Oguchi Onyewu

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Oguchialu Chijioke "Oguchi" Onyewu (born May 13, 1982, in Washington, D.C.) is an Belgian-American soccer center back who plays for the United States national team and professionally for Milan in Italy's Serie A.

[edit] Background

Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Onyewu has two brothers, Uche and Nonye, and two sisters, Chi-Chi and Ogechi. Growing up in Silver Spring and later Olney, Maryland, Onyewu attended St. Andrew Apostle School and Sherwood High School, where he played soccer for two years.^[1] He then enrolled in the U.S. residency program in Bradenton, Florida, before returning to Sherwood to graduate. He also holds Belgian citizenship.^[2]

Onyewu, often referred to by the nickname "Gooch," is, at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 210 lb (95 kg), making him the tallest outfield player in U.S. team history (two goalkeepers have been taller).^[3]

[edit] Professional career

Onyewu played two years of college soccer at Clemson University, and moved to Europe in 2002, signing with FC Metz of Ligue 1 in France. In 2003, he was loaned out to La Louvière in Belgium, and to Standard Liège a year later. The move to Liège was made permanent for the 2004–05 season. After the season, he was named to the Belgian league's Best XI as well as Foreign Player of the Year for 2005.

On December 26, 2006, Onyewu was voted U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He was the first defender to earn the award since Alexi Lalas in 1995. Having been the subject of many transfer rumors regarding clubs throughout Europe, Onyewu finally completed a loan deal with Newcastle United on January 30, 2007, covering the remainder of the 2006–07 season. He wore the number 15 shirt, previously worn by another Newcastle loan signing, Giuseppe Rossi. He made his debut for Newcastle against Fulham on February 3, 2007,^[4] and his home debut a week later, alongside Titus Bramble, in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool. The two formed an ill-fated partnership, making a number of costly mistakes which was ultimately to cost Onyewu his place. Following the arrival of new manager Sam Allardyce, Onyewu fell out of favor, and Newcastle decided not to make the loan deal permanent.^[5] He returned to Standard, and his play continued to improve. He made his 100th Jupiler league appearance for Standard Liège on March 14, 2008, against Germinal Beerschot, and was an intregal part of the club as they went on a 29-match unbeaten streak to win the Jupiler League in 2007–08. After the season he was named to the Belgian league Best XI for the second time. His strong form continued during the 2008–09 season. He led the Standard defense to a second consecutive Belgian league title. Standard was drawn with Anderlecht at season's end, and Standard won a two-legged playoff for the championship.

Onyewu signed a three-year contract with Milan on July 7, 2009.^[6][7]

[edit] Racism controversy

Onyewu has dealt with racism during his time in Europe, even having been punched and shouted at by racist fans while playing for Standard.^[8] The most well-publicized incident occurred in the 2008–09 Championship playoff when Anderlecht defender Jelle Van Damme, according to Onyewu, repeatedly called him a "dirty ape,"^[9] even after Onyewu relayed the information to the referees.^[10] Van Damme denied the accusations following the match, even claiming that Onyewu had called him a "dirty Flemish."^[9] Approximately two weeks later, on June 2, 2009, it was announced by Onyewu's lawyer that he was suing Van Damme in an effort to end on-field racism in European football.^[11]

[edit] International career

Onyewu has become a mainstay on the United States men's national soccer team. Prior to this, he also represented the U.S. at various youth levels, including at the 2001 World Youth Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior national team on October 13, 2004, against Panama.

Onyewu scored his first international goal in the 2005 Gold Cup, nodding home the extra time winner in the semifinal against Honduras, and was later named to the tournament Best XI.

Oguchi played for the U.S. in the 2006 World Cup, and started in all three United States games. Just before halftime of the third and final group stage match against Ghana, Onyewu conceded a penalty from which Ghana scored, and the U.S. were eliminated with the resultant 2–1 defeat.^[12][13]

During the 2009 Confederations Cup Onyewu was paired with Jay Demerit due to the injury of his normal partner Carlos Bocanegra, who was unable to play in the group stage. Onyewu played well against Egypt, helping lead the U.S. to a 3-0 win that earned them a berth in semi-finals. He also had a standout performance in the 2-0 semi-final victory over Spain.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Oguchi Onyewu career stats at Soccerbase
• Onyewu articles on Yanks Abroad
• How to pronounce Oguchi Onyewu

Tournament squads for the United States men's national soccer team v • d • e United States squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Howard • 2 Albright • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Cherundolo • 7 Lewis • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Reyna • 11 Ching • 12 Berhalter • 13 Conrad • 14 Olsen • 15 Convey • 16 Wolff • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Hahnemann • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Onyewu • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena v • d • e United States squad – 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Winners (4th Title) 1 Howard • 2 Hejduk • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 Feilhaber • 6 M. Bradley • 7 Beasley • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Donovan • 11 Ching • 12 DeMerit • 13 Bornstein • 14 Ralston • 15 Simek • 16 Parkhurst • 17 Spector • 18 Keller • 19 Clark • 20 Twellman • 21 Mapp • 22 Onyewu • 23 Guzan • Coach: B. Bradley v • d • e United States squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-up 1 Howard • 2 Bornstein • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Casey • 5 Onyewu • 6 Pearce • 7 Beasley • 8 Dempsey • 9 Davies • 10 Donovan • 11 Wynne • 12 M. Bradley • 13 Clark • 14 Califf • 15 DeMerit • 16 Kljestan • 17 Altidore • 18 Guzan • 19 Adu • 20 Torres • 21 Spector • 22 Feilhaber • 23 Robles • Coach: B. Bradley