Ugo Ihemelu
Encyclopedia
Ugochukwu "Ugo" Ihemelu is a Nigeria
n-born American
soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas
in Major League Soccer
.
, attended Cedar Hill High School
in Cedar Hill, Texas
(a suburb of Dallas), and played college soccer
at Southern Methodist University
, where he was named All-Missouri Valley Conference
his junior and senior seasons.
During his collegiate off-season Ihemelu played with the Texas-based USASA
team Legends FC
, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
in 2004
.
drafted him with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft
. He helped the Galaxy to the US Open Cup and MLS Cup
double in his rookie season. After his second season in LA, on December 1, 2006, Ihemelu was traded to Colorado Rapids
. After 3 years with Colorado, Ihemelu was traded to FC Dallas
in exchange for Drew Moor
, a 2010 MLS SuperDraft
pick and allocation money.
Ihemelu was named to the MLS Team of Week 8 and 11 in the 2011 MLS season for his play against D.C. United
, Seattle Sounders
, and Houston Dynamo
.
On June 30, 2011, he signed a contract extension with FC Dallas
through the 2015 MLS season.
on January 29, 2006, against Norway
.
Unusually, he was then called up by Canada
in June 2008 and traveled with the team for their match against St. Vincent and the Grenadines. While the Canadian Soccer Association
has Ihemelu's hometown listed as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ihemelu's eligibility to play for Canada was in doubt, due to his appearing for the United States in the aforementioned Norway game, and to questions over his Canadian citizenship. For these reasons, the Canadians did not field Ihemelu in the Saint Vincent game.
In January 2009 Ihemelu was called into the US's training camp. He joined San Jose (MLS) defender Jason Hernandez
as replacements for Clarence Goodson
and Cory Gibbs
who left camp early. He then appeared in the match following the camp against Sweden, clearing a guaranteed goal off the line.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n-born 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 FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
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...
.
College
Ihemelu grew up in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, attended Cedar Hill High School
Cedar Hill High School
Cedar Hill High School is a public high school in Cedar Hill, Texas. It is a member of the Cedar Hill Independent School District.-History:In 1986 Cedar Hill had 80 students in its graduating class. Fewer than 10 were African American...
in Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill is a city in Dallas and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately sixteen miles southwest of downtown Dallas and is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park. The population was 32,093 at the 2000 census...
(a suburb of Dallas), and played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, where he was named All-Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
his junior and senior seasons.
During his collegiate off-season Ihemelu played with the Texas-based USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
team Legends FC
Legends FC
Legends FC is an American amateur soccer team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1992, the team plays in Region III of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
in 2004
2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Eight PDL and eight USASA teams start.-----Second round:Six PSL and two A-League teams enter....
.
Professional
Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
drafted him with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft
2005 MLS SuperDraft
The 2005 MLS SuperDraft, held in Baltimore, Maryland on January 14, 2005, was the sixth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Expansion club Real Salt Lake had the first pick as the result of a coin toss . RSL drafted Under-17 midfielder Nikolas Besagno with the first selection...
. He helped the Galaxy to the US Open Cup and MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
double in his rookie season. After his second season in LA, on December 1, 2006, Ihemelu was traded to Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. After 3 years with Colorado, Ihemelu was traded to FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in exchange for Drew Moor
Drew Moor
Drew Moor is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He is consistently ranked by major publications as one of the top defenders in the league.-College:...
, a 2010 MLS SuperDraft
MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft is an annual event, taking place in January of each year, in which the Major League Soccer teams select players who have graduated from college or otherwise been signed by the league...
pick and allocation money.
Ihemelu was named to the MLS Team of Week 8 and 11 in the 2011 MLS season for his play against D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, Seattle Sounders
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...
, and 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...
.
On June 30, 2011, he signed a contract extension with FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
through the 2015 MLS season.
International
Ihemelu made his debut for the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on January 29, 2006, against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
.
Unusually, he was then called up by Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in June 2008 and traveled with the team for their match against St. Vincent and the Grenadines. While the Canadian Soccer Association
Canadian Soccer Association
The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides...
has Ihemelu's hometown listed as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ihemelu's eligibility to play for Canada was in doubt, due to his appearing for the United States in the aforementioned Norway game, and to questions over his Canadian citizenship. For these reasons, the Canadians did not field Ihemelu in the Saint Vincent game.
In January 2009 Ihemelu was called into the US's training camp. He joined San Jose (MLS) defender Jason Hernandez
Jason Hernandez
Jason Hernandez is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College:...
as replacements for Clarence Goodson
Clarence Goodson
Clarence Goodson is an American professional soccer player who currently plays defender for Brøndby in Denmark, with whom he signed a three-year deal in November 2010.-Career:...
and Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
who left camp early. He then appeared in the match following the camp against Sweden, clearing a guaranteed goal off the line.
Los Angeles Galaxy
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(1): 20052005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-Qualifying round:Teams from USASA and PDL start.-----First round:Teams from USASA, PDL, and USL-2.----... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
MLS Cup (1): 2005 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 2005
FC Dallas
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...