Chris Hegardt Explained

Chris Hegardt
Fullname:Christopher Hegardt
Birth Date:6 January 2002
Birth Place:San Diego, California, United States
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Stabæk
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2010–2016
Youthclubs1:San Diego Surf
Youthyears2:2016–2017
Youthclubs2:LA Galaxy
Youthyears3:2017–2018
Youthclubs3:ASC San Diego
Youthyears4:2018–2020
Youthclubs4:Seattle Sounders FC
Collegeyears1:2020–2021
College1:Georgetown Hoyas
Collegecaps1:31
Collegegoals1:3
Years1:2019–2020
Caps1:17
Goals1:1
Years2:2022–2023
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Charlotte Independence (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:3
Years4:2023
Clubs4:Crown Legacy FC (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:1
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Loudoun United (loan)
Caps5:6
Goals5:1
Years6:2024–
Caps6:9
Goals6:0
Club-Update:July 6, 2024

Christopher Hegardt (born January 6, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Stabæk. He played in the Seattle Sounders Academy and for reserve side Tacoma Defiance before making his Major League Soccer debut with Charlotte in 2022.

College career

Hegardt played for two seasons with the Georgetown Hoyas, scoring three goals in 31 matches. The Hoyas won the Big East tournament and advanced to the 2021 College Cup semifinals.[1]

Professional career

Hegardt made several appearances for the Tacoma Defiance of the USL Championship while enrolled in the Sounders FC Academy.[2] [3] He was traded in January 2022 to Charlotte FC in exchange for $50,000 of general allocation money.[1] [4] On June 17, 2022, Hegardt made a short-term stay on loan with USL League One side Charlotte Independence.[5] He was released by Charlotte following their 2023 season.[6]

Personal life

In December 2009, Hegardt was hospitalized after a youth soccer match and diagnosed with cancer following the discovery of a ruptured tumor in his liver. He went through six rounds of chemotherapy and received a liver transplant before returning in 2011 to the San Diego Surf, where Hegardt won a national championship.[1] [7] During his hospitalization, Hegardt received a visit and jersey from then-Chivas USA player Sacha Kljestan. The two were reunited 12 years later in Charlotte FC's home debut against the LA Galaxy, where Hegardt played against Kljestan's Galaxy.[8]

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tacoma Defiance2019USL Championship6060
2020111111
Total171171
Charlotte FC2022MLS3030
202340300070
Total703000100
Charlotte Independence (loan)2022USL League One143143
Crown Legacy (loan)2023MLS Next Pro7171
Loudoun United (loan)2023USL Championship 6161
Stabæk20241. divisjon9010100
Orange County (loan)2024USL Championship 4040
Career Total6464000686

Notes and References

  1. News: Andrejev . Alex . January 13, 2022 . Charlotte FC signs college soccer star from Georgetown ahead of MLS SuperDraft . The Charlotte Observer . March 4, 2022.
  2. Web site: Chris Hegardt Profile – Tacoma Defiance. uslchampionship.com. USL Championship. May 26, 2020.
  3. Web site: Christopher Hegardt Bio. ussoccerda.com. U.S. Soccer Development Academy. May 26, 2020. May 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170517080929/http://glxy.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=1654386. dead.
  4. January 6, 2022 . Charlotte FC Signs Georgetown Midfielder Chris Hegardt In Exchange For $50,000 in General Allocation Money from Seattle Sounders FC . Charlotte Football Club.
  5. Web site: Charlotte Independence Acquire Chris Hegardt on Short-Term Loan from Charlotte FC .
  6. Web site: Charlotte FC Announces End of Season Roster Decisions | Charlotte FC. Charlotte Football. Club. Charlotte Football Club.
  7. News: Mondello . Joseph . September 13, 2019 . Nothing Can Stop Him: Chris Hegardt battled through cancer to make it back on the pitch . SoundersFC.com . Seattle Sounders FC.
  8. News: Reineking . Jim . March 5, 2022 . Sacha Kljestan of LA Galaxy shares story of visiting Charlotte FC's Chris Hegardt in hospital 12 years ago . . March 5, 2022.