planned. Following the World Cup, Green faced struggles in finding regular playing time at Bayern and during his loan to Hamburg.
Now entering his eighth season with Greuther Fürth, Green acknowledges that this was not the path he initially envisioned. “I would say in the beginning, I never thought that I would be here for so long, to be honest,” Green admits. “But yeah, in the end, you can never really plan things.”
Finding a Home in Fürth
For Green, Greuther Fürth offered something he had not found elsewhere: a sense of belonging and faith in his abilities. Unlike the uncertainty of his previous stops, Fürth gave him a consistent role and the opportunity to grow as a player. Today, he’s a deeper-lying midfielder, anchoring the team’s push for promotion in the 2. Bundesliga, a role he finds comfort in and where he has developed into a team leader.
Reflecting on the stability he’s found, Green says: “It wasn’t that easy after the World Cup because, in my opinion, I played for the best club in the world at that time [Bayern Munich], probably with the best squad they ever had, so I made my move to Hamburg. It didn’t really work out.” He adds, “Fürth provided a place that believed in me, and it allowed me to establish myself and have a career that I am proud of.”
Learning from the Journey
Green believes every player’s journey is unique and that his own career has been defined by unpredictability. “It’s hard to give advice to other players because every career is different, and every step is different,” he says. “You can’t really say, ‘You have to do this, you have to do that’. At the end, you have to work hard. That’s what you always have to do, but then there are a lot of things that can go in this or in the other direction.”
Green’s focus now is on leading Greuther Fürth to greater success, bringing experience, and resilience gained from his decade-long journey that started with a flash of brilliance on the world stage and led to a fulfilling, albeit unexpected, role in the 2. Bundesliga.
