Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are already out of the DFB Pokal. But there is a third division German club making a fairytale run— Arminia Bielefeld.
They are now in the semifinals and are captained by 30-year-old American midfielder Mael Corboz. 🇺🇸
This is his story.
Corboz was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama to French parents and grew up in New Jersey.
He has two sisters and they’re all around the same age. His older sister is just a year older than him and his younger sister is two years younger.
They all grew up playing soccer.
Corboz went on to play college soccer for Rutgers University and then the University of Maryland.
After graduation, he signed a homegrown contract with New York Red Bulls but was waived in a couple months prior to the 2016 season.
So he went to the USL.
The midfielder signed for Wilmington Hammerheads in March. But with the club planning to take another hiatus from the USL, Corboz left by August.
He knew that if he wanted to continue to play pro, he had to go to Europe, and that’s what he did.
He moved to German 3. Liga side MSV Duisburg in August 2016. A couple years later, he moved to another German club Wattenscheid 09.
In 2019, Corboz gave the Netherlands a try and moved to Go Ahead Eagles.
By 2021, he was back in Germany with SC Verl.
A year ago, Corboz moved to Arminia Bielefeld. Due to his leadership on and off the pitch, he became their captain within eight months.
He’s now living dream he’s always had as a kid— playing in front of 27,000 passionate home fans as they are turning heads in Germany.
Arminia Bielefeld have knocked out Werder Bremen, Union Berlin, Freiburg, and Hannover 96.
The first three play in the Bundesliga and the last one play in the 2.Bundesliga.
Now, they’re in semifinals with Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and Stuttgart.
Arminia Bielefeld are four points away from a promotion playoff place as well.
They have another American in the squad— Isaiah Young.
Corboz’s sisters are also living their professional dreams, with both playing over in France.