Emanuel Pogatetz

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014 (Columbus): In his first season with Columbus, Pogatetz made two appearances -- both substitute appearances -- on the backline. He was signed by the Black & Gold as a Discovery Signing on September 9. He made his first appearance as a second-half substitute at Philadelphia (October 11). Pogatetz came on to replace Michael Parkhurst at halftime of the club’s win at New York (October 19) He was an unused substitute in both the Black & Gold’s postseason opener versus New England (November 1) and in the second leg at the Revolution (November 9).

2013-2014 (1. FC Nürnberg): Pogatetz moved to 1. FC Nürnberg after his loan for West Ham United expired, making 23 appearances for his third Bundesliga club, scoring his second career German goal against SC Freiburg (March 29, 2014). He added an additional appearance in the 2013-2014 DFB-Pokal in the First Round against SV Sandhausen, playing 120 minutes in a penalty shootout defeat.

2012-2013 (VfL Wolfsburg/West Ham United): Pogatetz moved within the Bundesliga to rival VfL Wolfsburg for the 2012-2013 season, making his debut for the fellow Lower Saxony-based club on August 25, 2012 versus VfB Stuttgart. He made eight league appearances for Die Wölfe and one additional appearance in the DFB-Pokal before returning to the Barclays Premier League on loan with West Ham United on January 28, 2003. The defender made six appearances for the Hammers during his brief spell in East London.

2011-2012 (Hannover 96): In his second season in Hannover, he made 29 league appearances and scoring his first career Bundesliga goal on October 29, 2011 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The defender made an additional 12 appearances in the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League, helping Die Roten edge Sevilla in the play-off round before advancing out of the Group Stage and making it to the Quarterfinals, where the club fell to Atletico Madrid. Pogatetz also added two appearances in the 2011-12 DFB-Pokal, which saw Hannover fall in the Second Round to 1. FSV Mainz 05 after defeating FC Anker Wismar. In the Bundesliga, Hannover finished seventh and qualified for the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

2010-2011 (Hannover 96): Pogatetz moved to the Bundesliga on June 2, 2010, signing for Hannover 96. Pogatetz made his German topflight debut on August 21, 2010 against Eintracht Frankfurt. All told, the defender made 28 League appearances and added an additional appearance in the DFB-Pokal, a 120-minute clash that Hannover lost on penalties to SV Elversberg. Hannover finished fourth in the Bundesliga table and earned direct qualification to the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League play-off round.

2009-2010 (Middlesbrough): After fighting through injuries, Pogatetz made his Championship debut on October 31, 2009 against Plymouth Argyle. The defender missed another month through injury and made just 13 appearances during the season.

2008-2009 (Middlesbrough): Pogatetz became full-time captain of Middlesbrough after wearing the armband on a part-time basis at the end of the previous season. He made 27 league appearances for Boro and four additional appearances in the FA Cup, his first appearances in that tournament. He notched his fourth career Premier League goal on November 22, 2008 against Bolton Wanderers. Boro finished 19th in the League table and were relegated to the Championship.

2007-2008 (Middlesbrough): Pogatetz made 24 league appearances for Middlesbrough, making his season debut on November 11, 2007 against Bolton Wanderers. Helped the club finish 13th and again remain in the Premier League for the following season.

2006-2007 (Middlesbrough): After returning from his injury, he played in Middlesbrough's Premier League opening match against Reading on August 19, 2006. Pogatetz made 35 appearances in the Premier League in 2006-2007, scoring two goals, with the first coming in the club's second league match on August 23, 2006 against Chelsea and the second coming on April 28, 2007 against Tottenham Hotspur. The defender helped Middlesbrough improve on its 14th-place finish as the club ended the season 12th in the Premier League.

2005-2006 (Middlesbrough): Pogatetz made his debut for Middlesbrough in the Premier League on August 25, 2005 against Charlton Athletic. He made 25 league appearances over the course of his first season in England, scoring his first Premier League goal on January 1, 2006 against Sunderland. Pogatetz suffered a broken nose, jaw and cheekbone on March 30, 2006 in a UEFA Cup match that ended his season early, but Middlesbrough finished 14th to clinch safety for next season. Boro finished the tournament as runners-up to Sevilla.

2004-2005 (Grazer AK/Spartak Moscow/Middlesbrough): The defender was loaned by Grazer AK to Spartak Moscow on March 8, 2005, making 11 appearances for the side that finished runner-up in the Russian Premier League. Pogatetz returned to Leverkusen following the expiry of his loan during the middle of the Russian Premier League season and was transferred to English club Middlesbrough permanently on July 1, 2005.

2003-2004 (Grazer AK): Pogatetz was loaned again by Bayer Levekusen to Grazer AK in Austria on July 1, 2003, making 53 appearances over one-and-a-half seasons with the club.

2002-2003 (FC Aarau): During the 2002-2003 season, Pogatetz was on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with Swiss club FC Aarau, making 21 appearances and scoring his first professional goal. He returned to Leverkusen following the expiry of his loan on June 30, 2003.

2001-2002 (Bayer Leverkusen II): Pogatetz moved to Bayer Leverkusen on July 1, 2001 and played 26 matches for the German club's reserves that season.

2000-2001 (FC Kärnten): Pogatetz began his senior career with Austrian side FC Kärnten, making 33 appearances for the First League side that won the title and promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE (AUSTRIA)

Pogatetz has made 61 appearances for Austria over his career. His debut in a National Team shirt came on May 18, 2002 against Germany. He featured on the Austrian side that served as co-host for the 2008 UEFA European Championships, playing all three group stage matches. Pogatetz has also played in 22 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, including in nine of 10 of Austria's qualifiers leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He has scored two international goals all-time, with the first coming in qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Championships against the Netherlands, and the second coming in a 2008 international friendly against Italy.

ACQUIRED

Pogatetz was signed as a Discovery Signing on September 9, 2014

Name: Emanuel Pogatetz
Pronunciation: Ee-MAN-yoo-el POH-gah-tetz
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3"
Weight: 198
Born: January 16, 1983 in Graz, Austria
Hometown: Graz, Austria
Citizenship: Austria
Acquired: Signed as a Discovery Signing on September 9, 2014
Previous Experience: 1. FC Nürnberg (2013-2014), West Ham United (2013), VfL Wolfsburg (2012-2013), Hannover 96 (2010-2012), Middlesbrough (2005-2010), Spartak Moscow (2005), Grazer AK (2003-2004), FC Aarau (2002-2003), Bayer Leverkusen II (2001-2002), FC Kärnten (2000-2001)

PERSONAL

Pogatetz is married to his wife, Katharina. He enjoys reading books, watching television and spending time with his wife. The Austrian listens to everything from rock to R&B to classical music, depending on his mood. He is a fan of Quentin Tarantino’s movies; he lists “Pulp Fiction” as well as David Fincher’s “Fight Club” as two of his favorites. He enjoys visiting the North Market in his free time. Growing up, Pogatetz was a fan of his hometown team and Austrian Bundesliga side, SK Sturm Graz, but his childhood hero was Tony Adams of Barclays Premier League club Arsenal. His favorite career memory is the first goal he scored for Middlesbrough against Sunderland during the 2005-06 campaign, which marked his first goal in the Barclays Premier League. If he were not a soccer player, Pogatetz would like to be a soccer coach.