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) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| 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) |
| National team | |||
| 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) |
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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
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 star player for the Akron Zips.
In his first year, Kofi played in all 23 games. He even scored a goal in his very first game against Notre Dame. He was recognized as one of the best new players in college soccer.
By 2010, Kofi had an amazing year. He scored eight goals and made six assists. He helped the Zips reach the College Cup. He received many awards, including Soccer America Player of the Year.
While in college, Kofi was also part of the Michigan Bucks team. However, he didn't play in any games for them.
Professional Career
Playing for Houston Dynamo
Kofi Sarkodie was chosen by the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. This was a big step into professional soccer. He played his first game on March 25, 2011.
In 2012, Kofi started playing more often. He helped the Dynamo reach the MLS Cup 2012 final. He even scored his first professional goal against D.C. United.
The 2013 season was very strong for Kofi. He played in almost all of Houston's games. He helped the team reach the Conference Finals in the playoffs. He was even named the Dynamo Defensive Player of the Year for 2013.
In 2014, Kofi continued to play well, but the team didn't make the playoffs. In 2015, he had a head injury during a game but bravely returned to play.
Moving to San Jose Earthquakes
In 2016, Kofi joined the San Jose Earthquakes. This meant he got to play again for his former coach, Dominic Kinnear. He made his debut for the Earthquakes in April. Later that year, he had an ankle injury that kept him out for several months.
In 2017, Kofi signed a new contract with San Jose. He played in 18 games and helped the Earthquakes qualify for the playoffs. His contract ended after the 2017 season.
Playing in Sweden
In 2018, Kofi moved to Sweden to play for Trelleborgs FF. He played 11 games for the team. Trelleborgs FF finished last in their league and moved down to a lower division. Kofi left the club at the end of 2018.
Returning to Texas
In 2021, Kofi Sarkodie returned to professional soccer in Texas. He signed with Austin Bold FC in the USL Championship.
International Soccer
Kofi Sarkodie has played for several United States national youth teams. 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.
Achievements and Awards
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 Life
Kofi Sarkodie was born and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Amaning and Olivia, are from Kumasi, Ghana. Interestingly, Kofi's grandmother was a tribal queen in her village in Ghana.
Kofi has two brothers, Kwame and Ofori, and one sister, Mimi. Both of his brothers also played college soccer. Kwame played for Cincinnati, and Ofori played for Indiana.
