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)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2006–2008 IMG Soccer Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Akron Zips 69 (12)
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)
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.[1] Sarkodie started in all 23 games as a freshman and scored in his very first game against Notre Dame. He made the Soccer America All-Freshman first team honoree and was first team All-MAC. As a sophomore, he was also awarded first team All-MAC for the second year in a row. Sarkodie had a breakout year in 2010, finishing with eight goals and six assists, helping the Zips to a College Cup. Accolades Sarkodie was awarded following his junior season included NSCAA All-America first team, Soccer America Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season first team, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and his third straight first team All-MAC selection.[2][3]

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.

Houston Dynamo

On January 13, 2011, Sarkodie was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[4] He made his professional debut on March 25, getting the start in a 1–1 draw with the Seattle Sounders.[5] Sarkodie made 7 MLS appearances his rookie season, as well as one appearance in the Open Cup, as the Dynamo finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference. However, Sarkodie did not feature in the playoffs as the Dynamo reached MLS Cup 2011.[5][6][7]

During the 2012 season, Sarkodie barely played for the first 6 months, making 2 appearances for 20 minutes total during the first 26 MLS games.[8][9][10] In August, Sarkodie played well in CONCACAF Champions League play and earned himself more league minutes, making a substitute appearance on September 2 in a 3–1 loss to the Chicago Fire. He made his first MLS start of the season four days later in a 1–0 win over Real Salt Lake and started Houston's final 7 MLS games of the season.[8][10] Sarkodie ended the 2012 MLS regular season with 10 appearances and 1 assist, helping the Dynamo finish 5th in the East and qualify for the playoffs.[11][12] On November 11, he scored his first professional goal to help Houston to a 3–1 victory against D.C. United in leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Sarkodie started all 6 of Houston's games and scored 1 goal during the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs, helping the Dynamo reach MLS Cup 2012, where Houston lost to the LA Galaxy for the second straight year, this time by a score of 3–1.[10] Sarkodie also made 3 appearances and had 1 assists during the Champions League group stage, helping Houston finish top of their group.[13]

On March 2, 2013, Sarkodie started the Dynamo's opening match of the season, a 2–0 win over D.C. United.[14] Sarkodie appeared in 33 of Houston's 34 MLS regular season matches, all of them starts, as well as picking up 4 assists.[11] He helped the Dynamo finish 4th in the Eastern Conference and qualify for the playoffs.[15] On November 6, Sarkodie picked up an assist in extra time to help Houston defeat the New York Red Bulls 2–1 in leg 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, giving the Dynamo a 4–3 aggregate win. He played the full match in all 5 of Houston's playoff games as they reached the Conference Finals, where they lost 2–1 to Sporting Kansas City on aggregate.[14] During the season, Sarkodie also played once in the Open Cup, played in both legs of Houston's 2012–13 CCL quarterfinals aggregate loss to Santos Laguna, and made 3 appearances during the 2013–14 CCL group stage, as the Dynamo finished 2nd in their group, failing to advance.[13] Following the season, Sarkodie was named the 2013 Dynamo Defensive Player of the Year.[16]

Sarkodie enjoyed another strong season in 2014, making 32 MLS appearances, all starts, and recording 4 assists.[11] However, it was a poor season for Houston as a team, finishing 8th in the conference and missing out on the playoffs.[17] He also made 2 Open Cup appearances during the season.[13]

In the opening game of the 2015 season, Sarkodie collided heads with teammate Raúl Rodríguez early during a match against the Columbus Crew, creating a rather large gash on Sarkodie's head. The trainers wrapped up his head and gave him a clean jersey without blood, and Sarkodie returned to the game. Later in the match, the referee ordered Sarkodie off the pitch so the trainers could re-bandage his head and give him another clean jersey, this time without his name and number on the back. Soon after returning to the field, Sarkodie picked up an assist after setting up Giles Barnes, giving Houston a 1–0 win.[18] Sarkodie ended the regular season with 16 appearances and 1 assist, but saw his playing time decrease towards the end of the season as he dealt with a bone bruise in his right knee.[11][19][20] It was another disappointing season for Houston, as they missed out on the playoffs after finishing 8th in the Western Conference.[21]

Sarkodie with the Earthquakes in 2017

San Jose Earthquakes

On April 1, 2016, Sarkodie joined the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for targeted allocation money in a sign-and-trade deal with Houston, reuniting him with former Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear.[22][23] He made his Earthquakes debut on April 16, playing the full match in a 3–1 loss to the Portland Timbers.[24] In July, Sarkodie suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for months.[25][24] He ended his first season in San Jose with 13 MLS appearances and 1 in the Open Cup as the Earthquakes finished 9th in the Western Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs.[24][13][26]

