The List | Top Ten Adopted Internationals
The List | Top Ten Adopted Internationals
A Januzaj inspired list of players who were born in one country but played for another.
Adnan Januzaj then, the boy's sparked a bit of a debate this week hasn't he? In England we love jumping on a bandwagon that shows any glimpse of potential and as soon as the young United midfielder completed his brace against Sunderland the FA wasted no time in trying to snap him up.
Whether he should or shouldn't play for England is a different article all together but it got us thinking about other players who play/played for a different country than the one they were born in. So here's our list of players who found a home from home...
Pepe - The Real Madrid defender is well known for his temper, once being sent to anger management classes by his club, but a little known fact about Pepe was that he was actually born in Brazil. Having never represented the country at youth level, he declined a call up to their national side and instead opted to play for Portugal, whom he had obtained citizenship with. After being naturalized in 2007, he went on to become an integral part of the squad.
Simone Perrotta - When was the last time an English born player lifted the World Cup? 1966? Nope, in 2006 Manchester born Simone Perrotta tasted World Cup success with Italy. Perrotta was born in Aston- under-Lyne and spent the early part of his childhood watching his old man play in the Hyde and District Sunday League before has family moved back to Italy when Simone was just 6. 
Lukas Podolski - Germany are either the worst offenders when it comes to poaching players or are just that bit more savvy. It depends on which way you chose to look at it. By nabbing Podolski they managed to pull off a massive coup with the forward the fifth highest goal scorer of all time for his adopted country. Poland s loss is most certainly Germany s gain.
Deco - Another Brazilian who opted to play for Portugal after obtaining citizenship by living in the country for five years was Deco, arguably one of Portugal's greatest players in recent years. Quite what it is about Brazilians favouring Portugal or why Deco always looked really sad remains to be seen, but if they ever fancied switching to England, Jack Wilshire may not be too happy, but we bet Roy Hodgson would be!
Patrick Vieira - The surname is actually Portuguese, but Patrick Vieira is of Senegalese decent. He moved to France when he was eight, already being eligible to play for Les Bleu from birth due to the time his grandfather spent in the French army. Vieira considers himself to be French and skippered his national side after the retirement of Zidane. He only actually returned to Senegal in 2003.
Miroslav Klose - Another player from Poland who holds Germany nationality and opted to play for the German national team. In 130 games, Klose has netted 68 times and won the Golden boot in 2006. A top player for his national side, he is tied with Gerd Muller on the FIFA all time World Cup goal scorers list. Not bad for a player who might not have even been playing for the German side! 
Freddy Adu - After moving to the USA at the age of 8, Freddie Adu decided not to play for Ghana, the country he was born in, but opted for the USA instead. Once referred to as the next Pele Adu has not exactly hit the dizzy heights we might of expected. Sadly for the player, he is considered to be somewhat of a disappointment after promising so much at an early age. 
Cacau - Born in Brazil but naturalised as a German, he never received a call up to the Brazilian national side, leading to his career with Germany. After living and playing in the country for eight years, he received his German passport and never looked back after making his International debut in 2009. The talent and strength in depth the Brazil side has is astounding, so it is nice of them to share that around from time to time!
Alfredo Di Stefano - Globally recognised as one of the greatest players of all time Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano actually played for three different countries, although he never played in the World Cup Finals. Di Stefano represented his country of birth Argentina, Colombia and Spain, who he acquired citizenship with in 1956. 
John Barnes - One of England's greatest ever goals was born by a player that was born outside of the country's borders. John Barnes moved from Jamaica to London when he was 12 and qualified to represent the Three Lions. That goal against Brazil still stands as one of the best England have ever scored. Barnes didn't completely forget his roots and briefly managed his birth country's national team in 2008 until realising there was more to management than just holding and giving but doing it at the right time...
