Charles Robbins Mertz Jr. (born December 4, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. He played college soccer for the Michigan Wolverines.

Robbie Mertz
Personal information
Full name Charles Robbins Mertz Jr.
Date of birth (1996-12-04) December 4, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Number 14
Youth career
2005–2015 Century United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Michigan Wolverines 76 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Chicago FC United 9 (2)
2017 Burlingame Dragons 3 (0)
2019–2020 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 40 (11)
2021–2022 Atlanta United 2 48 (4)
2022– Pittsburgh Riverhounds 71 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 10, 2024

Career

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College and amateur

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Mertz played four years of college soccer at the University of Michigan between 2015 and 2018.[1]

Mertz also played with Premier Development League sides Chicago FC United[2] and Burlingame Dragons.[3]

Professional

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On January 14, 2019, Mertz was selected 76th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado Rapids.[4] However, he was released by the club during their pre-season.[5]

Mertz signed his first professional deal with USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds on March 29, 2019.[6]

On January 12, 2021, Mertz moved to USL Championship side Atlanta United 2.[7] Mertz quickly became a fixture for Atlanta 2, wearing the captain's armband often in 2021 and in every match he played in 2022.

On July 20, 2022, Mertz returned to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in exchange for conditional compensation.[8]

Personal life

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Mertz has three siblings; his younger sister Landy played college soccer at Pittsburgh.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Robbie Mertz - Men's Soccer". University of Michigan Athletics.
  2. ^ "Chicago FC United - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - # - Charlie Mertz -". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  3. ^ "Burlingame Dragons FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Charles Mertz -". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  4. ^ "Men's Soccer Alum Mertz Picked By Colorado Rapids in MLS SuperDraft". University of Michigan Athletics.
  5. ^ Pollard, Matt (February 8, 2019). "Colorado Rapids Preseason: Club parts ways with all but one unsigned SuperDraft pick".
  6. ^ Krysinsky, John (March 29, 2019). "Hounds sign Upper St. Clair's Robbie Mertz, along with Mark Forrest and Prosper Figbe » Pittsburgh Soccer Now". Pittsburgh Soccer Now.
  7. ^ "Atlanta United 2 signs Robbie Mertz | Atlanta United FC".
  8. ^ "Hounds acquire Robbie Mertz from Atlanta United 2". USLChampionship.com. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Landy Mertz – Women's Soccer". University of Pittsburgh Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-10.