On January 26, 2017, Sarkodie signed a new contract with San Jose.[27] He made 18 appearances and had 1 assist during the regular season, helping the Earthquakes finish 6th in the Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs.[11][28] Sarkodie got the start in San Jose's opening game of the playoffs, a 5–0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.[29]

His contract with the Earthquakes expired following the 2017 season.[30]

Trelleborgs FF

On July 13, 2018, Sarkodie signed with Swedish Allsvenskan club Trelleborgs FF.[31] He made his debut on July 30, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 loss to Hammarby IF.[32] Sarkodie made 11 appearances for Trelleborgs as they finished last in the Allsvenskan and were relegated to the Superettan. He left the club at the end of 2018.[33]

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-18, U-20, and U-23 national teams.

Career statistics
As of January 26, 2021[34][35][36]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Playoffs[lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Houston Dynamo2011MLS 701000—80
2012 10000613[lower-alpha 3]0191
2013 33010505[lower-alpha 3]0440
2014 32020——340
2015 16030——190
Dynamo Total 98070111801241
San Jose Earthquakes2016MLS 13010——140
2017 1802010—210
Earthquakes Total310301000350
Trelleborgs FF2018Allsvenskan 11000——110
Career Total1400100121801701
  1. Includes U.S. Open Cup and Svenska Cupen
  2. Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League

Honors

University of Akron

Individual

Personal life

Sarkodie was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Amaning and Olivia, are both originally from Kumasi, Ghana.[2][39] Olivia's mother, Kofi's grandmother, was the tribal queen of her village.[1][39][40] Sarkodie has two brothers, Kwame and Ofori, and one sister, Mimi.[2][39] Kwame played college soccer for Cincinnati while Ofori played for Indiana.[1][39]

References
  1. "Sarkodie brothers are soccer royalty". ESPN.com. 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  2. "Kofi Sarkodie - Men's Soccer". University of Akron Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  3. "2019 Akron Men's Soccer Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). University of Akron Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  4. Clark, Travis (13 January 2011). "Akron sets new record for SuperDraft success". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  5. "Kofi Sarkodie 2011 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  6. "2011 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  7. Lovell, Darrell (April 6, 2011). "Dynamo eliminated from Open Cup in OT". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  8. Roepken, Corey (2012-11-11). "Sarkodie, Ashe add versatility to Dynamo's defense". Chron. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  9. Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (2012-10-06). "Dynamo's Sarkodie earns his chance in starting lineup". Chron. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  10. "Kofi Sarkodie 2012 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  11. "Kofi Sarkodie". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. "2012 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  13. "USA - K. Sarkodie - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  14. "Kofi Sarkodie 2013 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  15. "2013 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  16. "Dynamo Awards". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  17. "2014 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  18. Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (2015-03-08). "Injured Sarkodie perseveres in victorious Dynamo season opener". Chron. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  19. "Kofi Sarkodie 2015 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  20. "Scouting report: Dynamo at Colorado". HoustonChronicle.com. 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  21. "2015 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  22. Rodriguez, Alicia (April 1, 2016). "San Jose Earthquakes acquire defender Kofi Sarkodie in trade with Houston". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  23. Roepken, Corey (2016-04-01). "Dynamo send Kofi Sarkodie to San Jose". Chron. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  24. "Kofi Sarkodie 2016 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  25. "Earthquakes resume run at MLS playoff berth". Times-Herald. 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  26. "2016 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  27. "NEWS: Earthquakes Sign Defender Kofi Sarkodie to New Contract". SJ Earthquakes. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  28. "2017 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  29. "Kofi Sarkodie 2017 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  30. "NEWS: Earthquakes Announce Roster Moves Ahead of 2018 MLS Season". San Jose Earthquakes. 27 Nov 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  31. Berséus, Lotta Lövdén. "Förändringar i försvaret – Kontrakt klart med den amerikanske försvararen Kofi Sarkodie och Victor Nilsson lämnar klubben". Trelleborgs FF (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  32. "Kofi Sarkodie 2018 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  33. Officiellt: Fem spelare lämnar Trelleborgs FF, fotbolltransfers.com, 3 December 2018
  34. "Kofi Sarkodie". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  35. "USA - K. Sarkodie - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  36. "Kofi Sarkodie Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  37. "The New Gold Standard: Men's Soccer Captures National Title". gozips.com. December 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  38. "Maryland's Mullins repeats as Men's Player of the Year". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  39. Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (2011-03-19). "Dynamo's Sarkodie tries to pursue soccer career, degree". Chron. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  40. Bell, Jack (2011-02-24). "A Promising Rookie Gives Houston and M.L.S. the Royal Treatment". Goal. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
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