John Klein (soccer, born 1999)

For persons of a similar name, see John Klein (disambiguation).

John Klein

Personal information
Full name	John Klein III
Date of birth	(1999-11-07) November 7, 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	St. Louis City 2
Number	41
Youth career
	Sporting Kansas City
0000–2018	Portland Timbers
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2022	Saint Louis Billikens	88	(29)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	Portland Timbers 2	0	(0)
2019	Chicago FC United	10	(4)
2021	St. Louis Scott Gallagher	8	(4)
2022	Kaw Valley FC	0	(0)
2023–	St. Louis City 2	28	(13)
2023–	St. Louis City	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023

John Klein III (born November 7, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro side St. Louis City 2.

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]

Personal

He is the son of former professional soccer player and current coach John Klein. ^[12]

References

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

External links

• John Klein at Saint Louis University Athletics