Oguchi Onyewu encyclopedia topics

Background

Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Onyewu has two brothers, Oguchi 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 then enrolled in the U.S. residency program in Bradenton, Florida, before returning to Sherwood to graduate.

Onyewu, often referred to by the nickname "Gooch," is, at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 202 pounds (92 kg), believed to be the tallest outfield player in US team history, though two goalkeepers were taller, according to U.S. Soccer.

Career

Onyewu 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.

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. He made his 100th league appearance for Standard Liege 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. He has also been named to the Belgian league Best XI twice and was named Foreign Player of the Year in 2005.

Having been the subject of many transfer rumors regarding clubs throughout Europe, Onyewu finally completed a loan deal with Newcastle United on 30 January 2007, covering the remainder of the season. He wore the number 15 shirt, previously worn by another loan signing, Giuseppe Rossi. He made his debut for Newcastle United against Fulham F.C. on February 3rd, 2007 . Onyewu made his home debut on Saturday 10 February 2007 alongside Titus Bramble for Newcastle, in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Following the arrival of new manager Sam Allardyce, Newcastle decided not to make the loan deal permanent.

International soccer

Onyewu has been part of various U.S. youth teams, and played 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 dramatic fashion, nodding home the 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. Oguchi played for the USA in the FIFA World Cup 2006 held in Germany, and started in all three of the USA's games. Just before halftime of the third and final match of the group stages, with the USA drawing 1-1 against Ghana, Onyewu committed a foul in the penalty area, Ghana took the lead from the ensuing penalty kick, and the USA were eliminated with the 2-1 defeat.