Oriundis and Other Naturalized Internationals, Part Two

1- Mirko Votava-Czechoslovakia and West Germany 1970s and 80s

Miroslav ‘Mirko’ Votava was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His parents defected to the West following the 1968 Prague Spring, when he was 12, and settled in West Germany. He actually became a professional at Borussia Dortmund. He earned five caps for West Germany (1979/81).

He also had spells at Atletico Madrid and over a decade at Werder Bremen past the age of 40.

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 11, November 1989

(Mirko Votava with Werder Bremen, 1989/90)

2- Branko Strupar-Croatia and Belgium, 1990s-2000s

Croatian-born striker Branko Strupar gained prominence at Belgian club RC Genk in the 1990s. He gained Belgian citizenship and became an international in 1999 and remained in the set up until 2002.

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1999

(Branko Strupar)

3- Ruy Ramos-Brazil and Japan-1980s-90s

Brazilian midfielder Ruy Ramos was one of the first foreign players to play in Japan when he joined Yomiuri in 1977. He obtained Japanese Citizenship and in the 1990s played for the national team, winning the Asian Nations Cup in 1992.

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1995

(Ruy Ramos)

4- Thomas Dooley –USA and Germany, 1990s

Thomas Dooley was a defender born in West Germany to a German mother and an American, who was on Army duty in West Germany.

He was raised in West Germany and had a long spell at Kaiserslautern in the late 1980s and early 90s.

With the 1994 World Cup on the horizon, he was approached by the US Federation and obtained citizenship in 1992 and became a mainstay of the squad for the rest of the decade.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 16, 1994

(Thomas Dooley with USA National team)

 5- Ramon Quiroga-Argentina and Peru, 1970s and 80s

Ramon Quiroga, Peru’s goalkeeper during the 1978 and 1982 World Cups , was actually born in Argentina. He joined the Peruvian League in his 20s and obtained Citizenship. 

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982

(Ramon Quiroga)