Brentford's Vitaly Janelt has decided to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at international level - and the Bees midfielder has revealed the chance encounter which led to the switch.
Janelt been called up to the Bosnia squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Cyprus this month, having made 31 appearances for Germany youth teams from under-15 to under-21 level.
Despite this, the 26-year-old will now play for the Dragons, which came about thanks to his wife's parents and their local businesses in Bosnia.
“My wife’s parents have a wine shop and an Italian restaurant in Bosnia, and the Bosnia sporting director randomly came in once," Janelt revealed.
“He saw my pictures playing for Brentford on the wall, which led to conversations, and then my wife’s mum said something which made them aware I could play for Bosnia - the rest is history!”
The former Bochum man explained that playing at major international tournaments is his goal with Bosnia, with even bigger ambitions of reaching the latter stages of a competition.
“I hoped it would all be sorted for the March internationals and it has, so I’m really excited," he said.
“I played a lot for the Germany youth teams but, for me, now, it’s about the experience and potentially getting the chance to play in a big tournament.
“I spoke to the head coach [Sergej Barbarez] for the first time in November, he came to watch the game against Manchester City, we met in the hotel, and we spoke for about an hour.
“He explained what he liked about me, why they wanted me, and what the national team were changing to help them succeed in the future.
“Year by year, you’re seeing the bigger nations struggle to beat teams they are expected to beat, whether that’s in qualification or in big tournaments - look at Morrocco getting to the World Cup semi-final in 2022 - and I want to help Bosnia be the next team to do something like that.
“The dynamic of international football has changed, which makes it harder for the bigger teams, and Bosnia is a good enough team to go for a major tournament; I’m confident that we can go to the World Cup next year and then the European Championships two years after.”
"Bosnia is a good enough team to go for a major tournament; I’m confident that we can go to the World Cup next year and then the European Championships two years after"
Janelt added: “I played with Dženis Burnić in the Germany youth teams and he is also now in the Bosnia national team - he is a very good friend of mine - and he has been asking me to join.
“I also have another good friend who plays for Stuttgart, Ermedin Demirović, and having both of them just made it an easier decision for me to join.
“The sporting director, head coach, assistant head coach, and around six or seven players all speak fluent German, which will make it easy for me to settle in.
“I’m learning the Bosnian language as well.”