Alec Kann

    0
    Image of Alec Kann
    Image of Player Alec Kann

    Alec Kann Bio

    Alec Kann is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati. Born on August 8, 1990, in Decatur, Georgia, he has built a career across Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League, working primarily as a backup and rotational netminder while remaining a respected presence in the locker room. Standing 193 centimeters tall, he fits the modern profile of an MLS goalkeeper and has appeared for several franchises over more than a decade in the professional ranks.

    Early Life and Background

    Alec Kann was born on August 8, 1990, in Decatur, Georgia, and grew up in the surrounding DeKalb County area. He attended Lakeside High School, where he was a soccer starter for three seasons and played on the AAAA state title team that posted a 20–1–1 record during his senior year. That championship run gave him early exposure to high-level competition in the Southeast and helped establish his reputation as a dependable young goalkeeper.

    After graduating from Lakeside, Kann continued his development at Furman University, where he played four seasons of college soccer between 2008 and 2011. Furman, a long-standing Southern Conference program, gave him a platform to refine his technique, footwork, and decision-making against top collegiate attackers. During the summers of his college years, he also gained senior-level experience with Mississippi Brilla of the USL Premier Development League in 2010, a step that bridged his amateur and professional careers.

    Path to Professional Soccer

    Kann’s transition to the professional ranks began in 2012, when he signed with USL Pro club Charleston Battery on March 23, 2012. He remained with the Battery through their full 2012 campaign, training with the first team even though he did not make an official appearance that year. The experience allowed him to acclimate to a professional environment and prepare for an MLS opportunity.

    On March 19, 2013, Kann signed with Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, marking his entry into the top tier of American soccer. He spent the next several seasons moving between Chicago and various loan arrangements in the lower divisions, including a 2014 loan to USL Pro side Charlotte Eagles and a 2015 loan to United Soccer League affiliate Saint Louis FC. After Chicago declined his contract option following the 2015 season, he entered the 2015 MLS Re-Entry Draft and was selected by Sporting Kansas City in stage one of the process, setting the stage for his longest MLS tenure.

    Alec Kann Career

    Early Career (2012–2015)

    Kann’s earliest professional seasons were defined by patience and steady development. His 2012 stay at Charleston Battery provided daily training exposure without first-team minutes, while his 2013 signing with Chicago Fire introduced him to the demands of an MLS roster. Loan spells with Charlotte Eagles in 2014 and Saint Louis FC in 2015 offered competitive minutes in the USL ecosystem, where he could sharpen his shot-stopping and distribution in meaningful matches.

    Following the 2015 season, the Fire declined his contract option, sending him into the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Sporting Kansas City selected him in stage one of that process, reflecting the league-wide view that he remained a serviceable MLS-level goalkeeper. The move positioned him for a more prominent role in a club system known for strong defensive organization.

    Sporting Kansas City Breakthrough (2016)

    Kann joined Sporting Kansas City in 2016 after being selected in the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Kansas City had built a reputation for goalkeeping excellence, and the environment gave him the chance to train alongside established starters while learning a defensive system built on organization and pressing triggers. Although his on-field role during that calendar year was limited, the stint reinforced his standing as a reliable depth option in the league.

    Atlanta United Era (2016–2021)

    On December 13, 2016, Atlanta United selected Kann in the fifth round of the MLS Expansion Draft as the club prepared for its debut MLS season in 2017. He spent the spring of 2017 on loan back at Charleston Battery before returning to the Atlanta roster and anchoring Atlanta United 2 in the lower divisions from 2018 onward. Over the next several years he served as a veteran backup and mentor within a rapidly growing Atlanta organization that captured the 2018 MLS Cup.

    Following the 2021 season, Atlanta declined Kann’s contract option, ending a five-year chapter with the club. During his time in Atlanta, he contributed to one of the most ambitious expansion projects in league history, working behind the scenes while the first team rose to national prominence. His exit cleared the way for a fresh opportunity elsewhere in MLS.

    FC Cincinnati Era (2021–Present)

    On December 16, 2021, FC Cincinnati signed Kann to a two-year contract, bringing experienced MLS goalkeeping depth to a club still establishing its identity in the league. The signing gave Cincinnati a steady professional presence between the posts as the organization continued to build its roster around young attacking talent. Kann’s role has allowed him to provide cover, mentorship, and competition in training throughout his tenure at TQL Stadium.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Kann’s career arc from a 2012 USL Pro signing to a multi-club MLS veteran is itself a milestone, reflecting the modern pathway that American goalkeepers often travel through multiple franchises. His selection by Atlanta United in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft connected him to a league-defining expansion side, while his subsequent move to FC Cincinnati placed him within another ambitious growth project. Across stints in Charleston, Chicago, Charlotte, Saint Louis, Kansas City, and Atlanta, he has accumulated more than a decade of professional service.

    Alec Kann Career Wins

    As a goalkeeper whose professional profile has been built on consistency rather than headline statistics, Alec Kann’s career wins are best understood through the team accomplishments of the clubs he has represented. He has been listed among the personnel for Charleston Battery, Atlanta United, and FC Cincinnati, organizations that have each experienced competitive success in their respective leagues. Detailed individual win totals are not consistently documented across the available record.

    Alec Kann Family

    Personal Life

    Outside of his professional playing career, Alec Kann has engaged in private coaching, working with players in North Carolina to help develop the next generation of goalkeepers and field players. His commitment to training reflects the same steady, developmental mindset that has defined his time as a professional. Further verified details about his personal and family life are not publicly documented in the available record.

    2025 Season Performance

    Heading into the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Alec Kann remains part of the FC Cincinnati goalkeeping group, continuing the two-year contract arrangement he signed with the club in December 2021. His experience provides Cincinnati with a veteran presence behind a younger projected starter, and his training-ground standards help set the daily benchmark for the position. The club will look to that depth as it competes in a competitive Eastern Conference.

    Cincinnati’s 2025 outlook features a roster built around established attacking pieces and a defense that has been reshaped in recent windows. Kann’s role within that structure is expected to emphasize preparation, mentorship, and readiness to step in when called upon. His familiarity with the coaching staff and the club’s tactical approach positions him as a reliable option whenever the team requires a change in net.

    For Kann personally, the 2025 campaign represents another opportunity to extend a professional career that has already spanned Charleston Battery, Chicago Fire, Charlotte Eagles, Saint Louis FC, Sporting Kansas City, Atlanta United, and FC Cincinnati. Whether or not he sees the field, his presence in the locker room reinforces the continuity that successful MLS organizations value. The season will provide one more chapter in a career defined by longevity, professionalism, and quiet contribution.