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) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005 | Kaaseman | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Virginia Tech Hokies | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2015 | Chicago Fire | 196 | (19) |
| 2016–2017 | D.C. United | 40 | (5) |
| Total | 236 | (24) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | Ghana | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 28, 2017 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 24, 2017 |
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Patrick Nyarko, born on January 15, 1986, is a former professional football player from Ghana. He played as a midfielder, often on the wing, during his career.
Contents
Patrick Nyarko's Football Journey
College Soccer Star
Patrick Nyarko moved to the United States in 2005. He became a star player for the Virginia Tech Hokies soccer team. He was chosen three times for the All-ACC team. In 2007, his team reached the National Semifinals of the College Cup.
Patrick scored 31 goals during his time at Virginia Tech. His coach, Oliver Weiss, called him "the most incredible player I've ever coached." Many consider Patrick to be the best soccer player in Virginia Tech history. He first met Coach Weiss when the coach visited Ghana to find new players.
In his first year, Patrick scored the only goal in a big win against North Carolina. Virginia Tech then rose to be ranked #10 in the country. They also earned their second trip ever to the NCAA tournament. Patrick was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. He was also selected for the All-ACC team.
After the 2007 season, the Hokies finished ranked #8. They played in the National Semifinals of the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup. Patrick was named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, a top award for college soccer players. Because of his great achievements, he was added to the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Professional Career
Patrick decided to skip his final year of college to join the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. Many thought he would be the first player chosen. The Chicago Fire team selected him as the 7th overall pick.
He played his first game in Major League Soccer (MLS) on June 15, 2008, against FC Dallas. Patrick scored his first MLS goal on August 2, 2008, playing against Chivas USA.
After playing for eight seasons with the Chicago Fire, Patrick was traded to D.C. United on January 6, 2016. He scored his first goal for D.C. United on April 2, 2016, against the San Jose Earthquakes. He retired from professional football after the 2017 season.
Playing for Ghana
Patrick Nyarko was called to play for the Ghana national team. He made his debut for Ghana against Chile on February 29, 2012. This game took place at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Personal Life
Patrick Nyarko received a U.S. green card in 2011. This allowed him to be considered a domestic player for MLS teams. He became a citizen of the United States in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Nyarko para niños
