January 17, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release
Phoenix Rising FC has signed goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky, pending league and federation approval, the club announced today.
“Patrick is a veteran goalkeeper that knows this league very well,” said Rising head coach Juan Guerra. “He has excelled at this level in the past and knows what it takes to win. He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, which fits our style of play very well. He’s going to provide us with a lot of leadership and character. He’ll be an asset on the field and in the locker room for us.”
Rakovsky, who turns 30 in June of this year, made his professional debut in his home country of Germany as an 18-year-old in 2011 for then Bundesliga side Nürnberg. His debut came in front of 80,000 Borussia Dortmund fans.
“I came from Schalke to Nürnberg, planning on being the third goalkeeper, but was able to win the battle for the second spot,” said Rakovsky. “The starter was injured in training prior to the third game, so I got the start in Dortmund having come from Schalke, BvB’s biggest rival. At that time, Manuel Neuer had just left Schalke, so the fans there were rooting for me to be the next guy. The fan base was behind me. A few thousand Schalke fans even came out to support me. It was amazing.”
Rakovsky played one more match in the Bundesliga and 14 more in the Regionalliga Bayren with Nürnberg II that season. He remained with Nürnberg through 2017, appearing in a total of 94 matches between the Bundesliga (8), 2. Bundesliga (31) and Regionalliga (55) in the next five years.
Rakovsky transferred to Lierse in Belgium for the 2017-18 season, making 25 appearances. He then spent the 2019-20 seasons with Lahti of the Finnish Premier League. Rakovsky made 34 appearances before transferring to USL Championship side Orange County SC in 2021. Rakovsky has appeared in 55 matches for Orange County in the last two years, stopping 153 of 226 shots faced, earning 13 shutouts and claiming a league title in 2021.
“Phoenix is one of the top teams in the USL, certainly in the West,” said Rakovsky. “The fans are passionate. The atmosphere is great. When I was here with Orange County we would always say ‘this is the best field we’re going to play on all year.’ On top of that for me was having a lot of friends and family in the stands. My wife is from Scottsdale, and I had over 100 friends and family in attendance each time we played here. Unfortunately for…