Kipp Keller

Kipp Keller
Personal information
Full name Kipp Christian Keller[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-14) July 14, 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 FC Cincinnati
Number 14
Youth career
0000–2019 Saint Louis FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Saint Louis Billikens 49 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Saint Louis FC 0 (0)
2021 St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0 (0)
2022–2023 Austin FC 12 (0)
2023 → Austin FC II (loan) 16 (0)
2024– FC Cincinnati 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 28, 2024

Kipp Christian Keller (born July 14, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

Career

Youth and college

Keller played high school soccer at The Principia in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was named First-team All-State selection, helping to lead them to a state championship his freshman year. Keller also played club soccer with the Saint Louis FC academy, where he helped the U-19 side advance to the USSDA playoffs in 2018. He signed an academy contract with Saint Louis FC in 2019, making a single appearance for the club in the US Open Cup on May 29, 2019, against Forward Madison.[2][3][4]

In 2019, Keller attended Saint Louis University to play college soccer. He went on to make 49 appearances for the Billikens, scoring five goals and tallying two assists. He also earned honors such as second-team All-Conference and A-10 All-Rookie team in 2019, second-team All-Conference in 2020, and second-team All-American nod in 2021, as well as Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.[3] He and the 2021 team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA College Cup.

Keller was part of the USL League Two roster for St. Louis Scott Gallagher during their 2021 season, but didn't appear for the club.[5]

Professional

Austin FC

In January 2022, it was announced that Keller had signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, and would leave college a year early to enter the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.[6] On January 11, 2022, he was selected 5th overall in the SuperDraft by Austin FC.[7] He made his professional debut on February 26, 2022, starting against FC Cincinnati in a 5–0 win.[8] On November 17, 2023, Austin FC announced they would not exercise the 2024 option for Keller.[9]

Austin FC II loan

After a poor showing in the first game of the 2023 season[10] Keller was loaned to the Austin FC second team Austin FC II.[11] Keller appeared in 16 games as a center back for Austin FC II during their 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup season.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of April 6, 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club League Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Saint Louis FC USL 2019 0 0 1 0 – – 1 0
Austin FC MLS 2022[14] 6 0 1 0 – – 7 0
2023[15] 7 0 – 1[a] 0 2[b] 0 10 0
Total 13 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 17 0
Austin FC II (loan) MLS Next Pro 2023[16] 16 0 – – – 16 0
FC Cincinnati MLS 2024 5 0 – 3[a] 0 – 8 0
Career total 34 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 42 0
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

Austin FC II

References

  1. ^ "2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: FC Cincinnati (USA)" (PDF). CONCACAF. January 30, 2024. p. 5. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "USA - K. Keller - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ a b "Kipp Keller - 2021 - Men's Soccer". Saint Louis University.
  4. ^ "4 SLSG Alumni Selected in 2022 MLS SuperDraft". www.slsgsoccer.com. January 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "St. Louis Scott Gallagher | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  6. ^ "Three Billikens Sign Generation adidas Contracts". atlantic10.com.
  7. ^ "Austin FC Selects Defender Kipp Keller With Fifth Overall Pick Of 2022 MLS SuperDraft | Austin FC". austinfc.
  8. ^ "ATXvsCIN 02-26-2022 lineups | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  9. ^ "Austin FC Announces Roster Decisions Ahead of 2024 Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Gordon, Colby (February 26, 2023). "A sputtering start: Austin FC drops its season opener to expansion club St. Louis City SC". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Austin FC II Announces Roster Moves Ahead Of 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC II. March 24, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Gordon, Colby (October 22, 2023). "Austin FC II rallies late in second half to win MLS Next Pro Cup". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kipp Keller profile". Soccerway. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Stats - 2022 - Regular Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Stats - 2023". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Austin FC II - 2023". www.MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved November 14, 2023.

External links