Kofi Sarkodie
Encyclopedia
Kofi Sarkodie is a Ghana
ian-American
soccer player, who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo
in Major League Soccer
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
and a United States passport
.
in 2008, Sarkodie attended the University of Akron
. Sarkodie started in all 23 games as a freshman and scored in his very first game against Notre Dame, he was awarded Soccer America All-Freshman first team honoree and First Team All-MAC
. During his sophomore year, he won First Team CoSIDA
Academic All-America, MAC Academic Team. He was also awarded First Team All-MAC for the second year in a row. Sarkodie had a breakout year in 2010. On October 19, 2010, he recorded his first career hat trick against the University of Michigan. He finished with 8 goals and 6 assists on the way to a College Cup championship for the Akron Zips. Sarkodie was awarded ESPN Academic All-America of the Year, NSCAA All-America First Team, Soccer America Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season First Team, College Soccer News All-America First Team, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and his third straight First Team All-MAC.
While in college, Sarkodie was also a member of the Michigan Bucks
of the USL Premier Development League
but he never made an appearance for the club.
in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
. He made his professional debut on March 25, 2011 in a game against Seattle Sounders FC
.
. He also played for the U-20 national team.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player, who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passports are passports issued exclusively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to Ghanaians granted citizenship in accordance with Ghana Citizenship Act 2000. There are three types of passport booklets – regular, service and diplomatic passports...
and a United States passport
United States passport
United States passports are passports issued to citizens and non-citizen nationals of the United States of America. They are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State. Besides issuing passports , also limited use passport cards are issued by the same organization subject to the same...
.
Youth, College and Amateur
After graduating from the IMG Soccer AcademyIMG Soccer Academy
The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. It is U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 and U-16 mens national teams. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects...
in 2008, Sarkodie attended the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
. Sarkodie started in all 23 games as a freshman and scored in his very first game against Notre Dame, he was awarded Soccer America All-Freshman first team honoree and First Team All-MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. During his sophomore year, he won First Team CoSIDA
College Sports Information Directors of America
College Sports Information Directors of Americaor CoSIDA is the organization that has since 1952 bestowed Academic All-American recognition on male and female athletes in Divisions I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association —covering all NCAA championship sports—and NAIA...
Academic All-America, MAC Academic Team. He was also awarded First Team All-MAC for the second year in a row. Sarkodie had a breakout year in 2010. On October 19, 2010, he recorded his first career hat trick against the University of Michigan. He finished with 8 goals and 6 assists on the way to a College Cup championship for the Akron Zips. Sarkodie was awarded ESPN Academic All-America of the Year, NSCAA All-America First Team, Soccer America Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season First Team, College Soccer News All-America First Team, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and his third straight First Team All-MAC.
While in college, Sarkodie was also a member of the Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
but he never made an appearance for the club.
Professional
On January 13, 2011, Sarkodie was drafted in the first round (7th overall) by the Houston DynamoHouston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
2011 MLS SuperDraft
The 2011 MLS SuperDraft was the twelfth annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 13, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland, during the 2011 NSCAA Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 2011 SuperDraft consisted of three rounds with eighteen selections each, for...
. He made his professional debut on March 25, 2011 in a game against Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
.
International
Sarkodie was a member of the U.S. U-17 in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2007 was held in the Korea Republic between 18 August and 9 September 2007. For this event, the number of teams had been expanded from 16 to 24, with the top two of each group and the four best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 16...
. He also played for the U-20 national team.
University of Akron
- NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 20102010 NCAA Men's Division I Soccer TournamentThe 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 collegiate soccer teams who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The semifinals and final were held at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, California. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher seeded...