Sean Ugochukwu "Ugo" Okoli (born February 3, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.
 Okoli playing for FC Cincinnati in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sean Ugochukwu Okoli | ||
| Date of birth | February 3, 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Federal Way, Washington, United States | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Washington Premier FC | ||
| 2010–2011 | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2013 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 61 | (24) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Seattle Sounders FC U-23 | 14 | (6) |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Orange County Blues (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | New England Revolution | 5 | (0) |
| 2016 | FC Cincinnati | 29 | (16) |
| 2017 | New York City FC | 16 | (1) |
| 2018 | Landskrona BoIS | 9 | (1) |
| 2018 | Jerv | 12 | (1) |
| 2019 | Pinzgau Saalfelden | 9 | (3) |
| 2020 | Orange County SC | 15 | (7) |
| 2021 | Austin Bold | 11 | (3) |
| 2021–2022 | Orange County SC | 49 | (6) |
| 2023 | Monterey Bay | 21 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010 | United States U18 | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 14, 2014 | |||
Career
editEarly career
editBorn in Federal Way, Washington, Okoli was a part of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy before attending college at Wake Forest University in 2011.[1] While playing for the Demon Deacons Okoli earned All-ACC honors in all three seasons he attended the college and scored 24 goals with 9 assists during his time there.[1] While playing at Wake Forest, Okoli also played in the USL PDL with the Seattle Sounders FC U-23 side in 2012 and 2013.[2] He was also one of the first Academy players to play for the Seattle Sounders reserve side in the MLS Reserve League in 2011.[2]
Professional
editIn January 2014, Okoli, along with academy teammate Aaron Kovar, signed a professional contract with Seattle Sounders FC.[1] He made his debut for the Sounders on March 8 in the team's Major League Soccer opener against Sporting Kansas City at CenturyLink Field when he came on in the 86th minute for Lamar Neagle. He then contributed to the teams winning goal in the 93rd minute as they beat Sporting KC 1–0.[3]
In January 2015, the Sounders traded Okoli's rights to New England Revolution in order to trade up in the MLS SuperDraft and select Northwestern goal keeper Tyler Miller.[4][5]
After his release from New England, Okoli signed with United Soccer League side FC Cincinnati for the 2016 season.[6] Okoli led the USL in goals (16) for the 2016 season and was awarded the league's Golden Boot.[7] and Most Valuable Player award.[8]
After spending a season with FC Cincinnati, Okoli moved back to Major League Soccer, signing with New York City FC on December 5, 2016.[9] New York released Okoli at the end of the 2017 season.[10]
Okoli signed with FK Jerv from Norway in August 2018, but left the club again at the end of the year.[11]
In July 2019, Okoli joined Austrian Austrian Regionalliga West side Pinzgau Saalfelden.[12]
Okoli signed with Orange County SC on February 19, 2020.[13]
On February 24, 2021, Okoli joined USL Championship side Austin Bold.[14]
On April 20, 2023, Okoli joined USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC.[15] He left Monterey Bay following their 2023 season.[16]
Personal life
editOkoli is of Nigerian descent.[17]
Career statistics
edit- As of 8 October 2017[18]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC U-23 | 2012 | Premier Development League | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | |||
| 2013 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | |||||
| U-23 Total | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2014 | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| New England Revolution | 2015 | Major League Soccer | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| FC Cincinnati | 2016 | USL | 29 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 31 | 16 | |
| New York City FC | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | |
| Career total | 67 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 24 | ||
Honors
editIndividual
References
edit- ^ a b c Mayers, Josh. "Sounders sign homegrown players Aaron Kovar and Sean Okoli". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Sounders FC Signs Aaron Kovar and Sean Okoli". Seattle Sounders FC. March 8, 2014.
- ^ "Seattle Sounders 1-0 Sporting Kansas City (March 8, 2014)". Major League Soccer. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ^ "Sounders pick Roldan, Miller, Fisher in '15 Draft". Sounder At Heart. January 15, 2015.
- ^ "Latest | MLSsoccer.com".
- ^ "FCC add two new players | FC Cincinnati". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ "USL Golden Boot – Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati". Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ Corr, Charlie (November 4, 2016). "Okoli Shines in Limelight for FC Cincinnati". USL. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ "NYCFC Sign USL MVP Sean Okoli". New York City FC. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
- ^ FC, New York City. "New York City FC Announce Roster Options for 2018". New York City FC.
- ^ Overganger i OBOS-ligaen vinter 2019, sportshjornet.com, 13 December 2018
- ^ "Fußball im Pinzgau: FC Pinzgau Saalfelden: Der Kader und die Ziele". meinbezirk.at. July 27, 2019.
- ^ "GOLDEN RETURN: Orange County Signs 2016 MVP Okoli". USLChampionship.com Staff. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ Communications, Austin Bold FC (February 24, 2021). "AUSTIN BOLD FC BOOSTS ATTACK WITH THE ADDITION OF SEAN OKOLI FOR 2021 SEASON". Austin Bold FC.
- ^ "Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Former Orange County SC Striker Sean "Ugo" Okoli". Monterey Bay Football Club | USL Championship. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, NICHOLAS MURRAY- (November 29, 2023). "Monterey Bay F.C. announces first roster moves for 2024 season". USL Championship.
- ^ "New England sign Nigerian Sean Okoli - Nigeria". African Football.
- ^ Sean Okoli at Soccerway
