Kofi Sarkodie facts for kids
Sarkodie at the Houston Dynamo's ground breaking
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie | ||
| Date of birth | March 22, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Dayton, Ohio, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Akron Zips | 69 | (12) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | Michigan Bucks | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2015 | Houston Dynamo | 98 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32 | (0) |
| 2018 | Trelleborgs FF | 11 | (0) |
| 2021 | Austin Bold | 22 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2006–2008 | United States U17 | 17 | (3) |
| 2008–2009 | United States U18 | 9 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | United States U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | United States U23 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 6, 2021 | |||
Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie (born March 22, 1991) is an American soccer player. He plays as a defender.
Contents
Kofi Sarkodie's Soccer Journey
Early Years and College Play
Kofi Sarkodie started his soccer journey at the IMG Soccer Academy. After graduating in 2008, he went to the University of Akron. He quickly became a key player for the Akron Zips soccer team.
- Freshman Year (2008): Kofi started every game and even scored in his very first match. He was recognized as one of the best freshmen players in college soccer.
- Sophomore Year (2009): He continued to play well, earning top honors for his skills.
- Junior Year (2010): This was a huge year for Kofi. He scored eight goals and made six assists, helping the Zips reach the College Cup. He received many awards, including being named the Soccer America Player of the Year. He was also named the College Cup's Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
While in college, Kofi was also part of the Michigan Bucks team. However, he did not play in any games for them.
Professional Career Begins
Playing for Houston Dynamo
Kofi Sarkodie was chosen by the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft on January 13, 2011. He was the seventh player picked overall.
- 2011 Season: He made his first professional appearance on March 25. He played in seven MLS games and helped the Dynamo finish second in their conference.
- 2012 Season: Kofi started playing more regularly later in the season. He scored his first professional goal on November 11, helping Houston win a playoff game. He played a big part in the Dynamo reaching the MLS Cup 2012 final.
- 2013 Season: This was a very strong year for Kofi. He started 33 out of 34 regular season games and made four assists. He helped the Dynamo reach the Conference Finals in the playoffs. After this season, he was named the Dynamo Defensive Player of the Year.
- 2014 Season: Kofi continued to be a strong defender, starting 32 games and providing four assists.
- 2015 Season: He played in 16 games, but his playing time decreased due to a knee injury.
Moving to San Jose Earthquakes
On April 1, 2016, Kofi joined the San Jose Earthquakes. This move reunited him with his former coach, Dominic Kinnear.
- 2016 Season: He played in 13 MLS games. An ankle injury kept him out for several months.
- 2017 Season: Kofi signed a new contract and played in 18 games, helping the Earthquakes make it to the playoffs. His contract with the team ended after this season.
Playing in Sweden
On July 13, 2018, Kofi signed with Trelleborgs FF, a club in Sweden's top league, Allsvenskan. He played in 11 games for them. The team finished last in the league and was moved down to a lower division. Kofi left the club at the end of 2018.
Return to Texas with Austin Bold FC
After a break, Kofi Sarkodie returned to professional soccer in Texas. On February 27, 2021, he signed with Austin Bold FC in the USL Championship.
International Soccer
Kofi Sarkodie has represented the United States at different youth levels.
- He was part of the U.S. U-17 team that played in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
- He also played for the U-18, U-20, and U-23 national teams.
Awards and Achievements
University of Akron
- NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship: 2010
- Mid-American Conference Tournament: 2008, 2009, 2010
Individual Awards
- NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament Defensive Most Outstanding Player: 2010
- Soccer America Player of the Year Award: 2010
- Dynamo Defensive Player of the Year: 2013
About Kofi's Family
Kofi Sarkodie was born and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Amaning and Olivia, are from Kumasi, Ghana. Interestingly, Kofi's grandmother (his mother's mom) was a tribal queen in her village! Kofi has two brothers, Kwame and Ofori, and one sister, Mimi. Both of his brothers also played college soccer.
See also
In Spanish: Kofi Sarkodie para niños
