Max Schneider Bio
Max Schneider (born 28 July 2000) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship team Tampa Bay Rowdies. Standing 6 ft 3 in tall, he operates in central areas of the pitch and is known for his movement off the ball and his ability to contribute goals from midfield. After developing in the Bayer Leverkusen academy and playing college soccer in the United States, Schneider turned professional with St. Louis City 2 in 2022.
Across his young career, Schneider has competed in the MLS Next Pro, USL Championship, and USL League One, winning a national collegiate title with the Marshall Thundering Herd and a USL League One playoff championship with Union Omaha. In December 2025, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season.
Early Life and Background
Max Schneider was born on 28 July 2000 in Cologne, Germany. He grew up in a country with a deep football culture and was introduced to the sport at a young age through local youth play. Cologne and the surrounding Rhineland region have long produced professional players, and Schneider’s path followed that established tradition of structured academy development.
As a teenager, he joined the academy of Bayer Leverkusen, one of the Bundesliga’s most respected youth systems. He trained with the club’s development sides from 2017 to 2019, progressing through the age-group ranks alongside future professionals. Although he did not break into the Leverkusen first team, his development there prepared him for the next step of his career in the United States.
Seeking a clearer route to senior football, Schneider moved to the United States to play college soccer, a path that has become common for German prospects aiming to turn professional through the American developmental system.
Path to Professional Soccer
Schneider enrolled at Marshall University in 2019, joining the Marshall Thundering Herd men’s soccer program in Conference USA. Over three seasons, he made 52 appearances and scored 6 goals, establishing himself as a consistent contributor in the midfield. His performances earned him a place on the 2020 NCAA All-Tournament Team as the Thundering Herd won the 2020 NCAA College Cup, the national championship of college soccer.
During his time at Marshall, Schneider collected several individual honors, including Conference USA All-Freshman Team, Second Team All-Conference USA in 2020 and 2021, and United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team in 2020. He also appeared on the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, reflecting his work in the classroom alongside his athletic commitments.
His college résumé, headlined by a national title, made him an attractive signing for a new MLS-affiliated club. In February 2022, he signed with St. Louis City 2 ahead of the team’s inaugural MLS Next Pro season, formally beginning his senior professional career.
Max Schneider Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Schneider made an immediate impression at the start of the 2022 MLS Next Pro season. On 25 March 2022, he started in the inaugural match for both St. Louis City 2 and the league itself, a 2–0 win over Rochester New York FC. He went on to score his first goal for the club in a 4–3 victory against the Tacoma Defiance, showing a willingness to arrive in the box and finish.
On 18 November 2022, parent club St. Louis City SC exercised a contract clause to promote Schneider to its first team for the inaugural 2023 Major League Soccer season. He did not establish himself in MLS, however, and split 2023 between loans back to St. Louis City 2 and a short-term loan to the St. Louis City SC first team. His contract was declined on 31 December 2023, making him a free agent.
USL Championship and USL League One Breakthrough (2024)
On 18 January 2024, Schneider signed with USL Championship side Indy Eleven. He debuted on 23 March 2024 in a 1–1 draw against Sacramento Republic, providing the assist on Augustine Williams’ equalizing goal. The start of his Indy Eleven tenure showed the creative passing and set-piece delivery that had marked his college game.
Midway through 2024, on 18 July, USL League One club Union Omaha announced the signing of Schneider on loan from Indy Eleven. He debuted four days later in the USL Jägermeister Cup against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and made his league debut on 27 July against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. After a brief recall to Indy Eleven in late August, he returned to Omaha and worked his way into the starting lineup.
Union Omaha Era (2024–2025)
Schneider’s most defining moment came on 17 November 2024, in the USL League One playoffs final against Spokane Velocity FC. He scored the opening goal in the third minute of a 3–0 victory, securing the title and making Omaha the first team in league history to win multiple playoff championships. The performance underlined his big-game temperament and his value as a late-arriving runner into the penalty area.
Schneider joined Union Omaha on a permanent basis ahead of the 2025 season. He started in the 2025 opener, a 3–0 defeat away to Greenville Triumph SC on 12 March, and scored his first regular-season goal for the club on 29 March in a 3–1 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC. He finished the 2025 regular season with 33 total appearances, including 27 league appearances, and 3 goals.
Tampa Bay Rowdies Era (2026–Present)
On 5 December 2025, the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced the signing of Schneider ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season. The move returned him to the USL Championship after a season in the third tier, and gave the Rowdies an experienced, title-tested midfielder entering his prime years. His first appearance for the club is expected during the 2026 regular season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schneider is a 6 ft 3 in central midfielder who combines physical presence with clean technical execution. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, advancing play through line-breaking passes, and arriving late in the box to finish, as shown by his opening goal in the 2024 USL League One final. His height also makes him a regular threat on attacking set pieces, both as a target and as a delivery option from wide positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schneider’s signature moments include winning the 2020 NCAA College Cup with Marshall, scoring in the inaugural MLS Next Pro match in March 2022, and opening the scoring in the 2024 USL League One final to deliver Omaha’s record-setting playoff title. Each step reflected a player comfortable performing on a major stage.
Max Schneider Career Wins
Schneider’s verified senior career is still developing, but he has already collected a national collegiate championship and a USL League One playoff title. His 2020 NCAA College Cup ring came as part of Marshall’s deep tournament run, and his 2024 USL League One playoff trophy came via a 3–0 final win over Spokane Velocity FC in which he scored the opening goal.
Marshall Thundering Herd Highlights
Schneider played three seasons for the Marshall Thundering Herd from 2019 to 2022, making 52 appearances and scoring 6 goals. He was a member of the squad that won the 2020 NCAA College Cup, and he was named to the 2020 NCAA All-Tournament Team. He also earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors in 2020 and 2021, recognition of his consistency in the midfield over multiple seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Marshall, Schneider’s most notable senior result is the 2024 USL League One playoff title with Union Omaha. He also played a role in St. Louis City 2’s inaugural MLS Next Pro season in 2022, starting the league’s first-ever match.
Max Schneider Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Schneider’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Cologne, Germany, and his sporting development took place within the Bayer Leverkusen academy system.
Personal Life
Schneider keeps his personal life largely private. No public information is available regarding a spouse, partner, or children.
2025 Season Performance
Schneider’s 2025 campaign was his first full season as a permanent Union Omaha player. He opened the year in the starting lineup against Greenville Triumph SC and quickly established himself as a regular in the midfield rotation. He scored his first regular-season goal of the year on 29 March in a 3–1 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC, signaling his intent to carry his 2024 playoff form into the new season.
Across the regular season, he totaled 33 appearances, including 27 in league play, and added 3 goals to Omaha’s attacking output. He remained a fixture in the squad from March onward, contributing both as a central midfielder and as an option in advanced positions when the team needed a goal.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Schneider’s form and playoff résumé helped pave the way for his December 2025 move to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The signing positioned him for a larger role in the USL Championship in 2026.