Patrick Nyarko facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Nyarko | ||
| Date of birth | January 15, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Kumasi, Ghana | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005 | Kaaseman | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008–2015 | Chicago Fire | 196 | (19) |
| 2016–2017 | D.C. United | 40 | (5) |
| Total | 236 | (24) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2012 | Ghana | 1 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Patrick Nyarko (born January 15, 1986) is a former professional footballer from Ghana. He played as a winger.
Contents
Patrick Nyarko's Football Journey
College Football Star
Patrick Nyarko moved to the United States in 2005. He quickly became a top player for the Virginia Tech Hokies soccer team. He was a star forward and was chosen for the All-ACC team three times.
In 2007, his team played in the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup semifinals. They lost to Wake Forest. Patrick finished his college career with 31 goals. His coach, Oliver Weiss, called him "the most incredible player I've ever coached." Many people think he is the best soccer player in Virginia Tech history.
In his first year, Patrick scored the only goal in a big win against North Carolina. Virginia Tech reached #10 in the polls. They also made it to the NCAA tournament for the second time ever. Patrick was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the All-ACC team.
After the 2007 season, the Hokies were ranked #8. Patrick was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, a top award in college soccer. For all his achievements, he was added to the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Professional Career Highlights
Patrick Nyarko decided to leave college early to become a professional player. He entered the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. Many thought he would be the first player picked. The Chicago Fire chose him as the 7th overall pick.
He played his first game in Major League Soccer (MLS) on June 15, 2008, against FC Dallas. He scored his first MLS goal on August 2, 2008, playing against Chivas USA.
Patrick played for Chicago for eight seasons. On January 6, 2016, he was traded to D.C. United. He scored his first goal for D.C. United on April 2, 2016, against the San Jose Earthquakes. He missed the end of that season due to concussions. After the 2017 season, he considered retiring because of injuries he had received.
Playing for Ghana
In 2012, Patrick Nyarko was called to play for the Ghana national team. He made his debut for Ghana on February 29, 2012. The game was against Chile in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Personal Life
In 2011, Patrick Nyarko received a U.S. green card. This meant he was considered a "domestic player" for MLS teams.
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Nyarko para niños
