Ugochukwu "Ugo" Ihemelu is a retired Nigerian-born American soccer player.
Background
Ihemelu grew up in the United States, attended Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and played college soccer at Southern Methodist University, where he was named All-Missouri Valley Conference his junior and senior seasons.
Education
Ihemelu grew up in the United States, attended Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and played college soccer at Southern Methodist University, where he was named All-Missouri Valley Conference his junior and senior seasons.
During his collegiate off-season, Ihemelu played with the Texas-based USASA team Legends Football Club, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt United States. Open Cup in 2004.
Career
College Professional The Los Angeles Galaxy drafted him with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 Master of Library Science SuperDraft. He helped the Galaxy to the United States Open Cup and Master of Library Science Cup double in his rookie season. After his second season in Los Angeles, on December 1, 2006, Ihemelu was traded to the Colorado Rapids.
After 3 years with Colorado, Ihemelu was traded to Football Club Dallas in exchange for Drew Moor, a 2010 Master of Library Science SuperDraft pick, and allocation money.
Ihemelu was named to the Master of Library Science Team of the Week in weeks 8 and 11 in the 2011 Master of Library Science season for his play against District of Columbia United, Seattle Sounders, and Houston Dynamo. On June 30, 2011, he signed a contract extension with Football Club Dallas through the 2015 Master of Library Science season.
Prior to the 2012 Master of Library Science season, Ihemelu was named Football Club Dallas captain. During the 2012 season, he suffered a concussion that eventually led to his retirement.
International Ihemelu made his debut for the United States on January 29, 2006, against Norway.
Unusually, he was then called up by Canada in June 2008 and traveled with the team for their match against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While the Canadian Soccer Association has Ihemelu"s hometown listed as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ihemelu"s eligibility to play for Canada was in doubt, due to his appearing for the United States in the aforementioned Norway game, and to questions over his Canadian citizenship. Foreign these reasons, the Canadians did not field Ihemelu in the Saint Vincent game.
In January 2009 Ihemelu was called into the United States"s training camp.
He joined San Jose (Master of Library Science) defender Jason Hernandez as replacements for Clarence Goodson and Cory Gibbs who left camp early. He then appeared in the match following the camp against Sweden, clearing a guaranteed goal off the line.
Los Angeles Galaxy Football Club Dallas.