Team of the Week presented by Audi: Austin FC make history in Week 31
Austin FC made some history as MLS Week 31’s nine-game slate concluded Wednesday, allowing the second-year club to lead the latest Team of the Week presented by Audi.
Robert Voloder, a German center back signed with Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2022 MLS regular season. A 6-foot, left-footed defender, Voloder joined Kansas City after a stint with NK Maribor in Slovenia and time in the FC Cologne Academy in Germany.
Voldoer has international experience, having appeared for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 level before switching his national team ties to Germany in Sept. 2019. He has appeared for the German U-20s, captaining them in an Under 20 Elite League match against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
2022: Sporting Kansas City: Signed with Sporting as a free agent on Jan. 19, 2022. MLS Regular Season: Started seven of 12 appearances and scored one goal (716 minutes played). Debuted for the club on April 17, coming on as a second half substitute on the road at LAFC. Opened his Sporting KC scoring account on Sept. 13 in a 3-0 demolition of D.C. United at home. Earned Team of the Week honors for his performance against D.C. (week 31). Open Cup: Appeared in two of Sporting's Open Cup matches (42 minutes played). Came on as a substitute in the 100th minute of the team's 4-2 comeback win over FC Dallas in the Round of 32.
NK Maribor (2021):
Played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse NK Maribor before guiding the team to the top of the table through 20 matches. In addition to scoring two goals and helping Maribor post 10 shutouts in league play, he started four qualifying matches in the inaugural 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League last summer.
FC Cologne II (2020):
Featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances and contributing to six shutouts as the side earned a fifth-place finish in the 21-team German Regionalliga West.
INTERNATIONAL
Represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019. He was a staple for the Bosnians in their 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign, starting in all six qualifiers and all three group-stage matches of the competition.
Switched his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
YOUTH
A native of Frankfurt, he spent time in youth academies at Eintracht Frankfurt (2008-10), FSV Frankfurt (2010-14, 2015-16) and SG Rosenhohe Offenbach (2014-15) before moving to FC Cologne. Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 and captained the U-19s during the 2019-20 season, scoring five goals from central defense in 18 appearances.