Imagine getting drafted by an MLS club, only for your league debut to come ... eight years later!
When FC Dallas goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck leaped off the bench and into action for the injured Jimmy Maurer shortly before halftime of the 1-1 Week 9 draw between FCD and Sporting Kansas City, he set a new mark as the oldest debutant among players selected in MLS drafts, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Setting aside the founding players of the league who were older than Zobeck when they played in the league's inaugural 1996 season, the Coralville, Iowa native stands alone at age 30 years and 209 days as the oldest debutant among players taken in college and supplemental drafts over the years.
His first MLS game came in the eighth season following his selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, where he was taken 64th overall by FC Dallas. According to Elias, the previous record holder was former New York Red Bulls defender Leo Krupnik, who was 30 years, 10 days old when he made his debut in 2009, also eight seasons following his selection in the 2002 SuperDraft.
As if that weren't enough, Zobeck also became just the third Iowa-born player to play an MLS game. And although he gave up a game-leveling goal to Khiry Shelton just before halftime, he made a few key interventions late to make sure Dallas preserved a point.
Zobeck was drafted by FC Dallas in 2013 after five years at Valparaiso, but he was released at the end of that 2013 season without making an appearance. After several years with the New York Cosmos, where he also served as backup to Maurer, he re-signed with FC Dallas in 2018, finally making his MLS debut in 2020. He previously featured for FCD's League One side North Texas SC.
FC Dallas resume play on Wednesday when they visit Minnesota United (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US and DAZN in Canada).
Watch: Zobeck saves vs. Sporting KC
