Brian Schaefer

Last updated

Brian Schaefer
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-04-17) April 17, 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth Seattle, Washington, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Indy Eleven
(on loan from FC Cincinnati 2)
Number 12
Youth career
Jacksonville Armada
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2023 South Florida Bulls 53 (5)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021 Jacksonville Armada U-23
2022 Tampa Bay United 3 (0)
2023 St. Petersburg FC
2024– FC Cincinnati 2 47 (5)
2025– Indy Eleven (loan) 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:34, September 4, 2025 (UTC)

Brian Schaefer (born April 17, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Indy Eleven, on loan from FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS Next Pro.

Contents

Early life

Schaefer played youth soccer with the Jacksonville Armada. [1] Schaefer attended Fletcher High School and won the Gateway Conference championship in 2020 and was named the Player of the Year. [2] [3]

College career

In 2020, Schaefer began attending the University of South Florida, where he played for the men's soccer team. [4] On March 6, 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, for his first career collegiate goal, [5] subsequently being named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. [6] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team. [7] In 2022, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and an Academic All-District selection. [8] [9]

Club career

In 2021, he played with the Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League. [10]

In 2022, Schaefer played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two. [11] In 2023, he played with St. Petersburg FC in USL League Two. [12]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Schaefer was selected in the first round (27th overall) by FC Cincinnati. [1] [13] After participating in training camp with the first team, he signed a professional contract with the second team, FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS Next Pro, in February. [14] He made his debut on March 17 against Chicago Fire FC II. [15] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Carolina Core FC. [16]

Schaefer scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS Next Pro season on April 20, 2025, in a 3–1 home victory over the New York Red Bulls II. [17]

Schaefer joined USL Championship team Indy Eleven on loan on September 3, 2025. [18] He made his first appearance for the club on the same day, in a 0–2 away league victory over Hartford Athletic, replacing midfielder James Murphy in the 61st minute. [19]

References

  1. 1 2 Freeman, Clayton (December 19, 2023). "Super Senator: Fletcher grad Brian Schaefer drafted in first round by FC Cincinnati of MLS". The Florida Times-Union .
  2. Freeman, Clayton (January 17, 2020). "Schaefer powers Fletcher to Gateway boys soccer championship". The Florida Times-Union .
  3. Barney, Justin (May 3, 2020). "All-News4Jax boys soccer: The Schaefer family secret is out". WJXT .
  4. "USF Soccer Inks Two During Signing Period". USF Bulls . December 2, 2019.
  5. Santos, Leonardo (March 6, 2021). "Pair of freshmen goals boost Bulls past No. 22 Tulsa for third consecutive win". The Oracle .
  6. "Brian Schafer USF profile". USF Bulls .
  7. "Four Bulls Earn Postseason AAC All-Conference Honors". USF Bulls . April 14, 2021.
  8. "USF Men's Soccer Standouts Salvatore Mazzaferro and Brian Schaefer Earn AAC Honors". USF Bulls . November 9, 2022.
  9. "South Florida's Brian Schaefer Selected by Cincinnati FC In First Round Of 2024 MLS Superdraft". South Florida Bulls . December 19, 2023.
  10. "13 NPSL alums selected in MLS SuperDraft 2024". National Premier Soccer League . December 20, 2024.
  11. "Brian Schaefer 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two .
  12. "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". USL League Two . December 20, 2023.
  13. Hagiwara, Kenta (December 19, 2023). "FC Cincinnati Draft Schaefer, Mboma Dem in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft". Area Sports Network.
  14. "FC Cincinnati 2 sign defender Brian Schaefer". FC Cincinnati . February 15, 2024.
  15. "FC Cincinnati 2 earn a point in MLS NEXT Pro season opener against Chicago Fire FC II". FC Cincinnati . March 17, 2024.
  16. "FC Cincinnati 2 earn 3-1 win against Carolina Core FC in first trip to Truist Point". FC Cincinnati . June 15, 2024.
  17. Cincinnati, F. C. "Orange and Blue net three against New York Red Bulls II in first win of MLS NEXT Pro season | FC Cincinnati 2". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  18. Cincinnati, F. C. "FC Cincinnati 2 loan Brian Schaefer to Indy Eleven | FC Cincinnati 2". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  19. "Indy XI 2-0 Hartford (Sep 3, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 4, 2025.