Oliver Semmle: Rapids draft pick is set to break records at Louisville City FC

Oliver Semmle has been a revelation for USL Championship side Louisville City FC this season. Drafted from Marshall University by Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft (41st overall), Semmle joined Louisville in February after initially training with the Rapids in the preseason and leads the league with nine clean sheets in 15 starts this season. Transfermarkt caught up with the 25-year-old in Louisville to discuss Semmle’s season thus far and what could potentially come next. 

Semmle’s season becomes even more impressive when one considers that he joined the club with the expectation to challenge established no.1, Kyle Morton. “I don’t know what the plan was,” Semmle said. “When I first arrived, Morton started the season. But then I got my chance and played well.” Head coach Danny Cruz would then give Morton, who won the Golden Glove in the USL Championship last year, but Louisville conceded eight goals in two games. “After that, I got another chance and had two more clean sheets. It was a perfect start.”

Expectations are always high in Louisville. Founded in 2014, Louisville City have won the USL Championship twice and are regarded as one of America’s most ambitious clubs. After a slower-than-usual start, the club based in the Commonwealth of Kentucky currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Although a slow start for Louisville, Semmle’s numbers at Opta underlines that he has played a strong season. The German ranks seventh overall with 12 parried saves and ranks among the top goalkeepers with 106 goalkeeper distributions and 583 touches. His nine clean sheets means he is just one clean sheet away from matching the record for most clean sheets by a rookie set in 2014 by current LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy. McCarthy’s current teammate Maxime Crépeau (in 2018) and San Antonio FC goalkeeper Jordan Farr (in 2022) hold the record with 15 clean sheets in a single season. 

Oliver Semmle: “I like to have the ball on my feet” 

“I would describe myself as a modern goalkeeper,” Semmle said. “That was actually something that they really focused on when I played for Marshall, where I was always involved in the buildup play. That’s one of my strengths, and I like to have the ball on my feet. What I have improved at Louisville is my ability to shot stop; I feel I have made a big step forward in that category here.” 

Turning pro in Louisville has indeed been a transition, and Semmle believes that he can still significantly improve his play. “What I want to improve next is to become more athletic,” Semmle said. “I want to improve my tempo and read the game better. With more experience, you also get more clarity in your game.” And the goalkeeper believes that the USL Championship is a perfect place to take that next step. “It is definitely a lot better than college,” Semmle said. “It is faster and a different style of football. I was developed by Karlsruhe SC, where I also trained with the first team, and I would say it feels similar.”

 

Nominally the second division under Major League Soccer, the USL Championship has indeed made a significant step forward in its development. Louisville themselves have a brand-new stadium and a training facility that would rival that of many big clubs in MLS and the top four leagues in Europe. Louisville also made headlines when they sold talented defender Joshua Wynder to Benfica for a seven-figure transfer fee. In other words, it is a great landing spot for a young goalkeeper looking to break into professional football. 

Oliver Semmle: Colorado Rapids draft pick wants to play at the highest level

But how did the native of Au am Rhein end up in Kentucky? “I was studying and playing for Karlsruhe at the same time, and at some point, I got a bit nervous about my education,” Semmle said. Breaking into the first team in Germany is often a long shot, and with the education sliding, Semmle was looking for alternatives. “The twin brother of a teammate was studying in America, and I was intrigued by that possibility,” Semmle said. In 2018, Semmle moved to Barton College and then transferred to Monroe College in 2019 before joining Marshall University in 2020. 

After three strong seasons with Marshall and earning a bachelor’s and MBA degrees, Semmle was drafted by the Colorado Rapids. “I was training with them in Mexico and was supposed to also train with them in Orlando, but then I was told that I wouldn’t receive a contract,” Semmle said. “The sticking points were that I was too old, had no higher league experience, and would occupy an international spot.” But even before the Rapids drafted him, Semmle and his agent had worked on a backup option. “The assistant coach of Marshall knew one of the assistant coaches at Louisville,” Semmle said. It was through that contact that Semmle got a chance at Louisville, a chance that Semmle quickly capitalized on by securing the starting position at one of the league’s top clubs. 

Indeed, the move to Louisville might open the door for a move to MLS—where the Rapids continue to own his rights—after all. “If there is a chance to play MLS, then I would take the opportunity as every athlete wants to play on the highest level possible,” Semmle said. The German goalkeeper also pointed out that a move to MLS could open the door for an eventual move to Europe. For now, the focus, however, is on the USL Championship and Louisville City, where Semmle is trying to further establish himself as one of the top goalkeepers.