Although football has been a sport dominated by Europe and South America for a few years, there could be no doubting the worldwide influence it has on the masses. This has also progressively modified the interests of Southeast Asia, which is home to many countries traditionally adept at sports apart from football.
Football is seen as a approach to achieve soft power and a approach to establish yourself on the planet. Perhaps Asia will soon develop into one of the essential continents in football.
As such, Fox Sports is taking a have a look at five soccer players with roots in Southeast Asia and a presence in Europe.
5. Dennis Buschening (Westfalia Rhynern, Thailand)
Born in Thailand and Germany within the German city of Esslingen am Neckar, Buschening is 27 years old and a striker by position.
Having began his profession playing in Germany, Buschening moved to Thailand in 2013 and played there for around 4 years before returning to Germany to play for Westfalia Rhynern within the regional league. This is where he still resides this season.
4. Marito Marcal (Dungannon Swifts FC, East Timor)
Marcal, perhaps one in all those young Southeast Asian players in Europe to look at out for, is playing for Northern Ireland today. He is just 16 years old and has yet to make a single appearance for his club Dungannon, the team he joined from Tyrone United in the identical league.
Marcal is a striker from East Timor and a few people expect him to be essential for his country in the long run.
3. A Maulana (Lechia Gdańsk, Indonesia)
The 18-year-old Indonesian sensation’s name has been awarded Guards on the list of the 60 most promising young people on the planet.
After joining Lechia Gdańsk’s Polish team this summer, Maulana made an impression on the club’s junior team, appearing in seven matches and scoring eight times. He is currently the team’s best scorer and may count on being called up from the senior team.
The striker has already played thrice for the Indonesian senior team, and recently led Indonesia to the quarter-finals of the recently held AFC Under-19 Championship. It is value appreciating his achievements within the U19 team, as he scored 15 goals in 16 appearances.
2. John-Patrick Strauss (Erzgebirge Aue, Philippines)
Strauss, one in all the lesser-known stars of Philippine football, once worked with Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig and was a part of the team that was promoted to the First Division from the 2nd Bundesliga.
In the 2016/17 season, he scored nine goals for Leipzig II, coming on the bench once. He currently plays for Erzgebirge Aue within the 2. Bundesliga, making three appearances this season.
1. Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City FC, Philippines)
Arguably the best Southeast Asian player of all time, Neil Etheridge was born right into a Filipino family but in Enfield, Tottenham, London.
While with Cardiff City, Etheridge played a component in securing the Welsh team’s promotion to the Premier League last season, and his heroics in goal for Neil Warnock’s men saw him save two penalties in as many games in the beginning of the season.
He parried subsequent penalties against Bournemouth and Newcastle, and the 28-year-old became the primary goalkeeper after Alan McGregor to avoid wasting a penalty on his Premier League debut.
He is anticipated to play for the Azkals in the course of the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.
Source : Sport Lisa
