Hounds announce another veteran addition to roster with signing of Josh Gatt

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced another veteran signing:  Josh Gatt who’s been inked to a one-year contract with a club option for 2022, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

For the second time this week that the Hounds have added a player with both experience in Major League Soccer and playing overseas in Europe.

Gatt, 29, is a speedy attacker who brings experience from the highest levels, having competed in both UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches and representing the United States in international play (two caps in 2012 & 2013) during his career.

“Josh is an exciting player that has good instincts in front of goal and is a consistent threat to get behind defenses,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “He can play multiple attacking positions and is also very capable of forcing mistakes by opposing defenders with his pressure. We are looking forward to having his experience and tenacity here in Pittsburgh for the 2021 USL season.”

A native of the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Mich., Gatt elected to forego a college career at Indiana University and signed professionally with Austrian club Rheindorf Altach in 2010. Gatt made an immediate impact with six goals in 18 matches in all competitions in his first pro season, which helped him land a move to Molde, one of Norway’s top clubs.

As one of the first signings at Molde by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, now the head man at Manchester United, Gatt featured heavily in his first two seasons with the club. He scored five goals in 27 appearances his first season, as Molde won the Tippeligaen in 2011 for its first domestic league title, and Gatt matched that output — five goals in 27 appearances — the next season.

Gatt also earned two caps representing the United States during his time at Molde, as he appeared for the U.S. in two friendlies — a 2-2 draw against Russia on November 14, 2012, and in a 0-0 draw with Canada on January 29, 2013.

A severe knee injury in 2013 that required three surgeries limited Gatt to one appearance in 2014-15, but he worked his way back into first-team action with a goal in six matches in 2016. He then left Molde to sign in MLS with Minnesota United, but he was traded before the Colorado Rapids season, where he scored twice in 20 appearances during the 2017 MLS season.

Josh Gatt gets what I believe is his first MLS goal! Congrats Josh! 1-0 #COLvRSL #rapids96 #rsl pic.twitter.com/UoxO4ITg4p

— GolazoJuice (@GolazoJuice) October 15, 2017

Despite various challenges, including his knee injuries and his wife’s health issues that almost caused him to end his career, Gatt spent 2018-19 back in Austria with Rheindorf Altach, and most recently, he spent four months under contract with Dundalk in the League of Ireland Premier Division, making two appearances.

The Hounds currently have 12 players announced as being under contract for the 2021 USL Championship season, which is anticipated to begin in late April or early May.

What we know about USL Championship and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2021 season

Josh Gatt Signing Takeaways

When asked earlier in the week about the type of players he’s looking for to add to the the 2021 Riverhounds roster, Bob Lilley quipped, “The best players available!”

Gatt has significant pedigree as a pro player, but it will be interesting to see how he will fit and complement the other forwards and attacking players like Albert Dikwa, Russell Cicerone, Anthony Velarde and Alex Dixon.  It’s clear that Lilley is seeking players who can fit into his high pressing system with constant and intelligent movement — and more explosiveness. Gatt appears to be a player who fits that bill.

The only concern for Riverhounds fans would be Gatt’s health and time away from playing regularly, as he was with Irish club Dudalk FC in 2020 where his debut for the club came in the FA. He made Cup against Waterford F.C. on August 11.  In all, he only made two appearances with Dunalk in the League of Ireland’s Premier Division.

In the ESPN article from 2019, when talking about overcoming his injuries, Gatt feels like he has a lot of soccer left in his tank.

“I feel I have maybe eight or nine years left [as a pro] because of the fact I did suffer a lot of injuries, but I didn’t play a lot of soccer in that time, so I didn’t suffer a lot of wear and tear of [so many games] season after season,” Gatt said.

Much like the signing of Alex DeJohn, the Hounds are banking on a motivated Gatt (who is also the same age as DeJohn) having the opportunity to cement his place as a regular, impact player on a club with championship aspirations after spending the past few years mostly as a reserve.

Really excited to announce the next chapter in my career! I am very excited to be heading to the Riverhounds! Can’t wait to bring home a trophy in black and gold! 👊👊 https://t.co/grB6CPqHIs

— Joshua Gatt (@JoshuaGatt) February 11, 2021

Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s Mark Goodman will add more of his feedback on Gatt, as he covered him when he was with the Colorado Rapids.

Riverhounds SC 2021 Roster / Depth Chart update

	FORWARDS
F1	Russell Cicerone (M)
F2	Albert Dikwa
F3	Alex Dixon (M)
F4	Tommy Williamson
F5	Wyatt Borso
F6	Josh Gatt (out for season)
	M- also have played in midfield
	MIDFIELDERS
MF1	Kenardo Forbes (F)
MF2	Danny Griffin
MF3	Todd Wharton (D/OB)
MF4	Anthony Velarde (F)
MF5	Louis Perez (F)
	F- also played at forward
	D- also played as defender
	OB- also played as outside back
	WINGERS/OUTSIDE BACKS
OB1	Dani Rovira (M)
OB2	Ezra Armstrong
OB3	Jordan Dover (injury)
	(M) also played midfield
	CENTER BACKS
CB1	Shane Wiedt
CB2	Mekeil Williams
CB3	Preston Kilwien (OB)
CB4	Jalen Robinson
CB5	Jelani Peters
CB6	Tom Judge
CB7	Casey Bartlett-Scott
	OB- also played at outside back
	GOALKEEPERS
GK1	Danny Vitiello
GK2	Jake Leeker
GK3	Chris Morrish