Amobi Chidubem Okugo is an American soccer player who last played for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.
Background
Okugo grew up in Sacramento, California, attended Rio Americano High School and Jesuit High School, and played one year of college soccer at University of California, Los Angeles in 2009, where he was named the 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
Education
Okugo grew up in Sacramento, California, attended Rio Americano High School and Jesuit High School, and played one year of college soccer at University of California, Los Angeles in 2009, where he was named the 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
Career
College
Professional
Okugo was drafted in the first round (6th overall) of the 2010 Master of Library Science SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union. He made his professional debut on March 25, 2010, in the opening game of the 2010 Master of Library Science season against Seattle Sounders Football Club. After featuring in 26 league matches in his first two seasons with Philadelphia, Okugo became a regular starter for the Union during the 2012 season appearing in 27 matches. During the 2013 he continued to anchor the Union back line as he appeared in 32 matches and scored three goals.
In June of 2014 Okugo moved to his familiar role of defensive midfielder with the hiring of manager Jim Curtin and played there throughout the rest of the season.
In December 2014, Okugo was traded to Orlando City South Carolina for allocation money and the Union"s second round pick in the 2016 Master of Library Science SuperDraft. While with Orlando he featured mostly as a starter in his 15 matches with the club
On July 20, 2015, Okugo was traded to Sporting Kansas City in a swap deal which involved Servando Carrasco moving to Orlando City Soccer Club. International
Okugo has been a mainstay in United States. youth national teams for many years.
He played with the U-20s at the 2009 CONCACAF Championships and with the U-18s at the 2009 Australian Youth Festival, where he scored two goals in three games.
He was in residency with the United States. U-17s and had six caps in 2007, and scored the only goal for the United States. U-18 team at the 2008 Lisbon Tournament. Okugo started and played the full 90 minutes in 2 games for the U-20"s at the Torneo De Las Americas in November 2010. He captained the team in their match versus
Colombia.
Okugo was also a late addition to the U-20 camp in January 2011. Okugo, along with Union teammate Zac MacMath, was called up to the U-20 squad for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in March and April 2011. Philadelphia Union were the only Major League Soccer team with two players represented.
In late 2011, Okugo was called into the first two USMNT U-23 Olympic camps.
Okugo was called into the final camp before qualifying as the U-23"s take on the Mexican U-23"son