Matt Polster

Matt Polster (born June 8, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender or midfielder for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

Matt Polster
Polster with Chicago Fire in 2017
Personal information
Full name Matthew Ryan Polster
Date of birth (1993-06-08) June 8, 1993
Place of birth Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Right back / defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 New England Revolution
Number 8
Youth career
2010–2011 Colorado Rapids
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 SIU Edwardsville Cougars 79 (6)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Victoria Highlanders 4 (0)
2014 Chicago Fire U-23 3 (0)
2015–2018 Chicago Fire 82 (3)
2019–2020 Rangers 7 (0)
2020– New England Revolution 15 (0)
National team‡
2015–2016 United States U23 11 (0)
2018 United States 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 12, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 28, 2018

Career

Early career
Polster against FC Cincinnati during a 2017 U.S. Open Cup match.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Polster played his youth soccer at Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club. He attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he played for the SIU Edwardsville Cougars.[1] While with the university, Polster earned many honors including 2014 NSCAA All-West Region First Team selection and 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-America First Team selection.[1]

Chicago Fire

On January 15, 2015, Polster was selected as the 7th overall pick by the Chicago Fire during the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and was signed to a contract on February 4.[1] During his rookie season for the Fire, Polster has played an important role as a holding midfielder, drawing praise from league commentators for his precise passing and defensive capabilities, he earned recognition as Soccer by Ives 'Rookie of the Week' on three occasions during the 2015 season.[2] On July 31, 2016, Polster scored his first career MLS goal in a 2–2 draw against the New York Red Bulls.[3] The goal would later be voted as the Chicago Fire goal of the season in at the end of the year.[4] Polster missed the majority of the 2018 Major League Soccer season due to an MCL injury, causing him to only appear in three matches.[5]

Rangers

In December 2018, Polster had a trial with Scottish Premiership team Rangers.[6] On January 30, 2019, Polster signed a ​2 1⁄2-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Rangers.[7] Polster made his first appearance in a continental tournament against Gibraltarian club, St Joseph's F.C. in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League qualifying round.[8]

New England Revolution

On July 8, 2020, Polster returned to the United States and signed with the New England Revolution.[9] In order to sign Polster, the Revolution had to trade $100,000 in General Allocation Money to his former club Chicago Fire for his rights.[9]

International career

In January 2016, Polster received his first call up to the senior United States squad for friendlies against Iceland and Canada.[10] Polster did not appear in any of the two matches. Two years later, he was called into January camp again for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, making his debut in the 0–0 draw.[11]

Career statistics
As of 6 December 2020[12]
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chicago Fire 2015 MLS 3004000—340
2016 2723000—302
2017 221201[lower-alpha 1]0—251
2018 300000—30
Total 823901000923
Rangers 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 1000000010
2019–20 6000102[lower-alpha 2]090
Total 70001020100
New England Revolution 2020 MLS 150004[lower-alpha 1]0—190
Career total 10439060201213
  1. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. "Chicago Fire sign first-round SuperDraft pick Matt Polster to contract". Major League Soccer. February 4, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  2. "SBI MLS Rookie of the Week: Matt Polster". SBISoccer. April 27, 2015.
  3. "Chicago Fire Tie New York Red Bulls 2-2 at Toyota Park". MLSSoccer.
  4. "Matt Polster's diving header voted Fire Goal of the Year". NBC Sports.
  5. "Chicago Fire's Matt Polster hoping to return after 'miserable' recovery process". ProSoccerUSA.
  6. "Rangers trial for American full-backs Matthew Polster and Andrew Gutman". BBC Sport. December 18, 2018.
  7. "Matt Polster signs for Rangers". Rangers Football Club. January 30, 2019.
  8. "Rangers set up a Europa League second qualifying round reunion with 2017 conquerors Progres Niederkorn by cruising past Gibraltans St Joseph's". BBC.
  9. "Revolution Sign Defender/Midfielder Matt Polster from Rangers FC". New England Revolution. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  10. "Evans, Orozco Released to Club Teams as MNT's January Camp Winds Down".
  11. "Sarachan Calls 30 Player Roster to National Training Center for 2018 January Camp". ussoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  12. Matt Polster at Soccerway
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