Amobi Okugo
|
Okugo during 2011 preseason training with the Union | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Amobi Chidubem Okugo | ||
| Date of birth | March 13, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Hayward, California, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position |
Defender Defensive Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2007 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| 2009 | UCLA Bruins | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2014 | Philadelphia Union | 117 | (5) |
| 2015 | Orlando City | 15 | (0) |
| 2015 | Sporting Kansas City | 3 | (0) |
| 2016 | → New York Red Bulls II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007 | United States U17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | United States U20 | 15 | (0) |
| 2012 | United States U23 | 4 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 23, 2016. | |||
Amobi Chidubem Okugo (born March 13, 1991) is an American soccer player who is currently a free agent.
Career
College
Okugo grew up in Sacramento, California, attended Rio Americano High School and Jesuit High School, and played one year of college soccer at UCLA in 2009, where he was named the 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
Professional
Okugo was drafted in the first round (6th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union.[1] He made his professional debut on March 25, 2010, in the opening game of the 2010 MLS season against Seattle Sounders FC.[2] After featuring in 26 league matches in his first two seasons with Philadelphia, Okugo became a regular starter for the Union during the 2012 season appearing in 27 matches. During the 2013 he continued to anchor the Union back line as he appeared in 32 matches and scored three goals. In June of 2014 Okugo moved to his familiar role of defensive midfielder with the hiring of manager Jim Curtin and played there throughout the rest of the season.
In December 2014, Okugo was traded to Orlando City SC[3] for allocation money and the Union's second round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. While with Orlando he featured mostly as a starter in his 15 matches with the club. On July 20, 2015, Okugo was traded to Sporting Kansas City in a swap deal which involved Servando Carrasco moving to Orlando City Soccer Club.[4]
On April 10, 2016, Major League Soccer loaned Okugo to the New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League. Because Okugo is still under contract with the league and unattached, they are able to loan him and his contract. [5] The same day he made his debut for the side starting in central defense in a 4-0 victory over Bethlehem Steel FC.[6]
International
Okugo has been a mainstay in U.S. youth national teams for many years. He played with the U-20s at the 2009 CONCACAF Championships and with the U-18s at the 2009 Australian Youth Festival, where he scored two goals in three games. He was in residency with the U.S. U-17s and had six caps in 2007, and scored the only goal for the U.S. U-18 team at the 2008 Lisbon Tournament.
Okugo started and played the full 90 minutes in 2 games for the U-20's at the Torneo De Las Americas in November 2010. He captained the team in their match vs. Colombia.[7] Okugo was also a late addition to the U-20 camp in January 2011.[8]
Okugo, along with Union teammate Zac MacMath, was called up to the U-20 squad for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in March and April 2011. Philadelphia Union were the only Major League Soccer team with two players represented.[9] In late 2011, Okugo was called into the first two USMNT U-23 Olympic camps. Okugo was called into the final camp before qualifying as the U-23's take on the Mexican U-23's.[10]
Career statistics
- As of April 10, 2016
| Club | Season | League | MLS Cup/Playoffs | US Open Cup | CONCACAF | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Philadelphia Union | 2010 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| Total | 117 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 6 | |
| Orlando City | 2015 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| New York Red Bulls II | 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 136 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 6 | |
Personal
Okugo was born to Nigerian parents.[11] His favorite players growing up were Nigerian internationals Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, and John Obi Mikel. In addition to playing professionally, Okugo once coached soccer to young soccer players in Philadelphia.
See also
References
- ↑ 2010 MLS SuperDraft
- ↑ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=289675&cc=5901&league=USA.1
- ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/08/orlando-city-sc-makes-major-moves-acquires-aurelien-collin-tally-hall-and-am
- ↑ http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2015/07/20/orlando-city-trades-amobi-okugo-servando-carrasco
- ↑ "New York Red Bulls Loan Two Players to NYRB II; NYRB II Complete Loan of Amobi Okugo". NewYorkRedBulls.com.
- ↑ "NYRB II Chemistry, Depth on Display against Steel". uslsoccer.com.
- ↑ OKUGO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT U-20 SQUAD
- ↑ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2010/12/okugo-added-us-u-20-camp Okugo Added to US U-20 Camp
- ↑ http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-20-MNT/2011/03/Rongen-Finalizes-Roster-for-CONCACAF-U20-Championship.aspx Rongen Finalizes Roster for CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
- ↑ http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-23-MNT/2012/02/Porter-Names-23-Players-to-U23-MNT-Training-Camp-in-Texas.aspx
- ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/16/olympic-dream-well-within-reach-phillys-okugo
http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=10794