Alex Crognale

Alex Crognale

Crognale in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Alexander Crognale
Date of birth	(1994-08-27) August 27, 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	San Antonio FC
Youth career
2010–2013	Columbus Crew SC
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2016	Maryland Terrapins	73	(11)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Columbus Crew SC	34	(1)
2018	→ Orange County SC (loan)	23	(4)
2019	→ Indy Eleven (loan)	6	(0)
2020–2024	Birmingham Legion	135	(11)
2025–	San Antonio FC	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 30, 2024

Alex Crognale (born August 27, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship club San Antonio FC.

Career

Youth and college

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Crognale is a product of the youth academy of Columbus Crew SC, before playing four years of college soccer at the University of Maryland between 2013 and 2016. In 2016, Crognale captained the Terrapins to a third straight Big Ten tourney title, and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the First-Team All-American in 2016[1]

Columbus Crew SC

On December 13, 2016, it was announced that Crognale had signed a homegrown contract with Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer.[2]

He made his professional debut on March 18, 2017, against D.C. United.[3]

Orange County SC

On March 15, 2018, Crognale joined Orange County SC on loan from Columbus Crew SC on a game-by-game basis.[4] He made his debut on March 17, 2018, in a 1–1 draw against Phoenix Rising FC, coming on as a substitute and scoring the equalizing goal in the 90th minute.[5]

Indy Eleven

On March 15, 2019, Crognale joined Indy Eleven on loan from Columbus Crew SC.[6]

Birmingham Legion

On December 23, 2019, Crognale signed a multi-year contract with Birmingham Legion FC.[7] On October 21, 2020, Crognale was named Legion FC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2020 season. Crognale led the team in minutes, clearances and blocks, and started every match of the season for Birmingham in 2020.[8] A portion of Crognale's salary was paid in Bitcoin.[9] Crognale left Birmingham following their 2024 season.[10]

San Antonio FC

Crognale joined San Antonio FC on December 30, 2024.[11]

Personal life

Crognale was born in the United States, and is of Italian descent.[12]

Alex is the brother of fellow professional soccer player Eli Crognale,[13] who also played for Birmingham Legion.

Career statistics

As of 10 June 2022[14][15]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Columbus Crew SC	2017	MLS	17	0	0	0	1	0	–		18	0
	2018		5	1	0	0	1	0	–		6	1
	2019		12	0	–		2	0	–		14	0
	Total		34	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	38	1
Orange County SC (loan)	2018	USL	23	4	3	0	0	0	–		26	4
Indy Eleven (loan)	2019	USL Championship	6	0	0	0	0	0	–		6	0
Birmingham Legion	2020	USL Championship	16	3	1	0	0	0	–		17	3
	2021	USL Championship	26	2	1	0	0	0	–		27	2
	2022	USL Championship	12	0	0	0	2	0	–		14	0
	Total		54	5	2	0	2	0	0	0	58	5
Total			117	10	5	0	6	0	0	0	128	10

References

1. "Alex Crognale". University of Maryland. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
2. Tom Reed (December 13, 2016). "MLS Crew SC to sign Gahanna's Alex Crognale to homegrown contract". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
3. Simon Borg (March 16, 2017). "D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew SC 2017 MLS Match Preview". MLS. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
4. "Crognale loaned to Orange County SC". columbuscrewsc.com. MLS. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
5. "Orange County SC vs Phoenix Rising FC". uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
6. "Indy Eleven Acquire Columbus Crew SC Defender Alex Crognale on Loan". Indy Eleven. March 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
7. "Legion FC Signs Defender Alex Crognale". bhmlegion.com. December 23, 2019.
8. "Alex Crognale Named Legion FC Defensive Player of the Year". bhmlegion.com. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
9. Hoffman, Nikolaus. "First USL Pro Soccer Player Gets Paid In Bitcoin". BitcoinMagazine.com. Bitcoin Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
10. USLChampionship com Staff (December 3, 2024). "Birmingham Legion announces initial roster moves for 2025 season". USL Championship.
11. "SAN ANTONIO FC SIGNS DEFENDER ALEX CROGNALE". SanAntonioFC.com. San Antonio FC. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
12. Erickson, Andrew. "Crew SC | Alex Crognale learns from rigors of rookie season". The Columbus Dispatch.
13. "Eli Crognale, the youngest in a soccer-filled family, has made his own name at Maryland". 3 November 2019.
14. Alex Crognale at Soccerway
15. Alex Crognale at Major League Soccer

External links

• Alex Crognale at Major League Soccer
• Alex Crognale at Soccerway