Kofi Sarkodie

Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie (born March 22, 1991) is an American soccer player who most recently played for Trelleborgs FF in Allsvenskan.

This article is about the soccer player. For the Ghanaian professional wrestler whose real name is Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah, see Kofi Kingston.
Kofi Sarkodie
Sarkodie at the Houston Dynamo's ground breaking
Personal information
Full name Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie
Date of birth (1991-03-22) March 22, 1991
Place of birth Dayton, Ohio, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
2006–2008 IMG Soccer Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Akron Zips
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Michigan Bucks 0 (0)
2011–2015 Houston Dynamo 98 (1)
2016–2017 San Jose Earthquakes 32 (0)
2018 Trelleborgs FF 11 (0)
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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 July 2018 (UTC)

Career

Youth, College and Amateur

After graduating from the IMG Soccer Academy in 2008, Sarkodie attended the University of Akron. Sarkodie started in all 23 games as a freshman and scored in his very first game against Notre Dame, he was awarded Soccer America All-Freshman first team honoree and First Team All-MAC. During his sophomore year, he won First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America, MAC Academic Team. He was also awarded First Team All-MAC for the second year in a row. Sarkodie had a breakout year in 2010. On October 19, 2010, he recorded his first career hat trick against the University of Michigan. He finished with eight goals and six assists on the way to a College Cup championship for the Akron Zips. Sarkodie was awarded ESPN Academic All-America of the Year, NSCAA All-America First Team, Soccer America Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season First Team, College Soccer News All-America First Team, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and his third straight First Team All-MAC.

While in college, Sarkodie was also a member of the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League but he never made an appearance for the club.

Professional

On January 13, 2011, Sarkodie was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[1] He made his professional debut on March 25, 2011 in a game against Seattle Sounders FC.[2] He scored his first professional goal against D.C. United in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.[3] On April 1, 2016, it was announced that Sarkodie would be traded to the San Jose Earthquakes, reuniting him with former Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear.[4] Sarkodie was released by San Jose on November 27, 2017.[5]

On July 13, 2018, Sarkodie signed with Swedish Allsvenskan club Trelleborgs FF.[6] He left the club again at the end of 2018.[7]

International

Sarkodie was a member of the U.S. U-17 in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He also played for the U-20 national team.

Honors

University of Akron
  • NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 2010

Personal life

Kofi is brother to fellow soccer players Kwame Sarkodie and Ofori Sarkodie.[8]

References
  1. "Akron sets new record for SuperDraft success". 13 January 2011.
  2. "Sounders dominate but Hall, Dynamo hold on for tie".
  3. "GOAL: Sarkodie stretches the lead". MLSsoccer.com.
  4. "San Jose Earthquakes acquire defender Kofi Sarkodie in trade with Houston". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  5. "NEWS: Earthquakes Announce Roster Moves Ahead of 2018 MLS Season". San Jose Earthquakes. 27 Nov 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  6. http://www.trelleborgsff.se/nyheter/post/2542
  7. Officiellt: Fem spelare lämnar Trelleborgs FF, fotbolltransfers.com, 3 December 2018
  8. "Sarkodie brothers are soccer royalty". ESPN.com. September 18, 2009.
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