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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Oguchialu Chilioke Onyewu | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193cm) | ||
| Position(s) | defender | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Standard Liège | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 Jun 2006 | |||
Oguchialu Chilioke "Oguchi" Onyewu (born May 13, 1982 in Washington, D.C.) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for Standard Liège in the Belgian Jupiler League.
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 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 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 4 in (1.93 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg), believed to be the tallest field player in US team history, though two goalkeepers were taller, according to U.S. 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.
"Gooch" is remembered for losing his mark and allowing a goal to Jared Borgetti of Mexico in Azteca Stadium on March 27, 2005, only to redeem himself by dominating Borgetti in a rematch between the teams on September 3, 2005 in Columbus, Ohio. 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 six-foot-four defender was later named to the tournament Best XI. He has also been named to the Belgian league Best XI twice and was named Foreign Player of the Year in 2005.
References
- Goff, Steven (2006, April 11). "Onyewu Stands Out in Belgium". The Washington Post.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Whiteside, Kelly (2005, August 16). "'Gooch' a big deal for U.S. soccer team". USA Today.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
| United States squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup | ||
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