Chris Hegardt

Christopher Hegardt (born January 6, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC. He played for USL Championship side Tacoma Defiance[1] and the Seattle Sounders FC academy.[2] He was signed by Charlotte FC on January 6, 2022, after the club acquired his rights from Seattle Sounders in exchange for $50,000 of General Allocation Money.[3]

Chris Hegardt
Personal information
Full name Christopher Hegardt
Date of birth (2002-01-06) January 6, 2002
Place of birth San Diego, California, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Charlotte FC
Number 19
Youth career
2010–2016 San Diego Surf
2016–2017 LA Galaxy
2017–2018 ASC San Diego
2018–2020 Seattle Sounders FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Georgetown Hoyas 31 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Tacoma Defiance 17 (1)
2022– Charlotte FC 4 (0)
2022 → Charlotte Independence (loan) 13 (3)
2023– Crown Legacy FC 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 2, 2023

College career

Hegardt played for two seasons with the Georgetown Hoyas, scoring three goals in 31 matches. The Hoyas won the Big East tournament and advanced to the 2021 College Cup semifinals.[4]

Professional career

Hegardt made several appearances for the Tacoma Defiance of the USL Championship while enrolled in the Sounders FC Academy. He was traded in January 2022 to Charlotte FC in exchange for $50,000 of general allocation money.[4] On June 17, 2022, Hegardt made a short-term stay on loan with USL League One side Charlotte Independence.[5]

Personal life

In December 2009, Hegardt was hospitalized after a youth soccer match and diagnosed with cancer following the discovery of a ruptured tumor in his liver. He went through six rounds of chemotherapy and received a liver transplant before returning in 2011 to the San Diego Surf, where Hegardt won a national championship.[4][6] During his hospitalization, Hegardt received a visit and jersey from then-Chivas USA player Sacha Kljestan. The two were reunited 12 years later in Charlotte FC's home debut against the LA Galaxy, where Hegardt played against Kljestan's Galaxy.[7]

References
  1. "Chris Hegardt Profile – Tacoma Defiance". uslchampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. "Christopher Hegardt Bio". ussoccerda.com. U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. "Charlotte FC Signs Georgetown Midfielder Chris Hegardt In Exchange For $50,000 in General Allocation Money from Seattle Sounders FC" (Press release). Charlotte Football Club. January 6, 2022.
  4. Andrejev, Alex (January 13, 2022). "Charlotte FC signs college soccer star from Georgetown ahead of MLS SuperDraft". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  5. "Charlotte Independence Acquire Chris Hegardt on Short-Term Loan from Charlotte FC".
  6. Mondello, Joseph (September 13, 2019). "Nothing Can Stop Him: Chris Hegardt battled through cancer to make it back on the pitch". SoundersFC.com. Seattle Sounders FC.
  7. Reineking, Jim (March 5, 2022). "Sacha Kljestan of LA Galaxy shares story of visiting Charlotte FC's Chris Hegardt in hospital 12 years ago". USA Today. Retrieved March 5, 2022.


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