 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Konopka | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-04-14)April 14, 1985 (age 39) | ||
| Place of birth | Toms River, New Jersey, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2003 | Jersey Shore Boca | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Providence Friars | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004 | Jersey Falcons | 8 | (0) |
| 2007 | Kansas City Wizards | 0 | (0) |
| 2008 | Bohemian FC | 0 | (0) |
| 2009 | Sporting Fingal | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | Waterford United | 12 | (0) |
| 2011 | MLS Pool | – | (–) |
| 2011 | →Columbus Crew (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | →New York Red Bulls (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Philadelphia Union | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Toronto FC | 21 | (0) |
| 2015 | →Toronto FC II | 1 | (0) |
| 2016 | Ross County | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | Portland Timbers | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | FC Edmonton | 9 | (0) |
| 2018 | Cardiff City | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | Minnesota United | 0 | (0) |
| 2019 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012–2013 | Penn Quakers (Assistant) | ||
| 2020–2022 | UCF Knights (Assistant) | ||
| 2020– | Orlando City (Academy Goalkeeper Director) | ||
| 2022– | United States U15 (Assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of February 27, 2019 | |||
Christopher Konopka (born April 14, 1985) is an American former professionalsoccer player who played as agoalkeeper.
Konopka played forToronto FC inMajor League Soccer from 2013 to 2015 bringing the team to their first ever playoff appearance in club history in 2015. During 2015 he set TFC records for most regular single-season game wins (11) and highest regular single-season win percentage (59.5%) by any Toronto FC goalkeeper in the club's tenure.
During 2016 Konopka signed withRoss County in theScottish Premiership until the end of the 2015–2016 season. He won the2015–16 Scottish League Cup on March 16, 2016, while at Ross County. In July 2016, he joined thePortland Timbers of Major League Soccer until the end of 2016.
In 2017, he played forFC Edmonton in theNorth American Soccer League.
In 2018, Konopka signed a deal withEFL Championship sideCardiff City until the end of the 2017–18 season. In October 2018 he joinedMinnesota United on a short-term deal as an emergency goalkeeper for the remainder of the MLS season.
Konopka is the first American born soccer player to ever win theIrish Double and also the first to win back-to-backFAI Cup medals.[1][2]
Konopka grew up inToms River, New Jersey[3] and played both basketball and soccer atToms River High School East.[4] He holds both American and Polish citizenship.[5] He is married to Maria Papadakis.[6][7]
Konopka came through the youth system of theJersey Shore Boca soccer club inSouth Jersey. In the summer of 2003 he played for the club'sPremier Development League team. In the summer of 2004 he made 8 appearances for theJersey Falcons in the same league.[8]
He playedNCAA Division I collegiate soccer in theBig East Conference atProvidence College from 2003 to 2006.[9] Konopka earned himself trials in England after his senior season withCharlton Athletic,[10]Cardiff City,[11] andWalsall FC.[12] However, he was unable to sign in the United Kingdom as his attempted acquisition of a Polish passport through ancestry had not yet been completed.
Konopka was drafted in the third round, 29th overall, by theKansas City Wizards in2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. He became the first player in the history of Providence College to be drafted by an MLS team. Konopka was released by the Wizards at the end of the 2007 season without making an appearance.[13]
In December 2007, Konopka was named to theUnited States U-23 National Team player pool by head coachPiotr Nowak.
In March 2008 Konopka signed a one-year contract withBohemian FC following a successful trial. He made his debut on July 1, 2008, againstDerry City in theLeague Cup.
As a member of Bohs, Konopka won theLeague of Ireland championship and the FAI Cup in 2008. He also impressed with theBohemians' A-Side in the inauguralA Championship, leading Bohemians to the Grand Final.
On July 28, 2009, Konopka signed a short-term contract with thenLeague of Ireland First Division sideSporting Fingal.[14]
He made his debut on October 2, 2009, in a 2–2 draw againstMonaghan United. Konopka went on to make 3 more appearances forFingal including a 4–2 win over Bray Wanderers in the 2009 FAI Cup semi-final on October 25. Konopka helped the club win the 2009FAI Cup and promotion to theLeague of Ireland Premier Division for 2010.
Konopka signed withWaterford United on December 18, 2009, for the 2010 season.[15] He made his debut on March 5, 2010, in a 3–0 victory overWexford Youths.
Konopka received "man of the match" honours from extratime.ie for his performance in a 1–0 victory overShelbourne on May 7, 2010. It was Waterford's first win over Shelbourne atTolka Park in 11 years.[16]
Konopka was signed by theColumbus Crew ofMajor League Soccer from theMLS Goalkeeper Pool on July 26, 2011. Despite featuring in an international friendly that evening againstNewcastle United and being re-called for 4 future matches he would not make a professional appearance for the club.[13][17]
Konopka was signed byNew York Red Bulls from the MLS Goalkeeper Pool on August 13, 2011. He made his league debut that evening in a 2–2 draw against theChicago Fire.[18] His emergency loan ended after the match and he returned to the MLS Goalkeeper Pool.
On March 2, 2012, Konopka signed with thePhiladelphia Union.[19]
He made his debut on May 26, 2012, in a 1–0 loss againstToronto FC.[20] Three days later he featured in Philadelphia's firstUS Open Cup victory against theRochester Rhinos.[21]
On September 13, 2013, the Philadelphia Union traded Konopka toToronto FC .[22]
Konopka made his debut on May 2, 2015, in a 1–0 victory against his former club the Philadelphia Union.[13][23]
He was named to the MLS Team of the Week on May 18, 2015, for his seven save effort in a 1–1 draw against the New England Revolution.[24]
Konopka finished 2015 with a break-out season for TFC setting the all-time single season Toronto goalkeeper league win record with 11 and his 59.5 win percentage is the best ever in Toronto goalkeeping history.[25]
On March 8, 2016, Konopka joinedRoss County in theScottish Premiership until the end of the 2015–16 season.[26] On March 13, 2016, Konopka was a substitute for Ross County who won the2015–16 Scottish League Cup 2–1 againstHibernian.[27]
Konopka returned to Major League Soccer and signed for the Timbers on July 28, 2016.[28]
On February 15, 2017, Konopka signed withNorth American Soccer League sideFC Edmonton.[29]
On March 8, 2018, Konopka signed a short-term deal withEFL Championship sideCardiff City until the end of the 2017–18 season as cover forNeil Etheridge andBrian Murphy.[30]
Konopka joinedMinnesota United on a short-term deal as emergency goalkeeper cover.[31] He appeared as an unused substitute in Minnesota's match againstColumbus Crew on October 28, 2018.[32]
Konopka was signed by theUSL Championship'sTampa Bay Rowdies on February 27, 2019.[33]
In June 2023, Konopka played in the inauguralThe Soccer Tournament forConrad & Beasley United, where they advanced to the quarter-finals.[citation needed]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Kansas City Wizards | 2007[13] | MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bohemians | 2008 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sporting Fingal | 2009 | League of Ireland First Division | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Waterford United | 2010 | League of Ireland First Division | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Columbus Crew | 2011[13] | MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2011[13] | MLS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Union | 2012[13][34] | MLS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013[13] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Toronto | 2013[13] | MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014[13] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015[13][34] | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| Toronto FC II (loan) | 2015[34] | USL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Toronto | Total | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| Ross County | 2015–2016 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portland Timbers | 2016 | MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC Edmonton | 2017 | NASL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Cardiff City F.C. | 2017–2018 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 48 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0 | ||
Bohemians
Sporting Fingal
Waterford United
Ross County
Cardiff City FC
