By Matt Gaschk

New Sounders FC designated player Christian Tiffert joined the club at the end of July and has made an instant impact, appearing in every game since joining the team and recording his first assist in a 6-2 win at Chivas USA. The 30-year-old German made over 280 career appearances in the Bundesliga, most recently a stint with FC Kaiserslautern in which he led Germany’s top flight with 17 assists in the 2010-11 season. The creative midfielder took some time to talk with us about the move for his family, life in America, and his new team.

Talk about your transition to America. How have you adjusted to the American life?

“The first two weeks were hard for me at the time, but now it’s okay. I’m in the rhythm. I have to acclimate to the flights for the long traveling to game. It’s very special and new for me, but I’m a fit player, I have no injuries in my career, and this is not a problem.”

Is your family still in Germany?

“After this trip, they are coming to Seattle.”

How difficult has it been being away from them for as long as you have in a new place?

“It depends how much free time you have. In the last weeks, we’ve been traveling a lot, but I only have three hours a day to call my kids because of the time difference, then they go to bed. It’s not so easy.”

How old are your kids?

“Four and two.”

What are those calls like? What do your kids want to know?

“Why is Dad working so long? Because in Germany they knew I only worked one day on the weekend. I stayed in the hotel then the game. Now, Dad is three weeks without being home. It’s not easy to understand.”

Do they understand where they’re coming? That they’re coming to a new place?

“My girl, yes a little bit. She knows that she has to take a flight to visit her dad, but she’s never been in America before.”

Before joining the team, had you ever been to America before?

“Only for shopping during Christmas time in New York. Most of the German people travel to New York one time, but not to the Western part [of America].”

What are your impressions so far?

“I’ve said it before one time, ‘I brought the sunshine with me from Germany to Seattle,’ because many people talk about rain. I’m three weeks in Seattle—no rain. It’s nice. Very nice people. Also a lot of help for me from the club. It’s fantastic.”

 

What kind of things do you like to do off the field?

“Normally, spend time with my family—playing outside, nothing special. I’m not a person who goes to cinema or goes shopping—that’s not me. I’m at home spending time with my kids and that’s it.”

What are the differences in terms of traveling?

“I’ve never been to the Caribbean before. I played Champions League, but that’s only in Europe. I would travel two hours—maybe to England or Spain. Now you have to fly 14 hours for a Champions League game. It’s very special.”

How are you going to pass the time on this flight?

“I hope sleep. That’s the best I can do. Five hours maybe, then watch some films.”

What is the Champions League like in Europe?

“It’s the top. That is where every player wants to play. It’s special day when you can play because it’s a fantastic experience—the best clubs in Europe. I played in it two times against good opponents, but that was a long time ago—seven years, eight years.”

How about on the field? You got your first assist the other day. How do you feel you’ve adjusted on the field?

“It’s only a statistic. That’s not what you do on the field. You get an assist—okay, you get a point—but it’s not so important. If you feel well, if you’re part of the group, that’s important. It’s not so easy for a player from Europe to come to the team, to the game from another country, but I feel well, I’m very happy, and an assist—okay, it’s not bad.”

Did you talk to any players in MLS before you came?

“No. Most of the things I do, I do on my own. I have my own opinion and I speak with my family. If we decide to come here together, as a family, I will do it. I don’t want to talk to other players because maybe they have a bad coach or something and they say, ‘Oh, America is bad,’ that means nothing.”