Washington Youth Soccer Alum Chris Sanders Signs With German Bundesliga

FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON (Tuesday, August 28) – Chris Sanders of Federal Way, Washington has signed a professional soccer contract to play for FC Nurnberg of the German Bundesliga. As a new member to the growing list of WSYSA alumni to play in the elite German division, Sanders will relinquish his senior season at the University of Portland for the opportunity to play European professional soccer. Sanders graduated from Portland in the spring of 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Accounting.

Sanders signed a one-year contract including an option year with amounts undisclosed. He is currently playing games with the reserve team and training daily with the first team. Nurnberg won the DFB Pokale Cup in 2007 and is presently headed into the new season.

Sanders attended perennial soccer power, Thomas Jefferson High School, and played club soccer for the Federal Way Bullets before moving on to the University of Portland. Sander’s was the 10th male soccer player from Jefferson to play soccer at Portland but the first to play professionally in Germany. Sander’s career at Portland was highlighted by selections to the WCC All-Conference teams as a freshman and as a junior. He was part of the WCC All-Freshman team and he stands 5th all time at Portland in game winning goals. Notable University of Portland players that have played in Germany include Kasey Keller (Monchengladbach), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Conor Casey (Mainz), Josh Simpson (Kaiserslautern), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern), and Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).

Standing 6’ 3” and weighing 190 pounds, Sanders fits well with German post-up strikers and is looking forward to the challenge of professional soccer. ”I am very excited about the opportunity to play at Nurnberg. It was very important to me to complete my degree before embarking on the next adventure of professional soccer. I look forward to playing in German professional soccer and working towards the highest levels of soccer in the world,” claims Sanders.

Note to WSYSA from the NWN Fusion '88 Girls Team:

Dear Brenda,

...On Behalf of Northwest Nationals, specifically FUSION '88, THANK YOU so much for your continued support since GU-11.  It has been an excellent 8 years.

The listing [below] is one of great pride to us.  The state of Washington is fortunate to have this organization at the helm of the soccer world. 

Best wishes in the future,
Barb Wilson-Hanson

NWN FUSION COLLEGE BOUND   
    Lily Albin: Boston University
    Tess Bartlett: University of Washington
    Marjorie Chelius: Dartmouth
    Kelsey Cline: Swarthmore
    Taylor Cochran: UCLA
    Jill Erickson: University of Nevada, Reno
    Hannah Greig: University of Washington
    Miranda Hanson: Seattle University
    Kate Herren: U.S. Naval Academy
    Raelynne Lee: St. John's University
    Jill Lindsey: Lamar University
    Kalley Mahaffey: Regis University
    Alexandra Navlet: 2008 Graduate
    Jessica Smith: University of Wyoming
    Calista Victor: Colgate University
    Lauren Whatley: Princeton University