Brian Schwake (born August 24, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for CD Castellón in the Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commonly known as Segunda División, and officially known as LaLiga HyperMotion of Spain. He formerly played for Scottish Premiership side Livingston, and had loan spells at Edinburgh City and, latterly, Greenock Morton.

Brian Schwake
Personal information
Full name Brian Schwake
Date of birth (2001-08-24) August 24, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Mount Prospect, IL, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Castellón
Number 30
Youth career
2017–2019 Sockers FC[1]
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 DePaul Blue Demons[2] 0 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Livingston 14 (0)
2020–2021Linlithgow Rose (loan) 23 (2)
2021–2022Edinburgh City (loan)[3] 34 (0)
2022–2023Greenock Morton (loan) 36 (0)
2023– Castellón 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024

Club career

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Livingston FC

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Signed by Livingston after a freshman college season at DePaul Blue Demons in his native United States.[4] Schwake's first months in Scotland were complicated by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent a loan spell with Linlithgow Rose in 2020, featuring in their run in the 2020–21 Scottish Cup,[5][6] and another loan with Edinburgh City in the 2021–22 season.[1][7][8]

Edinburgh City (loan)

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Schwake had a successful 2021–22 season on loan with Edinburgh City. He appeared in 34 league games with 125 saves, second to Craig Gordon for number of saves in the SPFL.[9] He was named to SPFL Team of the Week on August 17, 2021,[10] and again on March 15, 2022.[11] Schwake played a key role in Edinburgh City's promotion to League 1, being named Man of the Match by BBC Alba for his saves in the second leg of the promotion play-off final.[12] Schwake was named to SPFL League 2 Team of the Season for 2021–22.[13]

Greenock Morton (loan)

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On June 16, 2022, Livingston announced that Schwake had been loaned to Greenock Morton for the 2022–23 season. He was named to SPFL Team of the Round on 21 July 2022 [14] and SPFL Team of the Week on 22 November 2022.[15] Schwake is "highly accurate in possession, completing 73% of long passes."[16] He ended the season with the joint most clean sheets at 11 and second for most saves.[17] On 29 May 2023, Livingston announced Brian Schwake had been offered terms for a new contract but he declined, ending his tenure with the team.[18]

CD Castellón

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On 4 August 2023, CD Castellón announced an agreement with Schwake until June 2024.[19] Since moving to Spain, he has been used as a 'cup goalkeeper', appearing only in Copa del Rey matches. Schwake made his debut on 31 October in a 3–2 win after extra time over Cacereño in the first round and another appearance in the second round as Castellón overcame Segunda División side Real Oviedo 2–1 on December 5.[20] In his third Copa del Rey match against La Liga club and the previous season's runners-up Osasuna on 7 January 2024, Schwake made ten saves and was named to Fútbol Total's Team of the Round (Osasuna eventually prevailed 1–0 after extra time).[21] On 1 March 2024, CD Castellón announced they reached an agreement to renew the American goalkeeper until 2025.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Brian Schwake at Soccerway
  2. ^ 2019 Men's Soccer Roster | Brian Schwake, DePaul Blue Demons. Retrieved 5 April 2022
  3. ^ "Edinburgh City bolster squad with loan capture of Brian Schwake from Livingston". Edinburgh Evening News. June 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Schwake Launches Professional Career in Scotland, DePaul Blue Demons, 2 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2022
  5. ^ Linlithgow Rose's American keeper Brian Schwake delighted with Scottish Cup debut, Daily Record, 17 December 2020
  6. ^ Contract Extension for Brian Schwake, Livingston FC, 2 March 2021
  7. ^ Brian Schwake delighted to play key role in Edinburgh City revival after seizing his chance, Edinburgh Evening News, 1 October 2021
  8. ^ Edinburgh City goalkeeper Brian Schwake on how he revelled in the romance of the Cup, Edinburgh Evening News, 27 January 2022
  9. ^ [1], SPFL Stats Centre, 21 May 2022
  10. ^ [2], SPFL Stats Centre, 17 August 2021
  11. ^ [3], SPFL Stats Centre, 15 March 2022
  12. ^ [4], News and Star Cumberland News, 14 May 2022
  13. ^ "Cinch League 2 Team of the Season - 2021/22 | SPFL".
  14. ^ "Team of the Round - Matchday 4 | SPFL".
  15. ^ "Team of the Week | SPFL".
  16. ^ "SSFC Spotlight: Brian Schwake climbing the pyramid in Scotland". www.starsandstripesfc.com. January 5, 2023.
  17. ^ "Stats Centre | SPFL".
  18. ^ "Livingston FC Retained & Released List". May 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Brian Schwake, nuevo fichaje del CD Castellón". CD Castellón, Web Oficial. August 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Brian Schwake". Soccerway.
  21. ^ MEJOR XI de los 1/16 final en la Copa del Rey, Fútbol Total, 8 January 2024
  22. ^ [5]| Brian Schwake renueva hast 2025 | CD Castellón | Web Oficial 1 March 2024