48 Facts About Zack Steffen

Zackary Thomas Steffen was born on April 2,1995 and is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, on loan from Premier League club Manchester City, and the United States national team.

In May 2013, Zack Steffen committed to playing college soccer for the Maryland Terrapins.

Zack Steffen established himself as the starting goalkeeper, spending two seasons with the Terrapins before joining German club SC Freiburg, being assigned to play with the reserves.

In July 2016, Zack Steffen returned to the United States with the Columbus Crew, joining United Soccer League club Pittsburgh Riverhounds on loan the following month.

In December 2018, Zack Steffen agreed to join Premier League club Manchester City.

Zack Steffen was the starting goalkeeper but was then sidelined for the remainder of the loan due to injuries.

Zack Steffen returned to Manchester City the following season, serving as a backup to Ederson.

Zack Steffen had represented the United States youth teams before being called into the senior squad in May 2016.

Zack Steffen made his senior debut in January 2018 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Zack Steffen then served as backup to Brad Guzan through the Nations League but then became the starting keeper in the finals.

Zack Steffen started the final against Mexico but was substituted in the 69th minute by Ethan Horvath after suffering a knee injury.

Zack Steffen began his travel soccer career as a defender with local club West Chester United.

Zack Steffen switched to become a goalkeeper at the age of 10 after his team's keeper couldn't make it to a game.

Zack Steffen joined FC DELCO in 2008, playing for the club in the US Soccer Development Academy through high school.

Zack Steffen attended Malvern Preparatory School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Downingtown West High School, appearing for the Whippets in the fall and playing with DELCO in the spring.

Zack Steffen was one of the first players to come through the Philadelphia Union Academy, playing for the Union U17 team in 2012.

Zack Steffen was part of the team that won the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup, defeating the Toronto FC Academy in a penalty shootout; the squad included future pros Connor Maloney, Zach Pfeffer, Drew Skundrich, Brian White, and Zach Zandi, as well as future Penn State kicker Joey Julius, and was coached by Jim Curtin.

On May 29,2013, Zack Steffen was officially unveiled as part of Maryland's 2013 recruiting class.

Zack Steffen brought his hot form into the postseason, making five saves to help Maryland win the 2013 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament and earning himself an All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team selection.

Zack Steffen was named as the tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Player and earned a spot on the College Cup All-Tournament Team.

Zack Steffen conceded just 19 goals on the season, keeping nine shutouts as the Terrapins claimed the Big Ten regular season title in their first year in the conference.

Zack Steffen made nine saves in the 2014 Big Ten Conference Men's Soccer Tournament, as well as two denials during a penalty shootout in the semifinals, and was tabbed as the tournament's Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Zack Steffen left the school in December 2014 to sign professionally in Germany, departing Maryland after playing in 48 games for the Terrapins.

Zack Steffen was named to the bench twice for Freiburg II, but did not make his debut for the reserves until the following season.

Zack Steffen returned to the United States on July 22,2016, signing with Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew SC as a Discovery Signing.

Zack Steffen joined the Crew after third-string goalie Matt Pacifici had his season ended by concussions, but was still behind Steve Clark and Brad Stuver on the depth chart.

Zack Steffen additionally was named to the bench three times for the Crew without making an appearance.

Ahead of the 2017 season, Zack Steffen was named as the Crew's starting goalkeeper after beating out Stuver and Logan Ketterer to win the job.

Zack Steffen wouldn't relinquish the job, starting all 34 regular season games for the Crew and leading the club to an MLS Cup Playoffs berth after missing out in 2016.

Zack Steffen made 39 total appearances on the season as the Crew were eliminated in the conference finals by Toronto FC.

Zack Steffen missed time during the 2018 season due to international commitments, as well as a mid-season knee injury, but still went on to make 32 total appearances on the year.

Zack Steffen appeared in seven of those nine matches, missing two while on international duty.

Zack Steffen was named to the roster for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Italian club Juventus, the first Crew player selected to take part in the All-Star Game since Wil Trapp in 2016.

Zack Steffen replaced starting goalie Brad Guzan at halftime and made two saves, but failed to make a stop in the penalty shoot-out as Juventus scored on all five kicks.

Zack Steffen appeared 13 times in his final half-season with the Crew, playing his final game for the club on June 1,2019, against New York City FC.

Zack Steffen departed Columbus with 26 clean sheets from 84 total appearances.

Zack Steffen signed for English club Manchester City on July 9,2019.

Zack Steffen remained with Columbus until the opening of the summer transfer window in Major League Soccer before moving abroad.

Dusseldorf sporting director, Lutz Pfannenstiel, noted that Zack Steffen was the "perfect example of a modern goalkeeper" while discussing that he had been scouting the player since he worked at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Zack Steffen started the club's first 17 matches, but suffered an injury to his patellar tendon that kept him out of action throughout the Bundesliga winter break and the COVID-19 pandemic stoppage.

Zack Steffen kept a clean sheet for City in their EFL Cup final win over Tottenham Hotspur on April 25,2021.

On November 4,2021, Zack Steffen signed a new long-term contract with City, keeping him at the club until 2025.

Zack Steffen was the starting goalkeeper for the United States under-20 side at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

On May 16,2016, Zack Steffen received his first callup to the United States national team for a camp based in Puerto Rico.

Zack Steffen did not make an appearance, but in January 2018, he was called again into camp for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, against which he made his debut.

Zack Steffen has the phrase "forever my family", as well as four German words, tattooed on his rib cage in honor of his four younger siblings.

Zack Steffen is the oldest of five children, with the others being brothers Ben and Cole.

Zack Steffen is a co-founder of VOYCENOW Foundation, a non-profit organization that brings athletes and fans together to help Black communities in America and fight for equality.