List of MLS Pool Goalkeepers

Major League Soccer has a set of emergency goalkeepers who are signed to a contract with the league and are loaned to teams during emergencies in which they are missing a goalkeeper due to injuries or suspensions.^[1] The pool goalkeeper trains with an MLS club or an affiliated team when not assigned to a team; some pool goalkeepers, including Tim Melia, have gone on to be signed to permanent contract with their assigned teams.^[2]

When originally created, the league had several goalkeepers on their pool roster as roster sizes were small (around 20 players), with teams commonly only having two goalkeepers signed to the roster. However, MLS rosters have since increased to include up to 30 players and teams are required to carry three goalkeepers. In addition, the league's "extreme hardship" roster rules allow teams to bring up a goalkeeper from its MLS Next Pro side or another affiliate on a short-term basis, which has resulted in the need for a pool goalkeeper lessening. Whereas prior years saw three to four pool goalkeepers signed, now there is usually only one or two keepers on the pool roster.^[3]

List

MLS Pool Goalkeepers

Season	Goalkeepers	References
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003	Clint Baumstark	[4]
2004	Clint Baumstark, Andrew Terris	[5]
2005	Clint Baumstark
2006	Sam Reynolds
2007	David Monsalve, Boris Pardo, Sam Reynolds, Kenny Schoeni	[6]
2008	Mike Graczyk, Andrew Kartunen, David Monsalve, Bryant Rueckner, Chris Sharpe	[7]
2009	Miguel Benitez, Ben Dragavon, Kevin Guppy, Bryant Rueckner, Chris Sharpe	[8]
2010	Kevin Guppy, Alex Horwath, Chris Sharpe	[9]
2011	Kevin Guppy, Chris Konopka, Chris Sharpe	[10]
2012	Scott Angevine, Brian Rowe, Chris Sharpe, Steve Spangler	[11]
2013	Doug Herrick, Brad Stuver	[12]
2014	Tim Melia, Daniel Withrow	[13]
2015	Trey Mitchell	[14]
2016	Trey Mitchell	[15]
2017	Billy Heavner	[16]
2018	Billy Heavner	[3]
2019	Charlie Lyon	[17]
2020	Charlie Lyon, Caleb Patterson-Sewell	[18]
2021	Greg Ranjitsingh	[19]
2022	Cody Cropper
2023	Kenneth Vermeer	[20]

• • Lists prior to 2007 are incomplete

References

1. Koczwara, Kevin (November 4, 2016). "On MLS's Most Star-Studded Team, Brian Rowe Is the Last Line of Defense". Vice News. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
2. Brenner, Steve (June 25, 2019). "Meet Charlie Lyon: The MLS 'Pool Goalkeeper' Who Can Play for Every Club". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
3. Carlisle, Jeff (May 24, 2017). "Billy Heavner's life in limbo in Major League Soccer as a 'pool goalkeeper'". ESPN.
4. Sferra, German (August 16, 2010). "Colorado Players in MLS". Colorado Rapids.
5. "All-Time Player Transactions". D.C. United.
6. "2007 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
7. "2008 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
8. "2009 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
9. "2010 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
10. "2011 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
11. "2012 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
12. "2012 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
13. "2012 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
14. "2015 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
15. "2016 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
16. "2017 MLS Player Salaries" (PDF). MLSPA.
17. Brenner, Steve (June 25, 2019). "Meet Charlie Lyon: The MLS 'Pool Goalkeeper' Who Can Play for Every Club". Bleacher Report.
18. Bogert, Tom (July 21, 2020). "Why Vancouver Whitecaps FC will have no backup goalkeeper on Thursday". Major League Soccer.
19. "Orlando City add MLS Pool goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh amid absences". Major League Soccer. September 3, 2021.
20. "MLS Players Salary Guide". MLS Players Association. Retrieved 2023-06-25.