Olivier Mbaizo
Olivier Mbaissidara Mbaizo is a Cameroonian professional soccer player who plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Olivier Mbaissidara Mbaizo | ||
Date of birth | 15 August 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Douala, Cameroon | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Philadelphia Union | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016 | Union Douala | ||
2017 | Rainbow FC | 10 | (0) |
2018 | Bethlehem Steel | 0 | (0) |
2018– | Philadelphia Union | 18 | (0) |
2018– | → Bethlehem Steel (loan) | 33 | (1) |
National team‡ | |||
Cameroon U17 | |||
Cameroon U20 | |||
Cameroon U23 | |||
2020– | Cameroon | 1 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2020 |
Club career
Union Douala
Mbaizo began his professional career at Union Douala of MTN Elite One league in 2016. He helped Douala to 4th in the league table and made an appearance in the CAF Champions League against Zamalek SC.[1]
Rainbow FC
In 2017, Mbaizo played for Rainbow FC making 10 appearances during the season.[1]
Bethlehem Steel FC
In January 2018, Mbaizo signed for Bethlehem Steel FC, the USL affiliate of the Philadelphia Union.[2] The organization reunites him with fellow Cameroonian youth national, Eric Ayuk.
Philadelphia Union
By April 2018, Mbaizo was signed to Bethlehem Steel's MLS affiliate Philadelphia Union after impressing with the first team during preseason training. While signed with the Union, Mbaizo would mostly be loaned back to Bethlehem for the 2018 season.[3] He made his first team debut for the Union in September, starting in a 2–0 win over Sporting Kansas City.[4]
International career
Mbaizo has worked his way up the Cameroonian national team ladder starting with the U17s in 2014 and most recently earning a call-up for training with the senior team. In 2017, he appeared with Cameroon's U-20's for the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. He started all three matches and played every minute of the team's Group Stage. Mbaizo scored a goal in their second match of the tournament, a 4–1 victory over Sudan on 2 March 2017.[5]
Mbaizo earned his first senior call-up in November 2020 for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. He debuted for Cameroon on November 12, starting in a 4–1 victory over Mozambique.[6]
Honours
References
- Evan Villella (22 January 2018). "Bethlehem Steel sign Olivier Mbaizo". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- Tom Via (22 January 2018). "Bethlehem Steel FC Acquire Defender Olivier Mbaizo". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- Dave Zeitlin (17 April 2018). "Philadelphia Union sign Cameroonian international Olivier Mbaizo". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- "BOX SCORE: Union 2-0 Sporting Kansas City". philadelphiaunion.com. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- "Olivier Mbaizo | Bethlehem Steel Profile". Bethlehem Steel FC. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- "Mbaizo earns first start with Cameroon". Philadelphia Union. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.