Hassani Dotson Stephenson (born August 6, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.

Dotson is typically a central midfielder but is known for being versatile and has excelled playing at left wing and right back for Minnesota United.[3]

Early career

Dotson attended Oregon State University, where he played college soccer for four years from 2015 to 2018, making 72 appearances, scoring five goals and tallying three assists.[4] In his senior year he was named to the United Soccer Coaches Second Team of the All-Far West Region, made the Second Team of the All-Pac-12 Conference, and received a Pac-12 Conference Academic Honorable Mention.[5]

While in college, Dotson also played in the Premier Development League with Washington Crossfire[6] and Lane United FC.[7]

Club career

On January 11, 2019, Dotson was drafted 31st overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United.[8] He signed with Minnesota on February 16, 2019, made his professional debut on March 2 that year against the Vancouver Whitecaps, and scored his first goal on June 2 against Philadelphia.[9][5]

In June 2021, Dotson signed a three-year contract with Minnesota United.[10]

Dotson tore his ACL in April 2022 and was out until the 2023 season opener in February.[11][12] In 2022 Dotson spent 3 months recovering from his ACL in Oregon where he lived with his in-laws, wife, and daughter who had been born earlier that year.[11]

International career

Dotson was a member of the United States under-23 team in 2019, playing in several friendlies. [13] In 2020, he was named to the United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship, although all games were postponed just before they were to begin in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15] When the qualifiers resumed in March 2021, he was again on the team, starting in the first game.[16]

Personal life

Dotson is married to Croatian Petra Vuckovic, who he met while in college. He proposed to her on the field following a game, a moment widely shared on social media. Together the couple have a daughter Gia.[17][11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played April 6, 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Washington Crossfire 2016[6] USL PDL 6 0 — — — 6 0
Lane United 2017[7] USL PDL 9 0 — — — 9 0
Minnesota United 2019 MLS 24 4 5 0 — — 29 4
2020 MLS 18 1 — — 3[a] 0 21 1
2021 MLS 29 2 — — 1[a] 0 30 2
2022 MLS 7 1 1 0 — — 8 1
2023 MLS 34 3 2 0 — 4[b] 1 40 4
2024 MLS 6 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Total 118 11 8 0 0 0 8 1 134 12
Career total 133 11 8 0 0 0 8 1 149 12
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References

  1. ^ https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/92e7a32f-796e-42b9-af2b-f0d7166d4246/20_MOQ_Rosters_Provisional_Lists.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Hassani Dotson". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Zgoda, Jerry Star (September 29, 2023). "Why Minnesota United's Hassani Dotson is the team's best player of late". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hassani Dotson - Men's Soccer - Oregon State University Athletics". osubeavers.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Hassani Dotson". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Washington Crossfire - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - #80 - Hassani Dotson". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Lane United FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Hassani Dotson -". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  8. ^ "SuperDraft Selection: Hassani Dotson | Minnesota United FC". mnufc.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Chase Gasper & Hassani Dotson Sign With MNUFC | Minnesota United FC". mnufc.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  10. ^ "Dotson Signs Three Year Deal | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  11. ^ a b c Zgoda, Jerry (September 9, 2022). "Minnesota United midfielder Hassani Dotson relishes parenthood as his knee recovers". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Hunt, Stephen (February 25, 2023). "Minnesota United's Hassani Dotson shakes out the cobwebs, returns to pitch after 11-month absence". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "U-23 MNT Notebook: September Olympic qualifying preparation camp in Chula Vista". United States Soccer Federation. September 19, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  14. ^ "CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship Roster". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "CONCACAF postpones 2020 men's Olympic qualifying championship due to COVID-19 outbreak". United States Soccer Federation. March 13, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  16. ^ "USA vs Costa Rica | Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying 2020". US Soccer. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Minnesota United's Hassani Dotson finds right place, right time to ask, 'Will you?'". Star Tribune.
  18. ^ Hassani Dotson at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2021.

External links