Sandro Reyes credited former Azkals team captain Stephan Schrock for his inclusion on the German club Greuther Fürth II.
The former Kaya FC-Iloilo standout revealed that Schrock solid connections helped him get a spot on the squad.
“I was already gonna come to Germany but I haven’t had a club to try out for. Then Schrock came up with the idea and said ‘I can definitely help you get a trial at Gruther Fürth. I know the people there but you still have to perform in the trials,’” Reyes, just 19, said.
He becomes the third Filipino to play in Germany after Schrock and Gerritt Holtmann, who plays for VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga.
Schrock also played for Gruther Fürth from 2004 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2017.
In his first professional stint for Gruther Fürth, he was part of the 2.Bundesliga title-winning side that earned a promotion to the German top flight in 2012.
Reyes said the Schrock was a big help in calming his nerves in the trials.
“He was a massive help in the trials. He was supporting me, giving me all the tips that I needed. He just tells me they all have two arms and two legs so they’re not so different from me,” he added.
“As I said, I think I brought something different to the team. My teammates told me ‘Oh after the friendly, nobody plays like you. You have a different style so it’s great to have you’ and I think the coaches saw the same thing.”
Reyes knows if he wants to get noticed and selected for the main team, which is currently in 2.Bundesliga, he has to ramp up his game and play consistently.
“A lot of my teammates have already been called up to games in the first team. It’s a possible pathway but it’s going to be hard that’s for sure,” Reyes said.
