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Chris Mueller (soccer)

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Chris Mueller
Personal information
Full name Christopher Matthew Mueller[1]
Date of birth (1996-08-29) August 29, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Number 8
Youth career
2004–2013 Chicago Sockers
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Wisconsin Badgers 75 (22)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Des Moines Menace 2 (0)
2017 Chicago FC United 9 (4)
2018–2021 Orlando City 112 (21)
2022 Hibernian 11 (0)
2022– Chicago Fire 61 (6)
International career‡
2020–2021 United States 2 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 26, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 31, 2021

Christopher Matthew Mueller (born August 29, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.

Following a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Mueller was the sixth overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, joining Orlando City where he became the club's all-time leading appearance maker during a four-season spell. Mueller joined Scottish club Hibernian in January 2022, but left them after four months and returned to the MLS with Chicago Fire.

Club career

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Youth and college

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Mueller grew up in Schaumburg, Illinois and played college soccer at the University of Wisconsin from 2014 to 2017, scoring 22 goals in 75 regular season matches.[3] In 2016, Mueller was selected to the All-America third-team and the All-Big Ten first team.[4] In 2017, Mueller was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being selected to the All-Big Ten first team[5] and the All-America second-team.[6]

Orlando City

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Mueller was drafted as the sixth overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC.[7] He made his professional debut on March 3, 2018, in a season-opening 1–1 draw with D.C. United.[8] On April 8, 2018, Mueller scored his first professional goal against Portland Timbers in a 3–2 victory.[9] On April 21, 2018, Mueller scored the fastest goal in Orlando City history when he scored 63 seconds into a match against the San Jose Earthquakes, and later in the match he recorded his first professional assist.[10] Mueller was runner-up for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.[11]

On March 2, 2019, Mueller started in his second consecutive season opener, scoring in a 2–2 against New York City FC. He scored his first U.S. Open Cup goal against the same opposition on July 10, 2019, in a 1–1 quarter-final draw before Orlando progressed to their first ever semi-final on penalties. In July 2019, Mueller was part of the Orlando City team alongside Nani and Sebas Méndez that won the 2019 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, beating teams from the MLS All-Stars and Atlético Madrid to win the $25,000 prize for charity with Mueller notably the only player to successfully complete a scissors kick during the volleys round.

On March 7, 2020, Mueller scored Orlando's first goal of the season in a 2–1 away loss to Colorado Rapids.[12] With the season affected by the coronavirus pandemic, a return to play was achieved through the MLS is Back Tournament. Mueller scored in the opening game as Orlando beat newly formed rivals Inter Miami CF 2–1 before scoring a brace in the following game, a 3–1 victory over New York City FC.[13] He finished the 2020 season as the team's top scorer with a career-high 10 goals.

On July 17, 2021, Mueller appeared as a substitute in 1–1 draw with Toronto FC. It was his 108th appearance for the club in all competitions, tying the record set by Cristian Higuita in 2019. Entering the final year of his contract in 2021, Mueller had been in contract negotiations with Orlando City but informed the club on July 21, 2021, that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with an unnamed European club and that he would be leaving upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2021 season.[14] He broke the club appearance record a day later, starting in a 2–1 win over Philadelphia Union.

Hibernian

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On July 22, 2021, Scottish Premiership side Hibernian announced they had signed Mueller on a free transfer agreement, which would see him join the club on January 1, 2022.[15][16]

On January 20, 2022, Mueller made his debut for Hibernian in the side's 1–0 win over Cove Rangers in the Scottish Cup.[17] On February 13, 2022, He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Arbroath F.C. in the Scottish Cup.[18] This proved to be the only goal Mueller would score for Hibs, and he was allowed to return to the U.S. in May 2022.[19] Hibs chief executive Ben Kensell said that Mueller had struggled to "adapt to the pace and physicality" of Scottish soccer.[19]

Chicago Fire

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On May 5, 2022, MLS side Chicago Fire FC announced they had signed Mueller for an undisclosed fee from Hibernian.[19][20]

International career

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In November 2020, having never appeared on any level for the United States national team, Mueller was called up to the United States senior team for a friendly against El Salvador.[21] He made his debut starting the game on December 9, scoring twice, registering one assist and was named man of the match in a 6–0 victory.[22][23]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of October 26, 2024[24]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando City 2018 MLS 32 3 2 0 — — 34 3
2019 29 5 4 1 — — 33 6
2020 22 10 — — 6[b] 0 28 10
2021 29 3 — — 2[c] 0 31 3
Total 112 21 6 1 — 8 0 126 22
Hibernian 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 11 0 4 1 — — 15 1
Chicago Fire 2022 MLS 24 4 — — — 24 4
2023 10 2 1 0 — — 11 2
2024 27 0 — — — 27 0
Total 61 6 1 0 0 0 — 62 6
Career total 184 27 11 2 0 0 8 0 203 29
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Four appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, two appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ One appearance in Leagues Cup, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

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As of January 31, 2021[25]
United States
Year Apps Goals
2020 1 2
2021 1 0
Total 2 2
As of match played December 9, 2020. United States score listed first, score column indicates score after each Mueller goal.
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 December 9, 2020[22] DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States 1  El Salvador 2–0 6–0 Friendly
2 4–0

References

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  1. ^ "National team roster, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. June 18, 2021. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Chris Mueller". Chicago Fire FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Men's Soccer – Chris Mueller – 2017". uwbadgers.com. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Mueller named to NSCAA All-America team". University of Wisconsin. December 9, 2016.
  5. ^ "Mueller named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year". University of Wisconsin. November 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Chris Mueller becomes two-time All-American". University of Wisconsin. December 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Orlando City Selects Forward Chris Mueller in 2018 MLS SuperDraft". orlandocitysc.com. Major League Soccer. January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Orlando City SC 1, DC United 1 2018 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. MLS. March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "Orlando City SC 3, Portland Timbers 2 2018 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. MLS. April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Lions Defeat San Jose for 4th Straight Win". April 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Real Salt Lake's Corey Baird wins 2018 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year". November 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Colorado Rapids 2, Orlando City SC 1 2020 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
  13. ^ Butler, Dylan. "Why Orlando City SC's self-made athlete Chris Mueller is off to a hot start at MLS is Back Tournament". www.mlssoccer.com.
  14. ^ "Orlando City SC Statement Regarding Forward Chris Mueller | Orlando City". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  15. ^ "Chris Mueller to join Hibernian from Orlando City in January". BBC Sport. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  16. ^ "Chris Mueller to join Hibs from Orlando City". Hibernian FC.
  17. ^ McPheat, Nick (January 20, 2022). "Hibernian 1–0 Cove Rangers". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  18. ^ "Hibs fightback knocks Arbroath out cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Hibernian: Chris Mueller makes swift departure for Chicago Fire". BBC Sport. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Chicagoland Native Chris Mueller from Scottish Premier League side Hibernian F.C." www.chicagofirefc.com. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "Berhalter Calls 22 Players ahead of USA-El Salvador on Dec. 9 at Inter Miami FC Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale". www.ussoccer.com. November 30, 2020.
  22. ^ a b "USA 6 - El Salvador 0: Match Report & Stats". www.ussoccer.com. December 9, 2020.
  23. ^ Fernandez, Andre. "Chris Mueller leads six-goal barrage as U.S. men's national soccer team defeats El Salvador in friendly". USA TODAY.
  24. ^ "Chris Mueller". Soccerway. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  25. ^ Chris Mueller at National-Football-Teams.com
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