Sydney Schneider

Sydney Schneider
Personal information
Full name	Sydney Michelle Schneider
Date of birth	31 August 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Dayton, New Jersey, United States
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Chicago Red Stars
Number	37
Youth career
	Match Fit Academy
College career
Years	Team
2017–2020	UNC Wilmington Seahawks
Senior career*
Years	Team
2021	Washington Spirit
2022	Kansas City Current
2023–2024	Sparta Prague
2024–	Chicago Red Stars
International career‡
2016–2017	Jamaica U-17
2017–2018	Jamaica U-20
2018–	Jamaica
Medal record
Representing Jamaica
CONCACAF W Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 January 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2021

Sydney Michelle Schneider (born 31 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National Women's Soccer League club Chicago Red Stars. Born in the United States, she represents Jamaica at international level.^[2]

Early life

Schneider was born and raised in the Dayton section of South Brunswick, New Jersey, to Andrea (formerly Schneider, née Wisdom) and David Kapinos (stepfather). She attended South Brunswick High School.^[2]

UNC Wilmington

In February 2017, Schneider signed a letter of intent to join the UNC Wilmington Seahawks.^[3] In her freshman year she started all 19 games, becoming only the second goalkeeper in school history to play every minute in a season. Schneider was also named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019.^[2]

Professional career

She was drafted 29th overall by Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft.^[4] In January 2023, Schneider signed with Sparta Prague of the Czech Women's First League.^[5] In May 2023, Schneider signed a one-year extension ahead of the 2023–24 season.^[6]

On 29 January 2024, Schneider signed a one-year contract with a one-year option with National Women's Soccer League club Chicago Red Stars for an undisclosed transfer fee.^[7]

International career

Schneider qualified to play for the United States (her birthplace and her mother's), Germany (her biological father's birthplace) or Jamaica (her maternal grandparents' birthplace).^[8]^[9] She turned down the chance to play with the Jamaica U-17 team in 2015 but accepted in 2016 and represented Jamaica at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship.^[10]

At the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Schneider played all three group games for Jamaica. They finished last in their group and did not qualify for the knockout round.^[11]

Schneider was named to the Jamaican squad for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship. In their second group match against Costa Rica, Schneider was named player of the match as she made some key saves, helping Jamaica secure an upset 1–0 victory over the 34th ranked team.^[12]

Schneider was chosen by coach Hue Menzies as the first choice in Jamaica's goal at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. In her debut against Brazil, she saved a penalty kick and had a prominent participation during the match, despite having lost it by 0–3.^[13]

Personal life

Schneider comes from a multicultural family. Her biological father, Ernie, is German; her mother, Andrea, was born in the United States to a Jamaican-born father, and a Jamaican mother;^[8] and her stepfather David is of Greek descent.