Nicholas Hagen Bio
Nicholas George Hagen Godoy, born on 2 August 1996 in Guatemala City, Guatemala, is a professional footballer recognized for his work as a goalkeeper. Standing 1.93 meters tall, he represents the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer and the Guatemala national team. Across clubs in Central America, Europe, and the Middle East, he has built a reputation as a reliable shot-stopper with championship experience.
Hagen began his professional journey in his home country before pursuing opportunities abroad in Azerbaijan, Norway, and Israel. His career has been marked by steady progression, capped by a major trophy with Columbus Crew in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas George Hagen Godoy was born on 2 August 1996 in Guatemala City, the capital and largest city of Guatemala. Growing up in a country with a passionate football culture, he developed an early interest in the sport and was drawn to the goalkeeper position from a young age. His height of 1.93 meters gave him a natural physical advantage between the posts.
He began his footballing journey in the youth setup of Antigua, a Guatemalan club, before moving abroad to join the FC Dallas academy between 2013 and 2014. This early exposure to a high-level North American development environment helped shape his technical foundation and tactical understanding of the game.
Path to Soccer
Hagen returned to Guatemala to begin his professional career, signing with the under-20 side of Municipal in 2014. His performances in the youth ranks earned him a promotion to the senior team on 1 July 2016. At Municipal, he quickly established himself as a promising young goalkeeper, winning two Liga Nacional titles during his time with the club.
In the Clausura 2017 tournament, he received the Josue Danny Ortiz Trophy, an award given to the goalkeeper with the least amount of defeats. Notably, he was the youngest goalkeeper to obtain this recognition. These early achievements signaled his potential and prepared him for the next step in his career, moving abroad to test himself in new leagues.
Nicholas Hagen Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Nicholas George Hagen Godoy began his senior career with Municipal in 2016, where he became a key figure in the squad. He made his Liga Nacional debut at a young age and quickly became known for his shot-stopping ability and composure under pressure. His time at Municipal was decorated with two league titles and a personal honor in the form of the Josue Danny Ortiz Trophy.
By 2020, after six years with Los Rojos, Hagen decided it was time to leave the club in order to grow as a player. His ambition to test himself in foreign leagues marked a turning point in his career, leading him to seek opportunities in Europe and beyond.
Sabail Era (2020–2021)
On 4 September 2020, Hagen signed with Sabail of the Azerbaijan Premier League as a free transfer. The move represented his first experience outside of Central American football and offered him a new cultural and competitive environment. He remained with the club until the end of the 2020–21 season, ending his contract in July 2021.
Although his stint in Azerbaijan was brief, it provided valuable experience in adapting to a different style of play and an entirely new professional setting.
Hamarkameratene Era (2021–2023)
On 30 July 2021, Hagen signed with Norwegian club Hamarkameratene for the remainder of the 2021 season. During his half-season in Norway, he went undefeated across 17 league appearances as his side secured promotion to the Eliteserien. This remarkable unbeaten run quickly drew attention to his abilities.
In the 2022 season, Hagen started in the club’s first 23 games of the campaign. However, after returning from international duty in September, he was relegated to the bench and did not feature again as HamKam avoided relegation. At the start of the 2023 season, with a new manager in charge and his contract expiring mid-year, he saw no further action before his deal ended in June 2023.
Bnei Sakhnin Era (2023)
On 1 July 2023, Hagen signed for Bnei Sakhnin of the Israeli top flight. He featured in four of the club’s first five matches before the league was suspended due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Following the disruption, he requested the termination of his contract and departed the club.
Columbus Crew Era (2023–Present)
On 12 December 2023, Nicholas George Hagen Godoy signed with Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. He made his debut on 13 April 2024, replacing an injured Evan Bush in a match against Real Salt Lake. His first start came on 17 July 2024, after incumbent starter Patrick Schulte was called up for the United States Olympic team.
On 9 August 2024, Hagen recorded his first clean sheet for Columbus in a 4–0 Round of 32 Leagues Cup victory over Sporting Kansas City. He then started the following round, helping Columbus defeat defending champions Inter Miami CF 3–2. Although he was benched as Schulte returned, Hagen was given the starting nod in the 2024 Leagues Cup final, where Columbus beat LAFC 3–1 to secure the title. On 9 January 2025, he signed a contract extension with the Crew. He made his 2025 season debut on 24 May in a 3–2 loss at Charlotte FC and finished the season with three total appearances.
Driving Style and Strengths
While primarily a goalkeeper rather than a driver, Hagen is recognized for his strong shot-stopping, command of the penalty area, and aerial ability, attributes supported by his 1.93-meter frame. His calmness in high-pressure matches and consistency during long unbeaten runs, such as his 17-game stretch at Hamarkameratene, highlight his mental fortitude and tactical discipline.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Nicholas George Hagen Godoy’s career came in the 2024 Leagues Cup final, where he was chosen to start and helped Columbus Crew defeat LAFC 3–1 to claim the trophy. He also became the youngest goalkeeper to win the Josue Danny Ortiz Trophy in Guatemala and recorded 17 consecutive league matches without defeat at Hamarkameratene.
Nicholas Hagen Career Wins
Nicholas George Hagen Godoy has collected team silverware across multiple countries, including two Liga Nacional titles with Municipal in Guatemala, an Eliteserien promotion honor with Hamarkameratene in Norway, and the 2024 Leagues Cup with Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
Columbus Crew Highlights
With Columbus Crew, his most notable triumph was the 2024 Leagues Cup, in which he started the final against LAFC and helped secure a 3–1 victory. He also recorded his first clean sheet for the club earlier in the tournament against Sporting Kansas City.
Other Wins and Performances
At Municipal, he won two Liga Nacional titles and the Josue Danny Ortiz Trophy, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to receive the award. With Hamarkameratene, he played a central role in the club’s promotion to the Eliteserien during the second half of 2021.
Nicholas Hagen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Nicholas George Hagen Godoy’s family background, parents, or siblings is limited. He is widely known by his professional name and has kept most personal details private.
Personal Life
Nicholas George Hagen Godoy is known professionally as a goalkeeper. He has not publicly shared details about a spouse, partner, or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a period of transition for Nicholas George Hagen Godoy at Columbus Crew. After signing a contract extension on 9 January 2025, he began the campaign as a backup to starter Patrick Schulte. His first appearance came on 24 May 2025 in a 3–2 loss at Charlotte FC, after Schulte was injured in pre-game warm-ups.
He started the next two matches for Columbus before departing for the 2025 Gold Cup with Guatemala. While on international duty, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for approximately one month. He finished the 2025 Major League Soccer regular season with three total appearances for the Crew.
Looking ahead, Hagen remains an important depth option for Columbus Crew and a key figure for the Guatemala national team, with continued opportunities in Major League Soccer and international competition.