WASHINGTON — Robbie Rogers dominated the headlines last week, after he joined the LA Galaxy and thereby became the first openly gay player in MLS.
But US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann isn't ready to recall the speedy onetime US international quite yet.
"First of all, we’re happy that he’s back playing," Klinsmann told the media in a press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday's friendly against Germany. "But right now he’s not in our picture because he’s far behind the group that surrounds the national team right now."
READ: Rogers outlines hopes for USMNT return
Rogers, who has 18 caps for the US, was a regular in Klinsmann's squad in the months after Klinsmann was named head coach. He made four appearances for Klinsmann's US side in the second half of 2011, and even scored the Yanks' lone goal in Klinsmann's US debut, a 1-1 draw with Mexico in Philadelphia in August 2011.
During Saturday's press conference, a German reporter asked Klinsmann about Rogers and included a claim that it was "unthinkable" for an openly gay man to play in the German Bundesliga at this time.
"I think nothing is unthinkable," Klinsmann replied.
