Josh Gatt Explained

Josh Gatt
Fullname:Joshua Alexander Gatt
Birth Date:29 August 1991
Birth Place:Plymouth, Michigan, United States
Height:1.77 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Gold Star FC
Clubnumber:69
Youthyears1:2007–2010
Youthclubs1:Michigan Wolves
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:Rheindorf Altach
Caps1:15
Goals1:4
Years2:2011–2016
Clubs2:Molde
Caps2:60
Goals2:9
Years3:2017
Clubs3:Minnesota United
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2017
Clubs4:Colorado Rapids
Caps4:20
Goals4:2
Years5:2018
Clubs5:Detroit City
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2018–2019
Clubs6:Rheindorf Altach
Caps6:15
Goals6:1
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Rheindorf Altach II
Caps7:2
Goals7:1
Years8:2020
Clubs8:Dundalk
Caps8:2
Goals8:0
Years9:2021
Clubs9:Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Caps9:6
Goals9:0
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Gold Star FC
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Nationalyears1:2010–2011
Nationalteam1:United States U20
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2012–2013
Nationalteam2:United States
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:April 6, 2023
Nationalteam-Update:January 29, 2013

Joshua Alexander Gatt (born August 29, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Gold Star FC.

Club career

Early career

Born in Plymouth, Michigan, Gatt played varsity for four years at Detroit Catholic Central High School. He also played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for the Michigan Wolves.

Rheindorf Altach

Gatt first attracted attention as a Michigan-area youth player when his club competed in a tournament against European academy teams in Switzerland. Through the SuperElite system, the winger was offered trials at 1. FSV Mainz 05 and at SCR Altach and eventually received an offer from the latter club.[1]

Gatt proceeded to sign with SC Rheindorf Altach, leaving behind an opportunity to play at Indiana University. Upon his arrival in Austria in the summer of 2010, he immediately joined the first team, and scored 5 goals in 14 matches.[2]

Molde

On January 12, 2011, it was announced that Gatt had joined Norwegian side Molde, and was among Ole Gunnar Solskjær's first signings as manager together with Davy Claude Angan and Magnus Wolff Eikrem.[3] He made his debut against Sarpsborg 08 on March 18.[4] He scored his first goal on July 30 against Vålerenga.Josh scored his second goal in as many games on August 4 against Start.[5]

In the first half of the 2012 season, Gatt scored goals against Strømsgodset, Stabæk and Vålerenga. According to himself he also scored a goal against Sandnes Ulf,[6] but the official statistics count that one to Mattias Moström.

On June 29, 2013, during the first half of Molde's home Tippeligaen match against Sarpsborg 08, Gatt seriously injured his knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and requiring surgery.[7] Gatt also missed the entire 2014 season. After almost 21 months out injured, Gatt was finally cleared to play again on April 20, 2015.[8] Gatt made his long-awaited return for Molde on May 22, 2015, but his lasted only 4 minutes before feeling "....pain and insecurity..." in his knee,[9] resulting in a third operation on the troublesome knee.[10] Over a year later, September 11, 2016, Gatt again made his return for Molde, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute for Harmeet Singh.[11]

United States

Gatt left Molde at the end of 2016, going on trial with 1. FC Nürnberg in January 2017,[12] before signing with MLS team Minnesota United on February 15, 2017.[13]

On March 31, 2017 Minnesota United FC traded Gatt, Mohammed Saeid, and an international roster spot to Colorado Rapids for Marc Burch and Sam Cronin.[14] His option was declined at the end of the 2017 season.

During the 2017 offseason, Gatt's wife Melissa was diagnosed with cancer. While acting as his wife's caregiver during chemotherapy, he played one game for NPSL club Detroit City FC. After her cancer went into remission, he re-joined Rheindorf Altach in June 2018.[15] On July 16, 2018, Gatt officially signed with Rheindorf Altach.[16]

Dundalk

On June 23, 2020, Gatt signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk.[17] Gatt made his debut for the club in the FAI Cup against Waterford F.C. on August 11.

Gatt left Dundalk in November 2020.[18]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

On February 11, 2021, Gatt joined USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.[19]

International career

Gatt was called up to the United States national team on September 2, 2012, but he had to withdraw due a hamstring injury.[20] He made his international debut on November 14, 2012, in a friendly match versus Russia.[21] Gatt was originally named to the 23-man roster for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but was later ruled out for the tournament after picking up a knee injury in a match on June 29 against Sarpsborg 08 FF.[22]

Style of play

When Gatt was signed by Molde, Solskjær stated that he had signed an attacking player with a fast pace who can play on the right wing, left wing, and as a striker.[23] Gatt has run a self-timed 100 meters in 11.00 seconds.[3]

Personal life

Gatt's wife, Melissa, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2018. Without a club, Gatt set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ page for her treatment which was contributed to by a number of his former teammates.[24] As of June 2018, they had raised $78,000, and Melissa's cancer was in remission.

