In a bold move that signals his ambitious career trajectory, American midfielder James Sands has set his sights on becoming the Bundesliga's answer to Manchester City's Rodri after joining St. Pauli in Hamburg.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who stands at 6'1", has been meticulously studying the playing style of the Spanish midfielder. "When you watch City, you don't notice him as much because they have all these exciting wingers or Haaland up front," Sands reflects. "But when you don't have him, that's when you really miss them."
St. Pauli's head coach Alexander Blessin has already identified promising similarities between Sands and his idol: "In James, we're getting an intelligent player who has a very good understanding of the game and finds constructive solutions under pressure thanks to his sound technique. His defensive anticipation helps him to make lots of interceptions and quickly exert pressure on opponents."
European Pedigree
Sands is no newcomer to European soccer, having previously featured for Scottish powerhouse Rangers, where he accumulated 41 appearances and participated in the 2022 Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. "It was my first time away from home, first time out of the United States," Sands recalls. "Learning how to get results in difficult places was crucial. The European games were a totally different experience. It helped me become a better player."
Community Connection
At St. Pauli, renowned for their iconic skull and crossbones symbol and socially engaged fanbase, Sands has already felt the unique atmosphere. "I can tell even from the first week how much the fans mean to the club," he says. "It's important for all the players to give everything on the pitch because the fans are right there with them."
National Team Ambitions
With the 2026 World Cup approaching on home soil, Sands views his Bundesliga move as a potential springboard back into the USMNT picture. His most recent national team appearance came during the 2023 Gold Cup semifinal, and he's determined to add to his 13 caps.
"I think the U.S. has a lot of quality players in good European leagues now, but every player is different," Sands notes. "I bring something different to maybe some of the other midfielders."
At St. Pauli, Sands is focused on developing the dual aspects of his game that he admires in Rodri. "The best players in that position bring both sides of it," he explains. "They bring that composure, they bring an ability to play forward, but they also do a lot of the defending and the dirty work. I try to be as good as I can at both those aspects."
