Cody Cropper could end up having the smoothest transition among new-arriving players for FC Cincinnati this offseason.
Cropper, 27,was signed as a free-agent goalkeeper by FCC in December and boasts a wealth of experiences in the game, domestically and abroad.
On paper, Cropper looks to good fit for goalkeeping coach Jack Stern's group, which includes likely starter Przemysław Tytoń, Ben Lundt and the young Beckham Sunderland. The Minnesota native should slide in well with that FC Cincinnati wants to accomplish in matches and in training, and has the mentality that he's come to FCC to push everyone around him.
Consider Cropper's experiences.
He started his professional career overseas in 2012 with Southampton FC, which was in the English Premier League at the time. Cropper would go on to make 30 appearances for the club's Under-21 side before moving to MK Dons, where he played nine times in one season.
While in England, Cropper worked alongside the likes Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster and David Watson, the goalkeeping coach for Southampton and the England national team.
"I went there (England) with the dream of playing in the Premier League, playing in the Championship," Cropper said. "Two of the top 10 leagues in the world and unfortunately I had some injury issues and an unfortunate run of events that played out and I came back to the United States."
Cropper played for Houston Dynamo FC last season, although he didn't make an appearance. That was after four seasons with the New England Revolution in which he made 36 appearances including starting 28 games in 2017.
The sum total of those experiences is a career that should allow Cropper to push Tytoń for minutes while also aiding in the development of Lundt and Sunderland.
"It's definitely an opportunity that presents a greater possibility for me and one that I looked at and decided that it was the one that I wanted to go after because there is, in my opinion, a sense that go in and I could potentially play and potentially get consistent minutes again," Cropper told The Enquirer. "I can compete with a goalkeeper that has experience and a good reputation around the league as well as learn from a goalkeeping coach that has great experience and a great reputation around the league, and help the next generation of younger goalkeepers at the club.
"One goalkeeper plays and the other two are learning in order to take that No. 1 jersey. It's an opportunity that presented itself and it's an opportunity that I thought was beneficial to me and my career but I think it will be good for everybody because I want to compete. I want to make everyone around me better."
At least in part, Cropper will be filling the void left by Spencer Richey, who departed FC Cincinnati at the end of the 2020 season.
Part of the reason for Richey's departure was that he wasn't a great fit at goalkeeper for the possession-oriented style the club is seeking to play.
Tytoń and Richey essentially split time in net over the club's first two seasons in Major League Soccer due to injury issues, so Cropper will have to be prepared to step in should those issues persist.
Cropper said his understanding was FCC head coach Jaap Stam was seeking hard-nosed players this offseason, as well as leaders.
Cropper said he believes he has those attributes, and also sees himself as a good fit for the possession-based style.
"I think the style of play is going to be playing out of the back when it's on, when we can and when we feel comfortable doing so," Cropper said. "Obviously, (Stam) brings a very European style of play... I think that is the style of play that he's gonna ask of us and I think that's what he wants and I think I can help to do that. When speaking to him and when speaking to Jack, they both mentioned they'll have an emphasis on position and I can help build from the back."
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