After graduating from the IMG Soccer Academy in 2008, Sarkodie attended the University of Akron.[2] Sarkodie started in all 23 games as a freshman and scored in his very first game against Notre Dame. He made the Soccer America All-Freshman first team honoree and was first team All-MAC. As a sophomore, he was also awarded first team All-MAC for the second year in a row. Sarkodie had a breakout year in 2010, finishing with eight goals and six assists, helping the Zips to a College Cup. Accolades Sarkodie was awarded following his junior season included NSCAA All-America first team, Soccer America Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season first team, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and his third straight first team All-MAC selection.[3][4]
On January 13, 2011, Sarkodie was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the Houston Dynamo in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[5] He made his professional debut on March 25, getting the start in a 1–1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC.[6] Sarkodie made 7 MLS appearances his rookie season, as well as one appearance in the Open Cup, as the Dynamo finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference. However, Sarkodie did not feature in the playoffs as the Dynamo reached MLS Cup 2011.[6][7][8]
During the 2012 season, Sarkodie barely played for the first 6 months, making 2 appearances for 20 minutes total during the first 26 MLS games.[9][10][11] In August, Sarkodie played well in CONCACAF Champions League play and earned himself more league minutes, making a substitute appearance on September 2 in a 3–1 loss to the Chicago Fire. He made his first MLS start of the season four days later in a 1–0 win over Real Salt Lake and started Houston's final 7 MLS games of the season.[9][11] Sarkodie ended the 2012 MLS regular season with 10 appearances and 1 assist, helping the Dynamo finish 5th in the East and qualify for the playoffs.[12][13] On November 11, he scored his first professional goal to help Houston to a 3–1 victory against D.C. United in leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Sarkodie started all 6 of Houston's games and scored 1 goal during the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs, helping the Dynamo reach MLS Cup 2012, where Houston lost to the LA Galaxy for the second straight year, this time by a score of 3–1.[11] Sarkodie also made 3 appearances and had 1 assists during the Champions League group stage, helping Houston finish top of their group.[14]
On March 2, 2013, Sarkodie started the Dynamo's opening match of the season, a 2–0 win over D.C. United.[15] Sarkodie appeared in 33 of Houston's 34 MLS regular season matches, all of them starts, as well as picking up 4 assists.[12] He helped the Dynamo finish 4th in the Eastern Conference and qualify for the playoffs.[16] On November 6, Sarkodie picked up an assist in extra time to help Houston defeat the New York Red Bulls 2–1 in leg 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, giving the Dynamo a 4–3 aggregate win. He played the full match in all 5 of Houston's playoff games as they reached the Conference Finals, where they lost 2–1 to Sporting Kansas City on aggregate.[15] During the season, Sarkodie also played once in the Open Cup, played in both legs of Houston's 2012–13 CCL quarterfinals aggregate loss to Santos Laguna, and made 3 appearances during the 2013–14 CCL group stage, as the Dynamo finished 2nd in their group, failing to advance.[14] Following the season, Sarkodie was named the 2013 Dynamo Defensive Player of the Year.[17]
Sarkodie enjoyed another strong season in 2014, making 32 MLS appearances, all starts, and recording 4 assists.[12] However, it was a poor season for Houston as a team, finishing 8th in the conference and missing out on the playoffs.[18] He also made 2 Open Cup appearances during the season.[14]
In the opening game of the 2015 season, Sarkodie collided heads with teammate Raúl Rodríguez early during a match against the Columbus Crew, creating a rather large gash on Sarkodie's head. The trainers wrapped up his head and gave him a clean jersey without blood, and Sarkodie returned to the game. Later in the match, the referee ordered Sarkodie off the pitch so the trainers could re-bandage his head and give him another clean jersey, this time without his name and number on the back. Soon after returning to the field, Sarkodie picked up an assist after setting up Giles Barnes, giving Houston a 1–0 win.[19] Sarkodie ended the regular season with 16 appearances and 1 assist, but saw his playing time decrease towards the end of the season as he dealt with a bone bruise in his right knee.[12][20][21] It was another disappointing season for Houston, as they missed out on the playoffs after finishing 8th in the Western Conference.[22]
Sarkodie with the Earthquakes in 2017
San Jose Earthquakes
On April 1, 2016, Sarkodie joined the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for targeted allocation money in a sign-and-trade deal with Houston, reuniting him with former Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear.[23][24] He made his Earthquakes debut on April 16, playing the full match in a 3–1 loss to the Portland Timbers.[25] In July, Sarkodie suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for months.[26][25] He ended his first season in San Jose with 13 MLS appearances and 1 in the Open Cup as the Earthquakes finished 9th in the Western Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs.[25][14][27]
On January 26, 2017, Sarkodie signed a new contract with San Jose.[28] He made 18 appearances and had 1 assist during the regular season, helping the Earthquakes finish 6th in the Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs.[12][29] Sarkodie got the start in San Jose's opening game of the playoffs, a 5–0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[30]
His contract with the Earthquakes expired following the 2017 season.[31]
Trelleborgs FF
On July 13, 2018, Sarkodie signed with Swedish Allsvenskan club Trelleborgs FF.[32] He made his debut on July 30, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 loss to Hammarby IF.[33] Sarkodie made 11 appearances for Trelleborgs as they finished last in the Allsvenskan and were relegated to the Superettan. He left the club at the end of 2018.[34]
Austin Bold FC
On February 27, 2021, Sarkodie returned to professional soccer and the state of Texas by signing with Austin Bold FC of the USL Championship.[35]
Sarkodie was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Amaning and Olivia, are both originally from Kumasi, Ghana.[3][41] Olivia's mother, Kofi's grandmother, was the tribal queen of her village.[2][41][42] Sarkodie has two brothers, Kwame and Ofori, and one sister, Mimi.[3][41] Kwame played college soccer for Cincinnati while Ofori played for Indiana.[2][41]
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