Sporting Kansas City singed center back Chris Rindov ahead of the 2023 season after selecting the defender in the Second Round (37th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. Rindov became Sporting’s first MLS SuperDraft selection to sign for the first team since 2018. Rindov made his MLS debut as a late substitute on April 22, 2023 at New England.
Rindov was a defensive mainstay for perennial powerhouse Maryland, starting in each of the program’s 38 matches over his final two seasons and finishing his college career with four goals and five assists in 58 appearances. Rising from freshman walk-on to team captain as a senior, he had a banner year in 2022 as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree and an MLS College Showcase participant. Rindov played every minute in all 20 matches for the Terrapins in 2022, pushing Maryland to the Big Ten regular season title with an unbeaten 4-0-4 conference record. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Rindov guided the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the fall of 2022.
Rindov won four consecutive state championships at Rockville High School. He also played for youth club OBGC, where he competed at two national championships and won an Eastern Regional title in 2018.
PROFESSIONAL
2023: Made two appearances for the Sporting KC first team while spending the majority of the year with SKC II. MLS Regular Season: Made his professional debut as an 86th-minute substitute in the 2-1 loss at New England on April 22. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature. Open Cup: Made one start, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 elimination against Houston in the Round of 32. Leagues Cup: Did not feature. MLS NEXT Pro: Started 19 of 23 appearances for Sporting KC II, helping the team reach the MLS NEXT Pro postseason for the first time. SKC II went 8-6-5 in Rindov's 19 starts.
COLLEGE
Rindov was a defensive mainstay for perennial powerhouse Maryland, starting in each of the program’s 38 matches over his final two seasons and finishing his college career with four goals and five assists in 58 appearances. Rising from freshman walk-on to team captain as a senior, he had a banner year last fall as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree and an MLS College Showcase participant.
Rindov played every minute in all 20 matches for the Terrapins in 2022, pushing Maryland to the Big Ten regular season title with an unbeaten 4-0-4 conference record. The 6-foot-2 defender scored goals in early-season wins over Virginia and Michigan and helped his team post five shutouts, including a 1-0 victory over Michigan State in which Rindov also tallied an assist.
A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Rindov guided the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last November, highlighted by a first-round triumph over Fairleigh Dickinson.
Rindov logged nine appearances for Maryland as a freshman in 2019 and started nine of 10 matches the following year. His breakout junior campaign was punctuated by eight shutouts, with Rindov playing in all but four minutes throughout the 2021 season. He added two goals and two assists as the Terrapins finished with a 12-4-2 record.
YOUTH
Rindov won four consecutive state championships with his club team OBGC in Maryland, where he also competed at two national championships and won an Eastern Regional title in 2018.