Career statistics

Club

[25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rheindorf Altach2010–11Erste Liga15432186
Molde2011Tippeligaen22352colspan="2"-275
2012Tippeligaen1953050275
2013Tippeligaen1201100131
2014Tippeligaen00000000
2015Tippeligaen10000010
2016Tippeligaen61000061
Total60993507412
Minnesota United2017MLS000000
Colorado Rapids2017MLS20220222
Rheindorf Altach2018–19Austrian Bundesliga15110161
Dundalk2020League of Ireland Premier Division20100030
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC2021USL Championship60---60
Career total118151655013420

International

United States national team
YearAppsGoals
201210
201310
Total20

Honors

Club

Molde

2011, 2012, 2014

2013, 2014

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hamilton . Tom . Josh Gatt isn't giving up on soccer, even if soccer seems to be giving up on him . ESPN . January 23, 2020 . 13 February 2021.
  2. News: - Pappa var helt imot fotball . Norwegian . Nettavisen . Dag . Langerød . February 10, 2011 . September 6, 2012.
  3. News: MFKs nye angriper kunne vært sprinter . Norwegian . Romsdals Budstikke . Lars Anders . Vestad . January 12, 2011 . August 23, 2013.
  4. Web site: mfkweb.org > spillere. www.mfkweb.org.
  5. Web site: Video: Two goals in two games for American Josh Gatt.
  6. News: Gatt: – Jeg må scored mer . Norwegian . Romsdals Budstikke . Jan H. . Inbjør . July 17, 2012 . September 6, 2012 . dead . https://archive.today/20130222231928/http://fotball.rbnett.no/eliteserien/article243326.ece . February 22, 2013.
  7. News: Gatt ute resten av sesongen . Norwegian . Gatt out for the season . NRK . Hans-Olav . Rise . July 16, 2013 . July 23, 2013.
  8. Web site: Joshua Gatt on Twitter. Twitter. Joshua Gatt. April 20, 2015. April 20, 2015.
  9. Web site: American Exports: Josh Gatt waiting on second opinion to discover extent of latest knee injury. Major League Soccer. mlssoccer. September 16, 2015. May 27, 2015.
  10. Web site: Josh Gatt has third surgery, leaves heartfelt Instagram message. starsandstripesfc.com. starsandstripesfc. September 16, 2015. September 16, 2015.
  11. Web site: Jürgen Klinsmann glad for å se Gatt tilbake fra skade. itromso.no. iTromso. September 13, 2016. Norwegian. September 12, 2016.
  12. Web site: Gatt on Trial. twitter.com. 1. FC Nürnberg Twitter. December 4, 2016. German. December 4, 2016.
  13. Web site: Josh Gatt Signs With MNUFC. mnufc.com. Minnesota United FC. February 15, 2017. February 15, 2017.
  14. Web site: MNUFC Adds Veteran Talent | Minnesota United FC.
  15. Web site: O'Connor . Larry . Plymouth's Josh Gatt refocuses on soccer career after wife's cancer ordeal . Detroit News . June 15, 2018 . June 13, 2018.
  16. Web site: Joshua Gatt kehrt zum SCRA zurück. newsroom.scra.at.
  17. Web site: LILYWHITES COMPLETE DEAL FOR JOSHUA GATT . dundalkfc.com/ . Dundalk F.C. . June 24, 2020 . June 23, 2020.
  18. Web site: Farrell. Sinead. Former US international winger who played under Solskjaer leaves Dundalk. November 26, 2020. The42. en.
  19. Web site: RIVERHOUNDS SC SIGN JOSH GATT. February 11, 2021. The42. February 11, 2021.
  20. Web site: Klinsmann: "We Want to Get Maximum Points" - U.S. Soccer . September 5, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120907012302/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2012/09/US-MNT-Roster-Announcement-Quote-Sheet.aspx . September 7, 2012 .
  21. Web site: Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN.
  22. Web site: Protected Blog › Log in. usatsbi.wordpress.com.
  23. News: Solskjærs babyer . Norwegian . Nettavisen . Roy . Kvatningen . January 12, 2011 . September 6, 2012.
  24. Web site: Soccer community rallies around ex-MLSer Josh Gatt and his wife, Melissa MLSSoccer.com.
  25. Web site: Joshua Gatt . Soccerway . September 19, 2012.