Jurgen Klinsmann’s son Jonathan broke his neck at the weekend while playing for Serie B side Cesena and was rushed to hospital.
The 29-year-old, whose former clubs include LA Galaxy and, as a youth player, Bayern Munich, collided with Palermo star Filippo Ranocchia during the league clash and was taken off in a neck brace.
Klinsmann plays as a goalkeeper for Ashley Cole’s side and rushed out to claim a ball forward before Ranocchia’s trailing leg caught the shot stopper on the way through.
Medics rushed onto the field to treat the star as his concerned team-mates surrounded him, and he received lengthy treatment on the field in front of a stunned crowd.
He was eventually stretchered off the field of play, and his club, who are eighth in Italy’s second division, confirmed he spent the night in hospital in Sicily.
It was said that Jonathan had suffered a fracture to his first cervical vertebra, located between the neck and the spine.
He is set to be kept under observation with further tests expected, as well as a consultation with a specialist neurosurgeon, as per The Sun.
Klinsmann posted on Instagram after the game: ‘Unfortunately my season came to an end on Saturday.
‘During the match I suffered a fracture to my spine which will sideline me for a while.
‘I want to thank everyone on the ground and at the hospital here in Palermo, the fans of both @cesenafc and @palermofficial for the warm wishes and of course my friends and family who have supported me over the last few days.
‘Good luck to the boys in our playoff push and I will see you all very soon.’
His absence will mean Chelsea legend Cole, who was appointed manager of Cesena just weeks ago, will have to find a new No1 for the remainder of the campaign.
There was hope for Klinsmann that he would be able to earn a spot in Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup squad for this summer after he received his first United States senior team call-up earlier this season.
While he is uncapped at senior level, he played a number of games for his country at youth level, having opted to represent his mother’s country rather than his and his father’s: Germany.
He said in September of choosing the US – which was formerly managed by his father: ‘It’s always felt like the natural choice for me. I came through the USA youth systems and I’ve spent most of my life there.
‘Of course, if a call had come from Germany, I would have given it some thought, but I have always felt at home with the United States.’
