Vital Kats

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Vital Kats

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Vital Zina Kats{{Soccerway|id=463596|accessdate=2 November 2020}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|11|18}}

| birth_place = Netanya, Israel

| height = 1.63 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = 1. FSV Mainz 05

| clubnumber = 30

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = El Salvador SC

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Unionville Milliken SC

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Scarborough GS United

| collegeyears1 = 2017–2021

| college1 = Kent State Golden Flashes

| collegecaps1 = 58

| collegegoals1 = 22

| years1 = 2015

| clubs1 = ProStars FC

| caps1 =

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2016

| clubs2 = Aurora United FC

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2018–2019

| clubs3 = DeRo United FC

| caps3 = 10

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = Glasgow City

| caps4 = 7

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2022–2023

| clubs5 = Braga

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2023

| clubs6 = → Braga B

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2023–2024

| clubs7 = Kiryat Gat

| caps7 = 12

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2024–

| clubs8 = 1. FSV Mainz 05

| caps8 = 9

| goals8 = 12

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Canada U17

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2015–2016

| nationalteam2 = Canada U20

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2020–

| nationalteam3 = Israel

| nationalcaps3 = 13

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| pcupdate = 30 November 2024

| ntupdate = 3 June 2025

}}

Vital Zina Kats ({{langx|he|ויטאל זינה קאטס}}; born 18 November 1999) is an Israeli footballer who plays as a midfielder for German club 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Frauen-Regionalliga and the Israel women's national team.

Early life

Born in Israel, Kats moved to Toronto, Canada at the age of seven. She began playing soccer at the age of 9 with El Salvador SC in Toronto, before later playing with Unionville Milliken SC and Scarborough GS United.{{Canada Soccer player|id=7988}} With GS United, she won the 2016 Ontario Cup as women's provincial amateur champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.ontariosoccer.net/news_article/show/745049-scarborough-gs-win-fourth-straight-women-s-ontario-cup|title=Scarborough GS win fourth straight women's Ontario Cup|date=September 9, 2016|work=Ontario Soccer Association}}

College career

In 2017, she began attending Kent State University, where she played for the women's soccer team. She scored a goal in her debut on August 20, 2017 against the Cleveland State Vikings.{{Cite web|url=https://kentstatesports.com/news/2017/8/20/womens-soccer-soccer-bested-by-cleveland-state-2-1-in-home-opener.aspx|date=August 20, 2017|work=Kent State Golden Flashes|title=Soccer Bested by Cleveland State 2-1 in Home Opener}} As a freshman in 2017, Kats led all MAC freshmen in scoring with six goals and four assists, also leading the team in scoring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.record-courier.com/story/sports/college/2017/11/05/six-kent-state-women-s/17288391007/|title=Six Kent State women's soccer stars earn All-MAC honors|first=Allen|last=Moff|work=Record-Courier|date=November 5, 2017}} She was named the MAC Freshman of The Year, and was named to the All-MAC Second Team, MAC All-Freshman Team, First Team All-Ohio, and USC All-Midwest Region Second Team.{{cite web|url=https://kentstatesports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/vital--kats/11651|title=Vital Kats Kent State profile|work=Kent State Golden Flashes}} In 2018, she once again led the team in scoring and was named to the USC All-Midwest Region First Team, All-MAC First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team, OCSA All-Ohio First Team, and was a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MAC. In 2019, she was named to the USC All-Midwest Region Third Team, All-MAC First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team, OCSA All-Ohio First Team, and was a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MAC. During the Spring 2021 season (delayed from the 2020 Fall), she was named a All-MAC Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, and Academic All-MAC.{{cite web|url=https://kentstatesports.com/news/2021/7/5/womens-soccer-kats-named-academic-all-american.aspx|title=Kats Named Academic All-American|date=July 5, 2021|work=Kent State Golden Flashes}}

Club career

In 2015, she briefly played with ProStars FC in League1 Ontario,{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/598746|title=Three League1 Ontario Players Called To Canada U20 Women's Team|date=December 3, 2015|work=League1 Ontario}} with whom she scored 3 goals.{{Cite web|url=http://league1ontario.com/scoring-leaders|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115005912/http://league1ontario.com/scoring-leaders|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2016|title=Scoring leaders|work=League1 Ontario}}

In 2016, she played with Aurora United FC in League1 Ontario, making two appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/13655773|title=Vital Kats 2016 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}} She scored two goals in her debut on August 13 against Durham United FA.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/679163|title=Vital Kats Brace Helps Aurora Topple Durham 4-1|date=August 14, 2016|work=League1 Ontario}} She was a finalist for the Goal of the Year award.{{cite web|url=https://northernstartingeleven.com/league1-ontario-2016-awards-luncheon/|title=League1 Ontario 2016 Awards Luncheon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213055422/https://northernstartingeleven.com/league1-ontario-2016-awards-luncheon/|archive-date=December 13, 2016|url-status=dead|date=November 28, 2016|work=Northern Starting XI|first=Robin|last=Glover}}

In 2018 and 2019, she played with DeRo United FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/24906333|title=Vital Kats 2018 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/33490933?subseason=626251|title=Vital Kats 2019 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}} She scored her first goal for DeRo United in a League Cup victory on June 24 against North Mississauga SC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/929573|title=Sribny, Kats And Norman-Minnis Goals Send DeRo To L1 Cup Semis|first=Robert|last=Cerjanec|date=June 25, 2018|work=League1 Ontario}} She scored her first league goal on July 8 against Toronto Azzurri Blizzard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/932823|title=Kirton And Kats Carry DeRo To 3-1 Win Over Blizzard|first=Kacian|last=Whyte|date=July 9, 2018|work=League1 Ontario}}

