How an FC Dallas sponsor paved the next step for retired goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck

Kyle Zobeck was never sure his professional career would begin. This winter, after nearly a decade as a pro soccer player, he decided it was over.

The former FC Dallas goalkeeper announced his retirement in late December to transition into the corporate world. 

Don't expect Zobeck to stray too far from the soccer field, however. His first job out of the sport is working with MTX Group, a Frisco-based technology firm that is also FC Dallas' jersey sponsor.

Zobeck, typically FCD's third goalkeeper, said he'd been thinking for some time about what he'd do after pro soccer. He started looking into MTX after the jersey partnership was announced, and a friend whose relative worked with the firm suggested he look deeper into the company.

"I just so happened to get some face time with the CEO, Das Nobel, who is a great guy and a very, very big, visionary thinker. That led to some conversations about what they're doing with sports and the rest is kind of history," Zobeck said. 

Zobeck recently finished his MBA and has a mechanical engineering degree from Valparaiso University. He made his MLS debut in 2020, more than eight years after he was drafted. Zobeck had bright moments between those periods, spending 2014-2017 with the New York Cosmos, where he met Pele and played alongside decorated players like Raul and Marcos Senna, and helping North Texas SC to the first-ever USL League One title in 2019.

"Pro soccer was never really a part of the plan. That wasn't a guarantee for me. It wasn't like, 'Oh, I'm gonna go play professional soccer.' It was a dream, but it wasn't something that I was counting on," Zobeck said. "Fortunately, the opportunities came my way. 

"I feel like I was able to do my best and put my best foot forward and I made it last. I'm grateful for that, but I was planning on having a more traditional career in the first place."

Zobeck said he hasn't touched a ball since the end of last season, needing some time away. But he remains in love with the game, and — in addition to one day becoming a ringer in a men's league — will be close to his former job when he begins the new one.

"My role is is kind of a dual role. One is more introductory for me into business, like a business analyst, learning a new skill set in developing as a professional that way," he said. "Then there's also a little bit of a sports component. 

"You've seen...that MTX is aligning with FC Dallas on developing in sports and doing that through creating a few tools. So, the other part of my job would be kind of helping with that, and kind of liaising back and forth between FC Dallas and MTX, growing and facilitating that partnership."

Zobeck has always been a beloved figure around the FCD locker room, with coaches and teammates praising his effort and helpfulness in training despite limited minutes.

Fans began to appreciate him as well with his spell of three starts in September 2020, nicknaming the now 31-year-old "GOATbeck" as he backstopped FCD to a pair of wins and a loss. 

"That's an experience I'll never forget and definitely the the highlight for me," he said. "In my mind, it was one thing to just be around, be playing in MLS on the team and training every day, but it was a whole 'nother thing to step on the field and contribute and help the team win in those 90 minutes."

Those 2020 starts would prove to be his last action in the professional games. He made the bench 11 times in 2021 with Jimmy Maurer missing out at times with an injury but didn't get in.

"I'm proud of every minute. I know I didn't have the standing as a No. 1 goalkeeper. There can only be one of those on a team, right?" said Zobeck, who said he learned how to be a good teammate from his friends who weren't playing when he was starting in college. "I'm not upset with the roles I played. [I'm] very proud of not only making it at this level but proving to be a valuable asset, even if I wasn't playing as many of the game minutes."

Zobeck also is proud to have represented FC Dallas, an organization that not only helped him achieve the dream of being a professional soccer player but also set him on the path to his next step.

"I'm grateful that I was able to start and end my career here in Dallas. The club's been great to me, the people I've met along the way have been great to me. They've supported my decision to kind of step away from the club and take this new role with one of their partners," he said. "It can't be overstated, from my perspective, how special the club and their relationships in the community have been and their relationship with me has been."