Alexander Hack Bio
Alexander Hack is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss Super League club Zürich. Born on September 8, 1993, in Memmingen, Germany, he has built his career across German regional and top-flight football, the Saudi First Division, Major League Soccer, and now Switzerland.
Standing 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) tall, Hack has developed into a physically imposing defender known for his aerial ability and consistency. He previously represented Germany at the under-20 level and has spent more than a decade in senior professional football.
Early Life and Background
Alexander Hack was born and raised in Memmingen, a town in the Bavarian region of southern Germany. Growing up in a football-friendly part of the country, he was introduced to the sport at a young age through local youth setups.
He started playing organised football for the youth teams of TSV 1862 Babenhausen and FC Memmingen, two clubs based in the Allgäu region around his hometown. Those early years allowed him to develop the basic technical and physical skills that would later define his game as a centre-back.
After his time at those local clubs, Hack moved into the youth setup of 1860 Munich, one of the more established development programmes in Bavaria. He remained there through 2012, completing the most formative stage of his football education before transitioning into senior football.
Path to Professional Football
In 2012, Hack returned to his hometown club FC Memmingen, this time as a senior player in the German regional league system. He quickly became a regular starter, gaining valuable first-team experience as a young defender and adjusting to the physical demands of adult competition.
After one season at Memmingen, he moved up the ladder to SpVgg Unterhaching, a third-division side. It was at Unterhaching that Hack signed his first professional contract, marking his formal entry into the paid ranks of the sport.
His development path continued upward when 1. FSV Mainz 05 signed him in 2014. He initially joined the reserve team, Mainz 05 II, before breaking into the Bundesliga squad during the 2015–16 season and establishing himself as a long-term contributor in Germany’s top flight.
Alexander Hack Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Alexander Hack began his senior career at FC Memmingen in the 2012–13 season, where he featured regularly in the regional league. The campaign served as his introduction to men’s football and helped him earn a move higher up the German football pyramid.
The following year, he joined SpVgg Unterhaching in the 3. Liga. Playing against experienced professionals, Hack adapted to a faster and more tactical style of football and signed his first professional contract with the club.
Mainz 05 Breakthrough (2014–2023)
Hack moved to 1. FSV Mainz 05 in 2014, initially joining the reserve side, Mainz 05 II, where he became a regular starter over three seasons. His performances in the second team eventually earned him promotion to the senior Bundesliga squad.
He made his Bundesliga debut on 28 November 2015, in a 3–1 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt during the first half of the 2015–16 season. The appearance marked the beginning of a long association with Mainz 05, and on 8 December 2016 he scored his first European goal for the club in a 2–0 UEFA Europa League victory over Gabala SC.
On 13 January 2018, Hack scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 2–3 away defeat to Hannover 96, and the following year, on 19 January 2019, he netted the winning goal in a 2–3 victory over VfB Stuttgart. He also scored in a 5–2 loss to Bayern Munich on 3 January 2021.
The 2021–22 Bundesliga season represented the high point of Hack’s scoring output at Mainz. He scored a career-high three goals in 28 league appearances as Mainz finished eighth in the table. His goals that season included strikes against VfB Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin, and SC Freiburg, demonstrating a growing influence in the final third.
In June 2017, Hack had agreed a contract extension with Mainz that kept him at the club until 2022, reflecting the club’s long-term faith in his development as a centre-back.
Al Qadsiah Era (2023–2024)
On 14 August 2023, Mainz 05 announced the transfer of Alexander Hack to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. He moved abroad for the first time in his career, taking on a new challenge in the Saudi First Division League.
Hack made his league debut for Al Qadsiah on 20 August 2023, in a 1–0 victory over Al-Jandal SC. On 16 April 2024, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Jeddah Club. He ended his time in Saudi Arabia as a league winner, helping Al Qadsiah claim the 2023–24 Saudi First Division League title and promotion to the Saudi Pro League top flight.
New York Red Bulls Era (2024–2026)
On 20 December 2024, Hack joined Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls on a two-year contract with an additional club option year. The move gave him the chance to test himself in a new country and a new football culture after his successful spell in Saudi Arabia.
However, on 5 January 2026, the club and Hack reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, bringing his time in MLS to an early end.
Zürich Move (2026–Present)
In February 2026, Hack signed for Swiss Super League club Zürich, returning to European football and a top-flight environment. He is expected to add experience and aerial presence to the Swiss side as he begins the next chapter of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Alexander Hack’s standout career moments are his 2015 Bundesliga debut against Eintracht Frankfurt, his first Bundesliga goal versus Hannover 96 in January 2018, and his first European goal for Mainz against Gabala SC in 2016. His 2021–22 campaign, in which he scored three Bundesliga goals in 28 appearances, marked his most productive top-flight season, while his 2023–24 Saudi First Division League title with Al Qadsiah stands as his first major team honour.
Alexander Hack International Career
Alexander Hack represented Germany at the under-20 level between 2013 and 2014. The youth international experience complemented his early progress at club level, where he was breaking into senior football around the same period.
Alexander Hack Career Wins
Alexander Hack has collected team honours at club level, with his most significant title coming during the 2023–24 season. Throughout his time at Mainz 05, he established himself as a long-term Bundesliga defender without securing a major domestic trophy, before claiming silverware abroad.
Other Wins and Performances
The headline achievement of Hack’s career is the 2023–24 Saudi First Division League title with Al Qadsiah, which also delivered promotion to the top flight. His Bundesliga output during the 2021–22 season, including three goals in 28 league appearances for Mainz, ranks among his strongest individual returns in a top European division.
Alexander Hack Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Alexander Hack’s family background and any extended sporting lineage within his family is limited, and this section is therefore kept brief.
2025 Season Outlook
The 2025 season was intended to mark Alexander Hack’s introduction to Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, where he had signed a two-year deal with an additional club option in late 2024. The campaign was expected to showcase his aerial strength and Bundesliga experience in a new league.
However, by early January 2026, Hack and the New York Red Bulls had agreed to mutually terminate his contract, cutting short his MLS spell and reshaping the outlook for the rest of the year.
Looking ahead from 2025, Hack has since signed for Swiss Super League club Zürich in February 2026, returning to top-flight European football. His move to Switzerland offers a fresh platform to revive his career and rebuild momentum after the abrupt end of his time in MLS.
