Life happened fast for Matthew Hoppe. At 18-years-old, he turned down Division I college soccer to join German giants Schalke, who despite being in the top-flight that year, were on a dramatic path of remarkable destruction.
So naturally, that meant he would play. A year after playing with the second team, Schalke decided to give the teenage forward some Bundesliga minutes. And well, you probably remember what happened next.
On Jan. 9, 2021, bottom-of-the-table Schalke got their first win of the season behind a HAT TRICK FROM 19-YEARS-OLD MATTHEW HOPPE.
At that age, that put him in the rare (statistical) company of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland for the youngest players to ever score a non-penalty hat trick. Even though Schalke were relegated later that year, it’s safe to presume that his appearances in the Bundesliga garnered him an extended look with the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 2021 Gold Cup.
During that year’s tournament of Teams B’s and C’s, head coach Gregg Berhalter deployed Hoppe as a winger. If there was ever such a thing, the U.S. then made it a thing, and limped to the title. The then 20-year-old parlayed all of that sheen to ditch Schalke in favor of the Spanish first division, signing with Mallorca for the 2021-2022 season.
He would only make seven appearances for them. That same year, cruelly enough, Schalke earned promotion back to the Bundesliga. Had he stayed, that campaign in 2. Bundesliga probably would have done him much better.
After being forgotten at Mallorca, Hoppe landed a multiyear deal with English Championship side Middlesbrough in 2022. Again, for whatever reason, he wasn’t able to make an impression and only made six appearances for them before going on loan to Scottish side, and Logan Roy’s actual favorite team, Hibernian, by the new year.
Now, nearly eight months later, he’s accepted a move back to the United States, joining the San Jose Earthquakes on a 12-months loan, the team announced on the secondary transfer deadline day.
“Matthew is an exciting, young player who has already gotten a lot of experience in a number of different leagues,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch, who also said the week prior, when they acquired another young forward (Ayo Akinola), that the team would be practical and shrewd with improvements.
Unlike Akinola, and the profile of players Leitch’s front office has sought out, Hoppe has never played in MLS. His last run of semi-consistent soccer was that 2021 year with Schalke.
He’ll occupy another U22 roster spot. At 6-foot-3, he’s a physical presence who looks best running into space. Quakes coach Luchi Gonzalez can only hope that a move closer to home (Hoppe is from Yorba Linda, CA) along with likely guaranteed playing time will revive the 22 year-old’s scoring touch.
And in a way it’s come full circle for Hoppe. There are goals to be had on this Earthquakes team which has become increasingly reliant on the brilliance of one player, Cristian Espinoza. Starting striker Jeremy Ebobisse has not scored a goal in eight games, nearly two months. It’s even worse for young starlet Cade Cowell, who hasn’t scored for the club since October.
So here he is, somewhere he’s supposedly wanted. No longer the bright-eyed teenager, but now a young man who’s tasted the bitter ups and downs of soccer and life. It’ll be up to him to make the most of his chances. The Quakes are sure hoping so.
Other notable transactions across the league:
*The Vancouver Whitecaps might be the new national team haven. They brought in two Canadian international fullbacks: Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe.
*Former MLS golden boot winner Diego Rossi returned to MLS, this time with the Columbus Crew, effectively replacing star playmaker Lucas Zelarayan, who left for Saudi Arabia.
*Greg Vanney and the LA Galaxy wiggled around their transfer ban by bringing in intra-league players Diego Fagundez, Michael Barrios and Edwin Cerrillo. The loophole also meant they could sign free agent, Japan international legend, Maya Yoshida.
*Atlanta United brought in up to three new starters from Europe: Georgian DP Saba Lobzhanidze from Turkey; and forwards Xande Silva and Jamal Thiare from France.
*Former Quakes midfielder Jan Gregus rejoined Minnesota United.
*D.C. United added Panama national team defender Eric Davis, who had a good showing during the 2023 World Cup. Another Panamanian, 29-year-old Jose Fajardo is joining him.
*LAFC’s Jose Cifuentes made his move to Europe, signing with Rangers FC.
*Longtime Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi is joining FC Dallas.
*After unloading Ayo Akinola, Toronto FC used their international roster spot on South African forward Cassius Mailula. Sitting near the bottom of the table, they’ve unloaded a slate of talented players including Mark-Anthony Kaye, Matt Hedges and Richie Laryea.
About the Author:Kevin V. Nguyen has covered soccer for The Guardian, The Sacramento Bee, and The San Francisco Standard. Follow him on Twitter @KevinNguyen_89
