Zack Steffen Bio
Zackary Thomas Steffen (born April 2, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids and the United States men’s national soccer team. A native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Steffen rose through the Philadelphia Union Academy and the University of Maryland before launching a professional career that has taken him across Major League Soccer, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League. He is recognized for his reflexes, shot-stopping, and composure in high-pressure moments, having won league and cup honors with Columbus Crew and Manchester City.
Early Life and Background
Zackary Thomas Steffen was born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and raised in the surrounding Chester County region. He began playing soccer at age five with local rec league West Bradford Youth Athletics (WBYA). His first travel team was West Chester United, where he originally played as a defender before switching to goalkeeper at age 10 after his team’s regular keeper was unavailable for a match.
Steffen later joined FC DELCO in 2008 and played for the club within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy through high school. He attended Malvern Preparatory School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Downingtown West High School. As a senior with the Whippets, he was named Ches-Mont League MVP while earning all-PIAA and all-American recognition.
Path to Soccer
Steffen was one of the first players to come through the Philadelphia Union Academy, representing the Union U17 team in 2012. That squad won the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup, defeating the Toronto FC Academy in a penalty shootout. The team was coached by Jim Curtin and included several future professionals.
Ranked as the number one goalkeeper in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com, Steffen committed to play college soccer for coach Sasho Cirovski and the Maryland Terrapins. He was part of a 2013 recruiting class that ranked third nationally and included future pros Alex Crognale, Daniel Johnson, and Chris Odoi-Atsem.
Zack Steffen Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Steffen officially joined the Maryland Terrapins in May 2013 and immediately became a fixture in goal. He made his collegiate debut on August 30, recording three saves in a 3-3 draw with twentieth-ranked Stanford. Steffen played every minute of all 26 games that season, helping Maryland win the 2013 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament and earning a spot on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team.
In the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament, Steffen made 18 saves across five matches as Maryland reached the national championship game, where they fell 2-1 to Notre Dame. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. In 2014, he again played every minute in goal as the Terrapins captured the Big Ten regular season title in their first year in the conference, conceding just 19 goals with nine shutouts.
Maryland to SC Freiburg (2014-2016)
Following his sophomore season, Steffen signed a professional contract with German club SC Freiburg in December 2014. He was assigned to SC Freiburg II, the club’s reserve team competing in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Südwest. After being named to the bench twice, Steffen made his debut for the reserves on August 1, 2015, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with 1. FC Saarbrücken.
Steffen went on to make 14 appearances for Freiburg II during the 2015-16 season, earning his first victory on September 26 with a 2-0 win over SV Saar 05 Saarbrücken. Ahead of the 2016-17 season, he trained with the senior team and was reportedly set to serve as Freiburg’s third-choice goalkeeper behind Alexander Schwolow and Patric Klandt.
Columbus Crew Breakthrough (2016-2019)
Steffen returned to the United States on July 22, 2016, signing with Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew as a Discovery Signing. He was immediately loaned to United Soccer League side Pittsburgh Riverhounds, making his debut on August 13 with six saves in a 2-1 victory over Bethlehem Steel. He finished the year with nine appearances for Pittsburgh.
Named the Crew’s starting goalkeeper ahead of the 2017 season, Steffen started all 34 regular season matches and led Columbus to an MLS Cup Playoffs berth. In the knockout round, he made eight saves through 120 minutes against Atlanta United and added two saves in a penalty shootout as the Crew advanced 3-1. He made 39 total appearances that year as Columbus reached the conference finals before falling to Toronto FC.
In 2018, Steffen recorded a 525-minute shutout streak, the longest in Crew history, and earned 10 clean sheets across 32 appearances. He was named the 2018 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, earned a spot on the MLS Best XI, and was selected for the MLS All-Star Game against Juventus. Steffen departed Columbus with 26 clean sheets from 84 total appearances.
Manchester City Era (2019-2022)
Steffen signed for Manchester City on July 9, 2019, in a deal reported at an estimated 7 million dollars, the largest transfer fee received by an MLS club for a goalkeeper. He was immediately loaned to Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf for the 2019-20 season. Steffen started the club’s first 17 league matches and was described as outstanding before a patellar tendon injury and a subsequent knee issue ended his season.
After returning to Manchester City for the 2020-21 season, Steffen served as backup to Ederson. He made his Premier League debut in a 3-1 win over Chelsea and won his first career trophy on April 25, 2021, keeping a clean sheet in the EFL Cup final as Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0. On November 4, 2021, Steffen signed a new long-term contract keeping him at City through 2025, before joining EFL Championship club Middlesbrough on a season-long loan in July 2022.
Colorado Rapids Era (2024-Present)
On January 4, 2024, Steffen returned to Major League Soccer for the first time since 2018, signing with the Colorado Rapids on a three-year contract with an option for a further year. The move brought him back to the league where he first established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the country.
Driving Style and Strengths
Steffen is recognized for his shot-stopping ability, command of the penalty area, and comfort playing as a modern goalkeeper comfortable with the ball at his feet. His performances for Fortuna Düsseldorf were described as outstanding, and his composure in penalty shootouts became a defining feature of his time with Columbus Crew.
Notable Events and Milestones
Steffen’s standout moments include his penalty-shootout heroics in the 2017 and 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, a 525-minute shutout streak for Columbus, and becoming the fifth American to win the English League/EFL Cup after Manchester City’s 2021 final victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Zack Steffen Career Wins
Zack Steffen has built a résumé that spans MLS regular season and playoff success, a Bundesliga loan spell, and a Premier League title-winning experience with Manchester City. His most prominent individual honor came in 2018 when he was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year while leading Columbus Crew.
MLS Highlights
With the Columbus Crew, Steffen appeared in 84 matches across the 2016 to 2019 seasons, recording 26 clean sheets. He helped the club reach the playoffs in each of his three full seasons as a starter and posted a career-high 10 shutouts in 2018. After a six-year absence, he returned to the league with Colorado Rapids in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Steffen won the EFL Cup with Manchester City in April 2021 and earned a Premier League winner’s medal during his time at the Etihad Stadium. He also experienced promotion contention in the EFL Championship with Middlesbrough on loan during the 2022-23 season.
Zack Steffen Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Steffen is the oldest of five children, with brothers Ben and Cole among his younger siblings. His sister Katy played college softball at Penn State University’s Brandywine campus, while his sister Lexy briefly played collegiate soccer at West Chester University as a goalkeeper in 2015. He majored in marketing while at the University of Maryland.
Off the field, Steffen is a co-founder of the VOYCENOW Foundation, a non-profit organization that brings athletes and fans together to support Black communities in America and fight for equality.
2025 Season Performance
Zack Steffen entered the 2025 Major League Soccer season as the starting goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids, continuing under his contract signed in January 2024 that runs through 2027. His return to MLS has been viewed as a stabilizing presence for a club looking to climb the Western Conference standings.
As a former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and EFL Cup winner, Steffen brings top-flight experience to a young Colorado squad. His performances will be central to the Rapids’ push for an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth, with the team leaning on his shot-stopping and distribution.
Steffen remains part of the United States men’s national team picture and will look to maintain his form heading into future international windows. His familiarity with both European and American playing styles positions him as a veteran leader in the Colorado dressing room throughout the 2025 campaign.