Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos have agreed to terms with former German Bundesliga goalkeeper Kristian Nicht for the 2012 USL PRO season. Nicht appeared in 18 Bundesliga matches for Alemannia Aachen during the 2006-2007 season. He has nine years of professional experience playing in Germany and Norway. Rhinos Head Coach Jesse Myers has brought in Nicht to replace last year’s starting goalkeeper Neal Kitson, who left the Rhinos at the conclusion of the January 2012 International Transfer window for Northampton Town F.C. of England's League Two.
“With Kristian’s experience and size I expect him to be a presence in goal.” Rhinos Head Coach Jesse Myers said. “With the number of games Kristian has played in the Bundesliga he will have instant credibility with his teammates.”
Kristan Nicht is a 29-year-old, 6-foot-5 goalkeeper who started his career with the Stuttgart Kickers in the Regionalliga Sud during the 2002-2003 season. He made 30 appearances for a club that finished 15th in the division. In his only year with the Kickers they were the runners-up in the Wurttemberg Cup, a regional cup competition.
The following year Nicht moved to 1.FC Nuremberg where he was a back-up keeper on a club that won the 2.Bundesliga and won promotion to the Bundesliga.
Nicht established himself in his three-year stint with Alemannia Aachen from 2004-2007. Nicht made 60 appearances for the club and led the team to promotion from the 2.Bundesliga at the conclusion of the 2005-2006 season. The next season he made 18 appearances in the Bundesliga, the German top flight. Despite a valiant effort from the newly promoted team, Alemannia Aachen finished 17th and was relegated after the 2006-2007 season.
“I am very happy to become a Rhino.” Nicht said. “I am looking forward to bringing my experience to the team while learning from the team at the same time. I am willing to help out the team in any way that I can.”
After Alemannia Aachen was relegated from the Bundesliga, Nicht left the club and joined Viking FK in the Norwegian First Division. Viking FK finished 10th in the First Division and Nicht made 20 appearances for the club. Nicht returned to the 2.Bundesliga from 2009-2011 with Karlsruhe SC. He made 14 appearances for the club. Karlsruhe finished 10th in the Bundesliga 2 in 2010 and 15th in in 2011.
In all, Nicht has played in 18 Bundesliga matches and 56 2.Bundesliga matches. He has also participated in 20 matches in the Norwegian First Division and one Europa League Qualifier.