In August 2021, Kats signed her first professional contract with Scottish Women's Premier League side Glasgow City F.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgowcityfc.co.uk/latest/2021/8/4/glasgow-city-welcome-vital-kats|title=Glasgow City welcome Vital Kats|date=August 5, 2021|work=Glasgow City F.C.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/vital-kats-glasgow-city-confirm-signing-of-israeli-international-3335265|title=Vital Kats: Glasgow City confirm signing of Israeli international|date=August 5, 2021|first=Graham|last=Falk|work=The Scotsman}}{{Cite web|url=https://shekicks.net/glasgow-city-sign-vital-kats/|work=She Kicks|title=Glasgow City sign Vital Kats|date=August 5, 2021|first=Wilf|last=Frith}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58098560|work=BBC Sport|title=Vital Kats: SWPL1 champions Glasgow City sign Israel midfielder|date=5 August 2021}} She scored her first goal for the club on August 18, 2021 during a 2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying match against Maltese club Birkirkara.{{Cite web|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/glasgow-city-3-0-birkirkara-hosts-ease-to-victory-in-womens-champions-league-qualifier|title=Glasgow City 3-0 Birkirkara: Hosts ease to victory in Women's Champions League qualifier|date=August 18, 2021|work=Ghana SoccerNet}} She departed the club after the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgowcityfc.co.uk/latest/2022/6/16/glasgow-city-fc-squad-update|title=Glasgow City FC: Squad update|date=June 17, 2022|work=Glasgow City F.C.}}

In July 2022, she joined Portuguese club S.C. Braga in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino.{{Cite web|url=https://scbraga.pt/inicio-de-pre-epoca-equipa-feminina/|title=Início de pré-época|language=pt|work=SC Braga|trans-title=Pre-season start|date=July 4, 2022}} She made her debut for Braga in the Supertaça de Portugal semi-finals against Benfica on 10 August, coming on as a substitute.{{cite web|url=https://scbraga.pt/derrota-no-benfica-campus/|title=Derrota no Benfica Campus|trans-title=Defeat at Benfica Campus|date=10 August 2022|work=SC Braga}}

In 2023, she joined Kiryat Gat in the Israeli Ligat Nashim.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In September 2024, she joined 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the German third tier Frauen-Regionalliga.{{cite web|url=https://www.mainz05.de/news/vital-kats-verstaerkt-05-frauen|title=Vital Kats verstärkt 05-Frauen|trans-title=Vital Kats strengthens 05 women|date=September 5, 2024|work=1. FSV Mainz 05|language=de}} On 17 November, she scored four goals in a 13-0 victory over {{Interlanguage link|SV Dirmingen|lt=SV Dirmingen|fr|SV Dirmingen}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.mainz05.de/news/05-frauen-zeigen-sich-in-torlaune|title=05-Frauen zeigen sich in Torlaune|trans-title=05 women are in goal-scoring mood|language=de|date=November 17, 2024|work=1. FSV Mainz 05}}

International career

In 2014, Kats attended a training camp with the Canada U15 team for her Canadian youth program debut. In December 2015, she won a silver medal with the Canada U20 at the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, where she scored in her debut in a 7-0 victory over Jamaica U20 on December 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/canada-routs-jamaica-at-concacaf-womens-u20/|title=Canada routs Jamaica at CONCACAF women's U20|date=December 6, 2015|work=Sportsnet}} In 2016, she played with the Canada U17 at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, where they finished third, and the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup,{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/706457|title=Forty-Nine League1 Players (Incl. Alumni) Represented Canada In 2016|first=Anthony|last=Gallo|date=December 31, 2016|work=League1 Ontario}} and also played in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

She made her senior debut for Israel on 21 October 2020 during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying.{{cite web|url=https://www.seniorclassaward.com/athletes/vital_kats|title=Vital Kats|work=Senior CLASS Award}}

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	26 September 2023	Tamme Stadium, Tartu, Estonia	{{fbw\|EST}}	align=center\|4–0	align=center\| 5–0	2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League
2.	9 April 2024	Ménfői úti Stadion, Győr, Hungary	{{fbw\|SRB}}	align=center\|1–1	align=center\| 2–4	UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying

Personal life

Kats' parents were born in Minsk, Soviet Union (now Belarus) and, being Jewish, made aliyah to Israel, where she was born.

References

External links

[https://www.football.org.il/national-team-player/?player_id=229800&NATIONAL_TEAM_ID=377 Vital Kats] — Israeli Football Association national team player details {{in lang|he}}
{{soccerway|677479}}
[https://www.playmakerstats.com/player.php?id=531656 Vital Kats Stats] at Playmaker Stats
[https://www.fupa.net/player/vital-zina-kats-2363568 Vita Kats] at FuPa

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Netanya

Category:Israeli women's footballers

Category:Women's association football midfielders

Category:Kent State Golden Flashes women's soccer players

Category:Israel women's international footballers

Category:Israeli people of Belarusian-Jewish descent

Category:Jewish Israeli sportspeople

Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Portugal

Category:Jewish footballers

Category:Israeli expatriate women's footballers