James True

From Tekken City

Revision as of 10:52, 8 November 2008

James True
Birthplace	Detroit, MI, United States
Currently playing for	Bayern Munich
Birth Date	February 20, 1977 (30)
Position	Central Midfielder
Previous Clubs	Univ. of Chicago (USA) Chicago Fire (USA) S.S. Lazio (ITA) AC Sampdoria (ITA) Tekken City (ENG)
W.A.G	Louise Glover

James Leonard True (born February 20, 1977) is an American soccer player who is currently playing as a midfielder for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. James spent 9 years at Tekken City after he joined from AC Sampdoria in 1998 for £1.3m. He left the club in July 2007. James is currently the highest capped player for the United States National Soccer Team, but is the second highest capped player of all time, behind Cobi Jones.

Early Beginnings

James was born in a sturdy town in Detroit, Michigan with both his parents, Sue (Mother) and Derek (Father). James, at the age of 6 had a big liking for football and was a keen admirer of MLS team Chicago Fire. However, James was told by his parents to take up basketball as a professional sport, prior to his height, but James refused and forced them into allowing him to take soccer camps at his local high school. His parents after a while obliged. From here, James began to adjust to his style of play by out-shining other competitors in his group. He was then chosen a number of times to play for his high school soccer team in a number of league seasons.

After a while, James True became an asset to the high school team, and became a popular idol with his fellow students. At 17 years of age, his dream came true, he became a worthy MLS draft candidate, and was draft picked by Chicago Fire. James left his parents behind to move over to Chicago, Illanois to compete in the MLS league. After 3 seasons he played over 90 games, scoring 21 goals.

Italy

James True's desire after 6 years in the MLS would be to aim higher, and thought that Playing in Europe would be best for him. So S.S. Lazio snapped him up for just £3 million. He was an asset, but the only trouble was that he didn't get as many games as he would have liked. A majority of his career with Lazio however was dogged via injury, and so it was up to him to keep a bench warm for a majority of his career there.

James at this stage got so fed up that he reckoned he would need to sign for a domestic club. It would be at this depressing point in his career that he would sign for AC Sampdoria for just £1 million. The transfer however proved to be of huge success, He was ever present for Sampdoria in his first season, bossing their midfield with perfection. The manager the following season granted him with the captain armband. In the space of 5 seasons, he played 193 games.

Tekken City

It proved to be difficult to leave Sampdoria, but James True accepted a £5.3 million move to England to join Tekken City in 1998. Although he wore the number 6 at the club for many of his later yeard, he joined as squad number 15. His first goal was during the allegiance of the Kins Cup against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. James from here, has proved to be one of the club's longest serving players, and has been a lifelong captain and an idol to the Tekken City supporters.

Over a pan of 9 seasons with Tekken City, he played 325 games, and scored 67 times both domestically and in the league. The most famous goal he scored was a goal in the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan during the 2003-2004 season. He has been the club's captain for 8 years and is regarded as one of, if not, the best free role central midfielder in Europe. In 2004, Martin Tyler, a commentator for SkySports Football coverage said that he was a better carbon copy of Inter Milan's Frenchman Patrick Vieira.

James True in 2006 was picked by Bruce Arena for the United States squad to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which meant True would become the first American to play in three different World Cups. He was also captain of the team. James at International level has won a staggering 148 caps, and has scored 43 times.

During the summer of 2007, James' future at the club was currently in question after his agent, John Mellow confirmed that he had refused to sign a 3-year-deal with the club. In the mean-time, both Bayern Munich and Valencia were the two main teams to take an Interest in signing the midfielder.

The latest summer signings of Martin Demichelis and Sean Donahue, and the interest in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ben Fowl, looked to have paved the route for a possible exit for James after 9 years of service at the club.

Bayern Munich

On July 8, 2007, True completed a £18.3 million move from Tekken City to Bayern Munich by signing a 3-year-contract. He was unveiled to fans the following day wearing the club's colours. His first goal for the Germans was during a 3-0 victory over Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga on August 25, 2007. James was quoted as saying afterwards, "It's good to make an account of yourself with a goal. I hope it's the beginning of many things to come. My new manager has made me very welcome here, i feel as if I have joined a new family. Everyone has given me a lot of respect because they know what my capabilities are."

On March 4, 2008, James returned to the Zaibatsu Stadium in Bayern Munich colours as they played Tekken City in the second leg of the Champions League Last 16 (the first leg being 0-1 to Tekken City) where his new side ended up on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline. James at the end of the game, applauded the sets of fans who once followed him.

At the beginning of the 2008-2009 Bundesliga season, True was awarded captaincy by Bayern Munich manager, Jürgen Klinsmann courtesy of his high leadership experience. So far for the Germans, he has been ever present in all competitions, and has scored 5 goals, which is the highest tally than any other midfielder in the Bundesliga.

Personal Life

James virtually used to live 10 minutes away from the Tekken City training ground in Meldon in a four-star house. He has a half-English descent brother, Michael, who plays as a professional footballer for Tekken City. He has planned to search for a house in Germany having completed his transfer to Bayern Munich.

James is also married to glamour model, Louise Glover. They both have a 5-year-old daughter called Amber.