Robert Voloder arrived in Kansas City in a transfer from NK Maribor in the Slovenian first division ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Voloder had played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse Maribor during the 2021-22 season before making the move to MLS.
Prior to joining Maribor, Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 before being selected to Cologne’s first team squad for three German Bundesliga matches at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
On the youth international stage, Voloder represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019 before switching his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
PROFESSIONAL
2023: Made 16 appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying one assist. MLS Regular Season: Started 11 of 14 appearances, earning the majority of his minutes in the first half of the season. Tallied an assist in the 4-1 home victory over Austin FC on June 10. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature. Open Cup: Started one of two appearances, including an 81-minute outing at left back in the 3-0 win over Tulsa Athletic in the Third Round. Leagues Cup: Did not feature. MLS NEXT Pro: Made seven appearances, scoring one goal in the season finale against St. Louis 2 on Sept. 24.
2022: Acquired by Sporting on Jan. 19, 2022. MLS Regular Season: Started seven of 12 appearances and scored one goal (716 minutes played). Debuted for the club on April 17, coming on as a second half substitute on the road at LAFC. Opened his Sporting KC scoring account on Sept. 13 in a 3-0 demolition of D.C. United at home. Earned Team of the Week honors for his performance against D.C. (week 31). Open Cup: Appeared in two of Sporting's Open Cup matches (42 minutes played). Came on as a substitute in the 100th minute of the team's 4-2 comeback win over FC Dallas in the Round of 32.
NK Maribor (2021):
Played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse NK Maribor before guiding the team to the top of the table through 20 matches. In addition to scoring two goals and helping Maribor post 10 shutouts in league play, he started four qualifying matches in the inaugural 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League last summer.
FC Cologne II (2020):
Featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances and contributing to six shutouts as the side earned a fifth-place finish in the 21-team German Regionalliga West.
INTERNATIONAL
Represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019. He was a staple for the Bosnians in their 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign, starting in all six qualifiers and all three group-stage matches of the competition.
Switched his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
YOUTH
A native of Frankfurt, he spent time in youth academies at Eintracht Frankfurt (2008-10), FSV Frankfurt (2010-14, 2015-16) and SG Rosenhohe Offenbach (2014-15) before moving to FC Cologne. Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 and captained the U-19s during the 2019-20 season, scoring five goals from central defense in 18 appearances.
