Jassem Koleilat

Jassem Koleilat

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-07-30) July 30, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Prague, Czech Republic
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Forge FC
Number	16
Youth career
2016–2018	Stade Lavallois
2018	AC Sparta Prague
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019	Iowa Western Reivers	18	(0)
2021–2022	New Hampshire Wildcats	41	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Stade Lavallois II	5	(0)
2022	Seacoast United Phantoms	10	(0)
2023	Los Angeles FC 2	7	(0)
2024–	Forge FC	14	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2024

Jassem Koleilat (Arabic: جاسم قليلات; born July 30, 1999) is a Czech footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Forge FC.

Early life

Koleilat was born in Prague, Czech Republic and moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates when he was two months old.[1] In Dubai, he trained with the Ultimate Goalkeeper Academy.[2] In June 2016, he joined the youth system of French club Stade Lavallois.[3] In 2018, he joined the youth system of Czech club AC Sparta Prague.[4]

College career

In 2019, he began attending Iowa Western Community College, where he played for the men's soccer team in the NJCAA.[5] At the end of the season, he earned Second Team Academic honours and also earned Second Team All-Region honours.[6][7]

In 2021, he transferred to the University of New Hampshire to play for the men's soccer team in the NCAA.[8] On August 26, 2021, he made his NCAA debut in a shutout victory over the Boston University Terriers.[9] In September 2021, he was named the school's Student-Athlete of the Week.[10] In November 2021, he was named the America East Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[11] At the end of his first season with New Hampshire, he was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and the All-Northeast Region First Team.[12] Ahead of the 2022 season, he was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.[13] In October 2022, he was again named the America East Defensive Player of the Week.[14] At the end of the 2022 season, he was again named to the All-Northeast Region First Team and the All-America East Second Team.[15] He was also awarded the team's Most Dedicated Player Award.[16]

Club career

In 2017, he began playing with Stade Lavallois II at the senior level in the Championnat National 3.

In 2022, he played with the Seacoast United Phantoms in USL League Two.[17]

At the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, Koleilat was selected in the second round (58th overall) by Los Angeles FC.[18] For the 2023 season, he signed with the second team, Los Angeles FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[19]

In February 2024, he joined Canadian Premier League club Forge FC on a short-term deal ahead of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.[20] He had previously trained with the club prior to his senior year in college in 2022.[21] Koleilat later signed a multi-year deal with Forge in March.[22][23] He made his club debut on May 11, recording a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw in a league match against Pacific FC.[24] He was part of a two keeper tandem with Forge, splitting starts with Christopher Kalongo.[25][26] After the 2024 season, the club picked up his option for the 2025 season.[27][28]

Personal life

Koleilat is of Czech descent through his father and Lebanese and Canadian descent through his mother.[29]

Career statistics

As of November 9, 2024[30]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Domestic Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stade Lavallois II	2017–18	Championnat National 3	5	0	—		—		—		5	0
Seacoast United Phantoms	2022[17]	USL League Two	10	0	2	0	—		—		12	0
Los Angeles FC 2	2023	MLS Next Pro	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
Forge FC	2024	Canadian Premier League	14	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	18	0
Career total			36	0	5	0	1	0	0	0	42	0

References

1. Radley, Paul (June 4, 2016). "Dubai-based teen Jassem Koleilat 'didn't like goalkeeping', now signed as one in France". The National.
2. "جاسم قليلات من أكاديمية لتدريب الحراس إلى الدوري الفرنسي" [Jassim Koleilat from the goalkeeper training academy to the French League]. Emirates Voice (in Arabic). June 9, 2016.
3. "Dubai schoolboy Jassem Koleilat, signed by Ligue 2 club, flashes skills – in pictures". The National. June 4, 2016.
4. Dilan López, Jonathan (22 December 2022). "¿Quiénes son Jassem Koleilat y Noah Dollenmayer, elegidos por LAFC en el MLS SuperDraft 2023?" [Who are Jassem Koleilat and Noah Dollenmayer, chosen by LAFC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft?]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
5. "Jassem Koleilat Iowa Western profile". Iowa Western Community College.
6. "Reivers Earn Fall Academic Honors". Iowa Western Community College. December 31, 2019.
7. "Jassem Koleilat New Hampshire profile". New Hampshire Wildcats.
8. "Men's Soccer Adds Three To Roster". New Hampshire Wildcats. January 13, 2021.
9. "#20 Wildcats Start Season with 2-0 Win at Boston University". New Hampshire Wildcats. August 26, 2021.
10. "Service Credit Union Student-Athletes of the Week: Jill Walker & Jassem Koleilat". New Hampshire Wildcats. September 14, 2021.
11. "Jassem Koleilat Named America East Defensive Player of the Week". New Hampshire Wildcats. November 3, 2021.
12. "Five Wildcats Earn First Team All-Northeast Region Honors". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 8, 2021.
13. "Four Wildcats Named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List". New Hampshire Wildcats. August 25, 2022.
14. "Jassem Koleilat Named America East Defensive Player of the Week". New Hampshire Wildcats. October 24, 2022.
15. "Three Wildcats Selected in MLS SuperDraft; Moise Bombito Picked Third Overall". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 21, 2022.
16. "Men's Soccer Announces Team Awards". New Hampshire Wildcats. May 11, 2023.
17. "Jassem Koleilat 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
18. "LAFC Selects Two Players In The MLS SuperDraft 2023 Presented By Adidas". Los Angeles FC. December 21, 2022.
19. "LAFC2 Announces Coaching Staff And Roster For Inaugural Season". Los Angeles FC. March 24, 2023.
20. Jacques, John (February 7, 2024). "Forge Makes Last-Minute Roster Additions Ahead Of Chivas Match". Northern Tribune.
21. Jacques, John (April 7, 2024). "Koleilat Ready To Give His Best For Forge: 'They Won't Settle For Anything Less'". Northern Tribune.
22. Jacques, John (March 22, 2024). "Forge Signs Former LAFC2 Goalkeeper Kolielat On Multi-Year Deal". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
23. "Forge FC sign Canadian goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat". Forge FC. March 22, 2024.
24. Rhodes, Benedict (May 11, 2024). "Highlights: Pacific FC 0-0 Forge FC — CPL Match #18". Canadian Premier League.
25. Hundert, Ethan (September 11, 2024). "Kalongo and Koleilat: Forge FC's Ultimate Goalkeeping Tandem". Forge FC.
26. Rhodes, Benedict (September 25, 2024). "'The winning culture is definitely engraved here': Jassem Koleilat, Forge high on confidence as they chase CPL double". Canadian Premier League.
27. "Forge FC Exercises Option on Goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat for 2025 Season". Forge FC. December 27, 2024.
28. Jacques, John (December 27, 2024). "Forge Triggers Koleilat Option For 2025". Northern Tribune.
29. Joch, David (February 2, 2023). "Koleilat, Kabongo a další! 5 (ne)českých talentů, které neznáte" [Koleilat, Kabongo and more! 5 (non)Czech talents you don't know]. Žongl (in Czech).
30. Jassem Koleilat at Soccerway

External links

• Jassem Koleilat at Soccerway