VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday that the club has signed Austrian international central midfielder Alessandro Schöpf via the use of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). Schöpf has agreed to a contract through 2024, with a club option for 2025, and will occupy an international roster spot - pending receipt of his international transfer certificate.
- SECURE YOUR SEATS: Deposits for 2023 memberships now open!
“Alessandro is a player we’ve been looking at for a while,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “He’s an all-around midfielder with an incredible engine, covers a lot of ground and is good in combination play. He also has plenty of experience playing in some of the top competitions in world football. We’re happy to welcome Alessandro and his family to Vancouver as they begin this next chapter.”
Whitecaps FC midfielder Alessandro Schöpf
- 32 appearances with Austria’s national team
- Recorded 299 appearances at the club level playing in Germany
- Experience playing in the EUROs, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
“I’m really excited to be here now and it’s a big step for me to come from European football to North America,” said Schöpf, “I hope to bring a lot of success to Vancouver and look forward to seeing all the supporters at BC Place.”
Schöpf spent last season with Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld, where he started 29 of his 33 appearances for the club across all competitions.
The native of Zams, Austria spent the previous six seasons from 2016 to 2021 with Schalke 04, tallying 16 goals as well as 10 assists across 93 starts and 143 appearances in Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League play.
At Schalke, Schöpf played under Schuster before the German moved to Vancouver in November 2019.
Prior to his time with Schalke, the Austrian international played two seasons in the 2.Bundesliga with 1. FC Nürnberg. The midfielder started 53 of his 55 appearances across all competitions for the club, netting 11 goals and adding 13 assists.
Schöpf joined FC Bayern Munich’s famed youth system in 2009 playing for their U-17 and U-19 sides before helping FC Bayern Munich II win the German Regionalliga Bavaria title in 2013-14.
Over the course of his career, Schöpf has amassed 299 appearances across all competitions at the club level, scoring 51 goals and adding 38 assists.
Internationally, the 28-year old has represented Austria 32 times, starting 14 matches across two EURO tournaments, World Cup Qualifiers, UEFA Nations League and international friendlies. Schöpf has also netted six goals for his country. In his youth, the midfielder represented Austria at the U-16, U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels
Schöpf becomes the first Austrian international to play for Vancouver.
TRANSACTION: On August 3, 2022, Whitecaps FC sign midfielder Alessandro Schöpf to a contract through 2024, with a club option for 2025, via the use of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).
Alessandro Schöpf
Pronunciation: sha-pf
Position: Central midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 pounds
Date of Birth: February 7, 1994 in Zams, Austria
Hometown: Umhausen, Austria
Citizenship: Austrian
Status: International
Previous Clubs: Arminia Bielefeld (2021-22), FC Schalke 04 (2016-21), 1.FC Nürnberg (2014-16), FC Bayern Munich (2009-14)
Instagram: @alessandroschoepf
