Fuchs’ decorated career - which features a Premier League title with Leicester City and the captain’s armband for Austria and Charlotte FC - comes to a close
CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, January 5, 2023) – Charlotte FC captain Christian Fuchs today announced his retirement from professional soccer.
Fuchs’ decorated career spans over 19 seasons and features seven professional teams across four different countries. Prior to serving as captain for Charlotte FC during the Club’s inaugural season, he won the 2015/16 Premier League with Leicester City against 5,000-1 odds and captained Austria to UEFA Euro 2016.
“It has been an incredible journey for me and my family. Not only did we celebrate great success throughout the years, but we have also been able to learn from amazing people during this journey,” said Fuchs. “I am so thankful for all the support I received during my career from club representatives, my teammates, and the fans. I am looking back with a big smile on the special moments I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
The 36-year-old finishes his illustrious career with 577 total professional club appearances, scoring 37 goals and adding 83 assists. He also achieved 78 caps with Austria, having captained his national team for 37 of those matches.
“Christian is leaving behind an incredible legacy both on and off the field, and his impressive 19-year career speaks for itself,” said Charlotte FC Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. “We are thankful to have had a player of his caliber lead our locker room as captain to build a positive, winning culture in our inaugural season. He was important for us with his performances on the field, but more importantly he has helped lay a critical foundation that will help this Club be successful for many years to come.”
Fuchs began his career in Austria with his local SVg Pitten youth teams before moving to Wiener Neustädter SC at 11 years old, debuting for the senior team at the age of 15.
His performances there earned him his first professional contract with SV Mattersburg of the Austrian Bundesliga. He went on to make 155 total appearances with 15 goals and 24 assists across five seasons for the club, excelling in Austria’s top division.
At age 22, Fuchs left his home country for the German Bundesliga with VFL Bochum, where he spent two seasons and totaled 57 appearances, six goals, and eight assists. He then spent a year on loan with FSV Mainz 05, helping the newly promoted side finish in the top five of the Bundesliga.
This leveraged into a permanent move to German giant FC Schalke 04 in 2011 as a 25-year-old. He became a stalwart for the famous club over four seasons, finishing with 136 appearances, eight goals, 30 assists, and a German Super Cup title.
Fuchs was ever-present for the Austrian national team throughout his time in Germany. He originally made 39 total appearances across the various youth national teams before making his senior Austria debut in 2006 as a 20-year-old, earning a place in the squad for UEFA Euro 2008 that Austria co-hosted.
The left back first captained Austria in 2010 before being named the permanent captain in 2012. He then played all 10 qualification games to earn his country a spot in UEFA Euro 2016, a feat that Austria had never before accomplished. He played every minute of their group stage elimination during the tournament and subsequently retired from international football.
After his time at Schalke, current CLTFC Special Advisor Steve Walsh helped bring Fuchs to England to join Leicester City, the club he would spend the longest period of his career with over six seasons. In the 2015/16 season, Fuchs’ first with the club, Leicester overcame 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League title, sealing one of the all-time great underdog stories in world football. Upon Fuchs’ insertion into the starting lineup early that season, Leicester City kept 15 clean sheets, tied for top of the league.
In total, the Austrian left back made 152 appearances with three goals and 13 assists for Leicester while also winning the third major trophy of his career, the 2021 FA Cup.
Fuchs joined Charlotte FC as the Club’s fifth-ever signing on June 6th, 2021. He spent a brief spell on loan with the Charlotte Independence at the end of that year ahead of CLTFC’s 2022 debut, making 17 appearances and scoring two goals to help the club qualify for the USL Championship playoffs.
He then captained Charlotte FC throughout the Club’s inaugural 2022 campaign, making 27 appearances and scoring three goals from the penalty spot.
Fuchs will remain in Charlotte with an expanded role at the Club, which will be announced soon.
