Zach Zandi

Zach Zandi
Personal information
Full name Zachary Zandi
Date of birth (1996-07-18) July 18, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Number 10
Youth career
West Chester United
Penn Fusion SA
Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Villanova Wildcats 63 (14)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Reading United AC 24 (2)
2019–2020 Philadelphia Union II 34 (3)
2021– Colorado Springs Switchbacks 68 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 4, 2024

Zachary Zandi (born July 18, 1996) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.

Early life

Zandi played youth soccer for West Chester United and Penn Fusion Soccer Academy before joining the Philadelphia Union Academy, and attended Henderson High School.[1][2] Zandi was a part of Philadelphia Union's under-17 team that won the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup.[3]

College career

Zandi played college soccer for Villanova University, where in four seasons he made 63 appearances, scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists, leading the team with seven goals scored in 2018 and receiving Big East honors throughout his collegiate career.[1] In 2016, Zandi notably helped the Wildcats reach their first NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament in program history.[4]

Club career

Early career

Zandi joined Reading United AC in 2016 while in college where he made 24 appearances, scored two goals and provided five assists in three seasons, while also making three appearances in the U.S. Open Cup.[1]

Philadelphia Union II

Zandi was acquired by Philadelphia Union II on January 8, 2019, and made his club debut for the then Bethlehem Steel in their season opener on March 10, 2019, scoring a goal in his debut and earning USL Championship Team-of-the-Week honors for his performance.[1]

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

On December 21, 2020, Zandi joined the Colorado Springs Switchbacks ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season.[5] He scored his first goal for the club on July 17, 2021, in a league match against San Antonio FC.[6] The following season, Zandi scored five goals during the regular season and provided an assist in the conference semifinal to help lead the Switchbacks to their first-ever conference final.[7] Zandi received the number 10 jersey ahead of the 2023 season and scored a goal in their home opener on March 18, 2023, against Hartford Athletic.[8] Zandi scored his first goal of the 2024 season on July 4, 2024, scoring a stoppage time winner in a 1–0 win against FC Tulsa.[9] He was named to the Team of the Week after scoring the winning goal and having 100% pass accuracy against Monterey Bay on October 19, 2024.[10][11] On November 10, 2024, Zandi scored his first league brace in a 2–1 extra-time win against Orange County SC during the conference semifinal to help lead the Switchbacks to the conference final, bringing his tally to 6 goals and 4 assists for the season.[12][13] Zandi subsequently helped lead the Switchbacks to their first silverware in club history, securing the Western Conference title on November 16, 2024, and earning the club's first-ever appearance in the USL Championship final.[14] On November 23, 2024, Zandi and the Switchbacks won the club's first USL Championship title with a 3–0 win in the final.[15] At the end of the season, Zandi was named as a finalist for the league's Comeback Player of the Year award.[16]

International career

Youth

Zandi was a pool player for the US Soccer national training center since 2010.[3]

Style of play

Zandi has been praised for his attacking movement, combinations, and ability to create scoring chances.[2]

Personal life

His sister, Sydney Zandi, played college soccer for the University of Virginia and international soccer for the United States women's national under-17, under-18 and under-19 soccer teams, including representing the United States at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, as well as being named in the inaugural pre-season squad of NWSL club team San Diego Wave in 2022.[3][17][18] His father Karl Zandi played college soccer for West Chester University and his uncle Peter played college soccer for the University of Pennsylvania.[2]

Career statistics

Club

As of November 10, 2024[19]

Honors

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Zach Zandi". Philadelphia Union.
  2. ^ a b c Ralph, Matthew (August 25, 2017). "'Basically brothers,' the Zandi cousins teammates at last at Villanova". Brotherly Game.
  3. ^ a b c "Zach Zandi - Men's Soccer". Villanova University Athletics.
  4. ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (January 8, 2019). "Villanova midfielder Zach Zandi signs with Bethlehem Steel". www.inquirer.com.
  5. ^ @SwitchbacksFC (December 22, 2020). "Say hello 👋 to our newest attacking midfielder!@zachzandiMore Info ⤵️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Matchday Report: San Antonio Snaps Streak in Colorado Springs". July 17, 2021.
  7. ^ brent.briggeman@gazette.com, BRENT BRIGGEMAN (October 29, 2022). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC win again, continuing club's record playoff run". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  8. ^ "Match Center | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com.
  9. ^ hugh.johnson@gazette.com, Hugh Johnson (July 4, 2024). "Zach Zandi scores first goal in over a year in stoppage time, propels Colorado Springs to Fourth of July win over FC Tulsa". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  10. ^ "Zach Zandi propels Colorado Springs Switchbacks to first ever win at Monterey Bay F.C., snaps four-game winless skid". October 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 33". October 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Zach Zandi lifts Switchbacks to extra time victory against Orange County". November 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Zach Zandi's first career USL Championship brace propels Colorado Springs Switchbacks to extra time win over Orange County SC". November 10, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Tejada scores winner as Switchbacks defeat Lights for Western Conference title". November 16, 2024.
  15. ^ a b https://www.uslchampionship.com/coloradospringsswitchbacksfc-rhodeisland-2490784
  16. ^ https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1325908
  17. ^ "HS: All-America Games have a family twist | High School Soccer News". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  18. ^ "San Diego Wave FC Announces 2022 Preseason Opening Day Roster and Club Technical Staff". February 2, 2022.
  19. ^ https://int.soccerway.com/players/zachary-zandi/445002/