Kevin Kratz
Upright0.8
Birth date21 January 1987 (age 39)
Birth placeEschweiler, West Germany
Height1.73 m
PositionMidfielder
Youthyears 11991–1994
Youthclubs 1SCB Laurenzberg
Youthyears 21994–1997
Youthclubs 2Germania Dürwiß
Youthyears 31997–2006
Youthclubs 3Bayer Leverkusen
Years 12006–2009
Clubs 1Bayer Leverkusen II
Caps 189
Goals 112
Years 22009–2012
Clubs 2Alemannia Aachen
Caps 268
Goals 23
Years 32012–2014
Clubs 3Eintracht Braunschweig
Caps 332
Goals 31
Years 42014–2016
Clubs 4SV Sandhausen
Caps 422
Goals 40
Years 52016
Clubs 5Philadelphia Union
Caps 50
Goals 50
Years 62017–2019
Clubs 6Atlanta United
Caps 648
Goals 63
Years 72018–2019
Clubs 7→ Atlanta United 2 (loan)
Caps 710
Goals 70
Totalcaps214
Totalgoals16
Manageryears 12019–2023
Managerclubs 1Atlanta United (academy)

Kevin Kratz (born 21 January 1987) is a German professional football manager and former player who is the current director of coaching at Roswell Soccer Club.

Playing career

Europe

After spending three seasons with Bayer 04 Leverkusen's reserve team early in his career, Kratz joined Alemannia Aachen in the 2. Bundesliga. After Aachen was relegated from the 2. Bundesliga at the end of the 2011–12 season, he transferred to Eintracht Braunschweig.[1] With his new club, Kratz won promotion to the Bundesliga in 2013. After the 2013–14 Bundesliga season, Kratz transferred to SV Sandhausen.[2]

Philadelphia Union

In September 2016, Kratz signed with Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer in the United States. Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart indicated that Kratz would find a place in the Union midfield, stating "Kevin provides us valuable depth in multiple positions across our midfield."[3] Union coach Jim Curtin likewise indicated that Kratz would fit into a central position in the midfield but suggested that he would be used as a backup for existing Union players.[4] Philadelphia later announced that Kratz would not be returning to the team for the 2017 season.

Atlanta United FC

On 11 December 2016, Philadelphia announced that it had completed its transaction to send midfielder Kratz to Atlanta United, acquiring the expansion club’s fourth-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Kratz.[5]

After scoring on two free kicks, one being the game-winning goal, against Montreal Impact on 28 April 2018, Kratz won both MLS Goal of the Week honors and MLS Team of the Week bench honors for Week 9 of the 2018 season.[6][7]

Managerial career

Atlanta United Academy

In circa February 2019, Kratz re-joined Atlanta United as a talent scout and was the acting Head of Football Operations and Transfers at a point, and helped during the 2019 MLS SuperDraft with player selection.

In March 2020, Kratz was appointed as the new manager for Atlanta United's Under-16 program due to COVID-19 furloughs. Kratz is praised by his club's front office and is touted by This Week in MLS as one of the "Top 10 Youth Managers for MLS Clubs".

In 2023, Kratz led Atlanta United's Under 16 team to their first ever MLS Next Championship in a dominant tournament run, and was selected as a part of Wayne Rooney's staff in the 2023 MLS All Star Game subsequently.

Roswell Soccer Club

In September 2023 Kratz was appointed Director of Coaching for Roswell Soccer Club in Roswell, Georgia. He is the head coach of the boys' under-18 side, who compete in MLS Next. Kratz took over the squad and lead them to back-to-back promotions, firstly from the ECRL to ECNL, and then to MLS Next. He has been praised for his tactics and changing the culture at the club.

His star development came of Ryan Nienaber, a South African defender who still plays for the club, though has trialed for MSV Duisburg, FC Barcelona, and Cádiz CF.

Personal life

Kratz earned his U.S. green card in July 2017.[8] This status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[citation needed]

Career statistics

[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayer Leverkusen II2006–07Regionalliga Nord282——282
2007–08Oberliga Nordrhein28410—294
2008–09Regionalliga West336——336
Total891210—9012
Alemannia Aachen2009–102. Bundesliga18110—191
2010–1130240—342
2011–1220011—211
Total68361—744
Eintracht Braunschweig2012–132. Bundesliga18012—192
2013–14Bundesliga14110—151
Total32122—343
SV Sandhausen2014–152. Bundesliga15000—150
2015–167010—80
Total22010—230
Philadelphia Union2016MLS0000—00
Atlanta United2017MLS20121—222
20182722010292
Total4734110524
Atlanta United 22018USL2000—20
Career total260191441027523

References

  1. ^ "Eintracht holt Kevin Kratz" (in German). eintracht.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Kratz von Braunschweig nach Sandhausen" [Kratz from Braunschweig to Sandhausen] (in German). DFL. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Philadelphia Union sign German midfielder Kevin Kratz". philadelphiaunion.com. 15 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Philadelphia Union press conference recap". brotherlygame.com. 22 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Philadelphia Union Officially Completes Transaction With Atlanta United FC". 11 December 2016.
  6. ^ Boehm, Charles (3 May 2018). "Atlanta United's Kevin Kratz wins Week 9 AT&T Goal of the Week honors". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia. "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Almiron is king of the hill in Week 9". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  8. ^ J. Sam Jones (27 July 2017). "Tata Martino issues update on Josef Martinez injury; Kevin Kratz receives green card". DirtySouthSoccer.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Kevin Kratz » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  • Kevin Kratz at Alemannia Aachen's official Website (in German)