HOPPE AND GLORY
Schalke’s Matthew Hoppe, 19, is first American to score Bundesliga hat-trick and was schooled at Barcelona’s US academy
THAT'S one way to announce yourself.
On January 9, Matthew Hoppe did something no other American had done before him in the Bundesliga.
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And that's counting the likes of forwards Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Eric Wynalda, Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis, who all established themselves in German football.
Hoppe, just 19, became the first player born in the USA to score a hat-trick in German's top flight - netting three in Schalke's 4-0 demolition of Hoffenheim.
Incredibly, the 6ft 3in target man only made his senior debut a month prior to his record-breaking goalscoring exploits.
But clearly Hoppe has a bright future ahead of him - one that could've been with Barcelona.
UNIVERSITY? NO THANKS
In 2019, Schalke gambled on the powerfully built forward by offering him a trial.
At the time, he was training with Barcelona in Arizona - where the Catalans have a US academy that offers the same level of coaching as at La Masia.
He had scored 29 goals in 23 games in 2018-19, and was accepted for a place at San Diego University.
After impressing coaches, Hoppe was offered a youth contract and the youngster decided to turn his back on his education and moved to Germany.
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DREAM START
Hoppe could not have imagined he would've got a chance to shine so soon for Schalke.
But with the club winless for almost a YEAR and rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga, they really had no other option.
They had also sacked Vedad Ibisevic in November, Goncalo Paciencia suffered a knee injury and Welsh youngster Rabbi Matondo, 20, failed to find his feet and was loaned to Stoke City.
Hoppe was thrown in at the deep end - making his debut against Borussia Monchengladbach in a 4-1 defeat in November.
Then, former Tottenham boss Christian Gross took over the reigns at Schalke (the club's fourth coach this season) and pinned his faith in the promising talent.
After three appearances from the bench, Hoppe started the next two under the Swiss manager.
And he came alive in the second - netting three times in that Hoffenheim demolition, which ended an astonishing run of 30 games without a win.
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At the full-time whistle, Hoppe was speechless in the post-match interview.
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"I have no words," he exclaimed before drawing a huge gulp of breath and exhaling.
It's left Schalke fans full of Hoppe for the future.
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