Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, son of former German striker Jürgen Klinsmann, is currently recovering from a broken neck he sustained while playing for the second-tier Italian club, Cesena, on Saturday.
Following a collision with a Palermo player, Klinsmann was taken off the field on a stretcher wearing a neck brace and was transported to a hospital in Palermo.
According to a statement from the club, initial examinations revealed “a fracture to the first cervical vertebra” along with a cut on the back of his head. Klinsmann is scheduled for additional assessments with a specialist neurosurgeon.
The 29-year-old posted on Instagram, announcing that his season has come to an end and expressing gratitude to fans of both Cesena and Palermo for their “warm wishes,” as well as to “friends and family who have supported me in these past few days.”
Born in Munich during his father’s stint at Bayern, Klinsmann briefly played for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer and has represented the United States at the youth level.
He joined Cesena, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, two years ago and has made over 50 appearances for the club. Cesena is coached by Ashley Cole, a former defender for Arsenal, Chelsea, and the England national team.