Stefan Cleveland Explained

Stefan Cleveland
Fullname:Stefan Daniel Cleveland[1]
Birth Date:25 May 1994
Birth Place:Dayton, Ohio, United States
Height:1.88m (06.17feet)
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Austin FC
Clubnumber:30
Collegeyears1:2012–2015
College1:Dartmouth Big Green
Collegecaps1:38
Collegegoals1:0
Collegeyears2:2016
College2:Louisville Cardinals
Collegecaps2:22
Collegegoals2:0
Years1:2015
Clubs1:Dayton Dutch Lions
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2019
Clubs2:Chicago Fire
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2017
Clubs3:→ Tulsa Roughnecks (loan)
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2018
Clubs4:→ Tulsa Roughnecks (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Lansing Ignite (loan)
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2023
Clubs6:Seattle Sounders FC
Caps6:22
Goals6:0
Years7:2020
Clubs7:Tacoma Defiance (loan)
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Tacoma Defiance (loan)
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Austin FC
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Club-Update:October 9, 2022

Stefan Daniel Cleveland (born May 25, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Austin FC.

Early life

Cleveland was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended The Miami Valley School.

Career

College and amateur

Cleveland spent four years at Dartmouth College playing college soccer. After earning an engineering degree from Dartmouth College in 2016, Cleveland began graduate school at the University of Louisville in 2017. While at University of Louisville, Cleveland used his final season of NCAA eligibility playing for the Cardinals.[2]

In 2015, Cleveland appeared for Premier Development League side Dayton Dutch Lions.[3]

Professional

On January 13, 2017, Cleveland was drafted in the second round as the 26th overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire.[4] He signed with the club on January 30, 2017.[5]

He made his professional debut on May 27, 2017, whilst on loan with Chicago's United Soccer League affiliate Tulsa Roughnecks during a 3–1 win over Portland Timbers 2.[6] He made his MLS debut on August 4, 2018, starting in a 2–1 loss to Real Salt Lake, making 8 saves and allowing 2 goals.[7]

Cleveland was acquired by Seattle Sounders FC on November 26, 2019.[8] He has mainly played for reserve team Tacoma Defiance or filled in for starting Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei during congested weeks of the season or with injuries. Cleveland played 16 matches during the 2021 season after Frei injured his knee early in the season.[9] On January 19, 2022, Cleveland re-signed with the Sounders.[10]

On December 24, 2023, Austin FC acquired Cleveland as a free agent and signed him to a two-year deal with a club option for the third year.[11]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dayton Dutch Lions2015PDL3030
Chicago Fire2017MLS000000
2018500050
2019000000
Total50000050
Tulsa Roughnecks (loan)2017USL2020
20181010
Total30000030
Lansing Ignite (loan)2019USL 121010220
Seattle Sounders FC2020MLS0000
20218080
2022701080
202320201050
Total1703010200
Tacoma Defiance2020USL Championship0000
20212020
20221010
Total30000030
Austin FC2024Major League Soccer001010
Career total5203030580
Notes

Honors

Seattle Sounders FC

2022[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022™: List of Players: Seattle Sounders FC . FIFA . 6 . February 7, 2023 . February 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230212205323/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce71/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf . February 12, 2023 . live.
  2. Web site: Stefan Cleveland - 2016 Men's Soccer .
  3. Web site: Fire Sign PDL Alums Johnson, Cleveland . PDL . Staff . January 31, 2017 .
  4. Web site: Fire add Daniel Johnson, Guillermo Delgado, Stefan Cleveland and more GAM in day 1 of SuperDraft .
  5. Web site: Sign Daniel Johnson and Stefan Cleveland . Chicago Fire . January 30, 2017 . April 29, 2019.
  6. Web site: USL MATCH RECAP | Tulsa Roughnecks FC: 3, Portland Timbers 2: 1 | Portland Timbers . Timbers.com . May 27, 2017 . April 29, 2019.
  7. Web site: Stefan Cleveland . MLSsoccer.com . April 29, 2019.
  8. Web site: Sounders FC acquires goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland from Chicago Fire . SoundersFC.com . November 26, 2019.
  9. News: Evans . Jayda . September 28, 2021 . 'It was a roller coaster of emotions': Sounders keeper Stefan Frei talks about return from injury, rehab process . The Seattle Times . May 9, 2022.
  10. Web site: Sounders FC re-signs goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland. SoundersFC.com . January 19, 2022.
  11. Web site: Austin FC Signs Free Agent Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland . December 24, 2023 . AustinFC.com . Austin FC . December 24, 2023.
  12. News: Game Details. concacaf.com. May 5, 2022 . May 5, 2022.