Oguchi Onyewu biography: United States Footballer

Oguchi Onyewu biography

United States football player

Career

Youth clubs
2000–01 Clemson University
Senior clubs
Club App (Gls)
Metz 3 (0)
La Louvière (loan) 24 (2)
Standard Liège 75 (6)
Newcastle United (loan) 10 (0)

United States 17

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 May 2007.
National team caps and goals correct as of 29 January 2007

Oguchialu Chilioke "Oguchi" Onyewu

born May 13, 1982, Washington, DC

is an American footballer who plays in defence for Newcastle United.

Onyewu's parents moved to the US from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, DC 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 Sherwood High School where he played soccer for two years. He enrolled in the US residency program in Bradenton, Florida, before a return to Sherwood to graduate.

Onyewu then played two years of college soccer at Clemson University, and moved to Europe in 2002, signing with FC Metz of France's Ligue 1. 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.

Onyewu, often referred to by the nickname Gooch, is, at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and 231 pounds (108 kg), believed to be the tallest field player in US team history, though two goalkeepers were taller, according to US Soccer.

Onyewu has been part of various US youth teams, and played at the 2001 World Youth Championship. He made a first appearance for the senior national team on October 13, 2004 against Panama.

Onyewu scored a first international goal in dramatic fashion, nodding home a extra time winner in the semifinal of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Honduras. The powerful defender was later named to the tournament Best XI. He has also been named in the Belgian league Best XI twice and was named Foreign Player of the Year in 2005.

Oguchi played for the USA in the FIFA World Cup 2006 held in Germany, and started all three of the USA's games. Just before half time of the third and final match of group play, with the USA tied 1-1 against Ghana, Onyewu was called for a foul in the penalty area. Ghana took the lead on the ensuing penalty kick, and the USA was eliminated with a 2-1 loss.

On December 26, 2006, Onyewu was voted Soccer Athlete of the Year, mainly because of his strong performance earlier that year at the World Cup. He was the first defender to earn the award since Alexi Lalas in 1995.

Onyewu has long been the subject of transfer rumors throughout Europe. He has allegedly been courted at various times by Fulham FC, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, FC Porto, Middlesbrough FC, Olympique Lyonnais, Man United, PSV Eindhoven, Olympique de Marseille, Newcastle Utd, and Chelsea FC. On January 25, 2007 various British newspapers claimed that Onyewu would sign for English Premiership side Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season, with an option of a permanent deal in the summer, and this deal was confirmed on January 30, 2007.

Newcastle United
On 30 January Onyewu completed his loan deal to Newcastle United until the end of the season. He wears the number 15 shirt, previously worn by another loan signing, Giuseppe Rossi. He made his debut for Newcastle United against Fulham FC. on February 3rd, 2007. Onyewu's performance was one of the only positives to be taken out of a 2-1 defeat for Newcastle Utd

Misspell

Ogchi Onewu Oguchi Onyewu Oguchy Onyew Oguci Onew

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