Patrick Schulte Bio
Patrick Timothy Schulte is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew and the United States men’s national soccer team. Born and raised in Missouri, Schulte originally played as a winger before switching to goalkeeping during his youth career. After a standout college career at Saint Louis University, he was selected by the Columbus Crew in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and has since developed into one of the top young goalkeepers in American soccer.
Schulte gained national attention for his role in the Columbus Crew’s run to the 2023 MLS Cup title and his performance in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, where he was named the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper. He made his senior international debut for the United States in January 2024 and started for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Timothy Schulte was born on March 13, 2001, in St. Charles, Missouri, in the United States. He grew up in a region of the country with a strong soccer tradition, which gave him early access to competitive youth programs. From a young age, Schulte showed athletic ability and a love for the game, eventually channeling that energy into a more specialized role on the field.
As a child, Schulte began his soccer journey playing as a winger, a position that allowed him to develop his footwork, field awareness, and comfort with the ball at his feet. However, when he was 11 or 12 years old, his youth coach at St. Louis Scott Gallagher asked him to step in as a goalkeeper during a practice, and the move became permanent. The switch gave Schulte a new outlook on the game and set him on a path toward becoming a professional netminder.
Path to Soccer
Schulte’s development continued within the St. Louis Scott Gallagher system, one of the most respected youth soccer organizations in the Midwest. In 2017, he moved into the academy of Saint Louis FC, the professional club affiliated with his youth program, providing him with a higher level of training and competition. The following year, he began to attract attention from college programs around the country.
In 2019, Schulte signed an academy contract with the Saint Louis FC first team and made his professional debut in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Des Moines Menace on May 15, 2019. During that match, he helped the team advance by saving three of four penalties in a shootout. That same year, he committed to playing college soccer at Saint Louis University, beginning a three-year run with the Billikens that would sharpen his skills for the professional ranks.
Patrick Schulte Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Schulte spent the early part of his career splitting time between youth development and the Saint Louis FC senior setup. While playing for the Saint Louis FC academy, he was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team during his freshman year at Saint Louis University. He also posted a career-high seven saves in a 6–2 win at Marquette on October 1, 2019, signaling his growing presence between the posts.
Over three seasons with the Saint Louis Billikens, Schulte made 51 appearances and recorded 22 shutouts. As a sophomore, he earned Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named first-team All-Conference. In his third and final college season, he again took first-team All-Conference honors, was named United Soccer Coaches second-team All-Region, and was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Championship. He also played in the USL League Two for St. Louis Scott Gallagher during the 2021 season, making nine regular season appearances.
MLS Breakthrough (2022–2023)
On January 6, 2022, Schulte announced that he would leave college early and sign a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, which made him eligible for the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Five days later, on January 11, 2022, the Columbus Crew selected him 12th overall. He spent the 2022 season developing with the Crew’s MLS Next Pro affiliate, Columbus Crew 2, where he won the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup and was named the MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Year.
Schulte’s first start for the Columbus Crew senior team came on the opening day of the 2023 MLS season, a 4–1 loss to the Philadelphia Union in which he faced two penalty kicks. He soon claimed the starting role, however, and remained in goal for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. Schulte’s big break came in 2023, as he helped the Columbus Crew capture the MLS Cup title, cementing his place as the Crew’s starting goalkeeper.
Columbus Crew Era (2022–Present)
After winning the MLS Cup in 2023, Schulte returned to anchor the Crew’s net in 2024, when the club embarked on a deep run in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He started every match of the campaign, including a famous upset of Tigres UANL in which he redeemed an early mistake by saving two penalties in a shootout. The Crew advanced all the way to the tournament final, and Schulte was named Best Goalkeeper of the Concacaf Champions Cup and selected to the tournament’s Best XI.
Before the 2025 season began, Schulte signed a contract extension with the Columbus Crew that runs through 2027, with an additional option year. He has continued to serve as a key figure for the club, both on the field and in the locker room, and he wears the number 28 shirt for the Crew.
Playing Style and Strengths
Schulte is widely regarded as a composed and athletic goalkeeper with strong shot-stopping ability and an unusually high comfort level with the ball at his feet, a skill set that traces back to his early days as a winger. He reads the game well from his line, is reliable in one-on-one situations, and has shown a willingness to embrace high-pressure moments, including penalty shootouts. His calm presence has made him a trusted starter for both club and country.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Schulte’s signature moments are his penalty-shootout heroics in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup with Saint Louis FC, his role in the Columbus Crew’s 2023 MLS Cup victory, and his standout performance in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, which earned him the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award. His senior international debut against Slovenia on January 20, 2024, and his starting role for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics further mark him as one of the rising faces of American goalkeeping.
Patrick Schulte Career Wins
Patrick Schulte has built a young but accomplished trophy case since turning professional. His most significant club honor came with the Columbus Crew, with whom he won the 2023 MLS Cup. He also won the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup with Columbus Crew 2 in 2022, the same year he was named MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Year.
MLS and Cup Highlights
Schulte’s first major senior trophy was the 2023 MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew, won after he became the starting goalkeeper midway through the season. Earlier, with Columbus Crew 2, he claimed the 2022 MLS Next Pro Cup and was recognized as the league’s top goalkeeper. In 2024, he reached the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup, where his individual play was strong enough to earn him the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award and a place on the Best XI.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his club accomplishments, Schulte has been a steady performer at youth and collegiate levels, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year award and the A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player honor with Saint Louis University. He has also represented the United States at multiple age levels, including the under-20, under-23, and senior national teams.
Patrick Schulte Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Schulte grew up in St. Charles, Missouri, in a region known for producing top-level American soccer talent. He came up through the St. Louis Scott Gallagher youth system, one of the most established development pipelines in the country, which has produced numerous professional players.
Personal Life
Schulte keeps his personal life largely private. As of the most recent verified information, no public details are available about a spouse, partner, or children. He continues to focus on his professional career with the Columbus Crew and the United States national team.
2025 Season Performance
Patrick Schulte entered the 2025 season as the established starter for the Columbus Crew after signing a contract extension that runs through 2027. The Crew opened the new campaign with Schulte in goal, looking to build on the 2023 MLS Cup triumph and the club’s 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup run to the final. He has continued to be a central figure in the team’s ambitions, both as a shot-stopper and as a leader at the back.
Early in 2025, Schulte has featured regularly for Columbus, with his shot-stopping and distribution both key to the Crew’s approach under pressure. On the international stage, he remains part of the senior United States national team setup following his 2024 debut and his starting role at the Paris Olympics.
Looking ahead, Schulte’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 includes pushing the Columbus Crew back into MLS Cup contention and competing for the U.S. national team in upcoming fixtures. With his contract extension secured and his role as the Crew’s number one firmly in place, he is positioned to remain a focal point of American soccer for years to come.
