John Klein (soccer, born 1999) explained

John Klein
Fullname:John David Klein III
Birth Date:7 November 1999
Birth Place:Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Height:5ft 7in
Currentclub:St. Louis City
Clubnumber:41
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Sporting Kansas City
Youthyears2:–2018
Youthclubs2:Portland Timbers
Collegeyears1:2018–2022
College1:Saint Louis Billikens
Collegecaps1:88
Collegegoals1:29
Years1:2018
Clubs1:Portland Timbers 2
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2019
Clubs2:Chicago FC United
Caps2:10
Goals2:4
Years3:2021
Clubs3:St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Caps3:8
Goals3:4
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Kaw Valley FC
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:St. Louis City 2
Caps5:42
Goals5:17
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:St. Louis City
Caps6:6
Goals6:1
Club-Update:June 23, 2024

John David Klein III (born November 7, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for MLS side St. Louis City SC.

Career

Youth, college, and amateur

Born in Kansas City, Missouri,[1] Klein attended Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri, where he played one year of high school soccer and was named the district's Player of the Year. He later joined the academy teams in Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers. With the latter, Klein signed a USL academy contract with Portland Timbers 2 but never made an appearance for the team.[2]

In 2018, Klein attended Saint Louis University to play college soccer. Across five seasons with the Billikens, including a truncated season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klein made 88 appearances, scoring 29 goals and tallying 27 assists. Klein won numerous awards and accolades during his college career, including A-10 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2018, All-Conference in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the A-10 co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.[3] [4]

While at college, Klein also spent various spells with clubs competing in the USL League Two; Chicago FC United in 2019,[5] St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC in 2021,[6] and Kaw Valley FC in 2022.[7]

Professional

Following college, Klein was selected 9th overall in MASL draft by Kansas City Comets.[2] One day later on December 21, 2022, Klein was selected 30th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by St. Louis City SC.[8] On February 28, 2023, Klein signed a professional contract with the club's MLS Next Pro side St. Louis City 2, a club he had trained with the previous year.[9] [1] [10] On May 19, 2023, Klein signed a short-term deal to join the club's Major League Soccer roster for their upcoming fixture against Sporting Kansas City.[11] On June 22, 2024, St. Louis Klein's move to the first team permanent.[12]

Personal

He is the son of former professional soccer player and current coach John Klein.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A dream comes true as SLU's John Klein gets drafted by hometown St. Louis City SC. Tom. Timmermann. December 22, 2022. STLtoday.com.
  2. Web site: KC Comets select three in first MASL college draft. Thad. Bell. December 20, 2022. The Blue Testament.
  3. Web site: John Klein – 2022 – Men's Soccer. Saint Louis University.
  4. Web site: Six Billikens Honored with All-Conference Awards. Saint Louis University.
  5. Web site: Chicago FC United | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  6. Web site: St. Louis Scott Gallagher | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. Web site: Kaw Valley FC | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  8. Web site: St. Louis CITY SC Selects O'Malley and Klein, Make Three Trades at 2023 MLS SuperDraft | St. Louis SC. St Louis CITY. SC. St. Louis CITY SC.
  9. Web site: MLS SuperDraft Selection John Klein Signs with St Louis CITY2 | St. Louis SC. St Louis CITY. SC. St. Louis CITY SC.
  10. Web site: SLU's John Klein rejoins St. Louis City SC for training; Klauss 'progressing really well'. Stu. Durando. May 18, 2023. STLtoday.com.
  11. Web site: St. Louis CITY SC Signs John Klein on Short-Term Loan Agreement From St Louis CITY2 | St. Louis SC. St Louis CITY. SC. St. Louis CITY SC.
  12. Web site: St. Louis CITY SC sign John Klein from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate | MLSSoccer.com. mlssoccer.
  13. Web site: News: 2022 MASL COLLEGE DRAFT RESULTS - Major Arena Soccer League. December 20, 2022. www.maslsoccer.com.