Patrick Nyarko

Patrick Nyarko
Personal information
Full name	Patrick Nyarko
Date of birth	January 15, 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth	Kumasi, Ghana
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
2005	Kaaseman
College career
Years	Team
2005–2007	Virginia Tech Hokies
Senior career*
Years	Team
2008–2015	Chicago Fire
2016–2017	D.C. United
Total
International career‡
2012	Ghana
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 28, 2017; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 24, 2017

Last updated November 12, 2023

Patrick Nyarko (born January 15, 1986) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer.

Career

College

After coming to the United States in 2005, Nyarko was a star forward and three-time All-ACC selection for the Virginia Tech Hokies soccer team, which played in the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup, falling to Wake Forest in the National Semifinals.

Nyarko, who finished his Virginia Tech career with 31 goals,^[1] was called by coach Oliver Weiss, "the most incredible player I've ever coached"^[2] and he is considered to be the best soccer player in Virginia Tech history.^[1] Nyarko first met Weiss when the coach was on a recruiting trip to Ghana.

In Nyarko's freshman year, he scored the lone goal of his team's marquee win over then-#4 North Carolina.^[3] Tech rose as high as #10 in the polls and earned its second trip in school history to the NCAA tournament. Nyarko was named the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year and was named to the all-ACC team.

Following the 2007 season, in which the Hokies finished #8 in the final AP poll and played in the National Semifinals of the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup, Nyarko was named as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy.^[4] His accomplishments for the Hokies led to his enshrinement into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Professional

Nyarko decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. Widely predicted to be the first pick in the draft, Nyarko was selected 7th overall by the Chicago Fire.^[5]

He made his MLS debut on June 15, 2008, against FC Dallas, and scored his first MLS goal on August 2, 2008, against Chivas USA.^[6]

After eight seasons with Chicago, Nyarko was traded to D.C. United on January 6, 2016, in exchange for a second round 2016 MLS SuperDraft pick.^[7] Nyarko scored his first goal for United on April 2, 2016, scoring against the San Jose Earthquakes.^[8] He missed the last 3 months of the season with concussion.^[9] He was out of contract with United following the 2017 season ^[10] and was considering retirement due to brain trauma due to 8 separate concussions he has suffered from.^[11]

International career

Nyarko was called up to the Ghana squad to face Chile.^[12] Nyarko made his Ghana debut against Chile on February 29, 2012, at the PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Personal

Nyarko was granted a U.S. green card in 2011. This status qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.^[13]

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The Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represents the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in all NCAA Division I men's college soccer competitions. The Hokies are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and play their home matches at Sandra D. Thompson Field.

The 2008 Chicago Fire season was the club's 13th year of existence, as well as their 11th season in Major League Soccer and 11th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer. It began with a 3-1 away win over Real Salt Lake on March 29, 2008 and ended with a 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Final on November 13, 2008. Denis Hamlett made his debut as the Chicago Fire coach after being promoted.

The 2012 Chicago Fire season was the club's 17th year of existence, as well as their 15th season in Major League Soccer and their 15th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.

The 2014 Chicago Fire season was the club's 19th year of existence, as well as their 17th season in Major League Soccer and their 17th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.

The 2014 Major League Soccer season was the 102nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States and Canada, the 36th with a national first-division league, and the 19th season of Major League Soccer. This season featured 19 total clubs, each playing 34 matches during the regular season.

The 2015 Chicago Fire season was the club's 20th year of existence, as well as their 18th season in Major League Soccer and their 18th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.

The 2016 D.C. United season was the club's twenty-first season of existence, and their twenty-first in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

The 2016 Chicago Fire season was the club's 21st year of existence, as well as their 19th season in Major League Soccer and their 19th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.

The 2017 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 22nd season of existence, and their 22nd in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

The 2017 Chicago Fire season was the club's 22nd year of existence, as well as their 20th season in Major League Soccer, the top-flight of American soccer. The Fire reached the playoffs for the first time since 2012, losing in the knockout round.

The 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represents Virginia Tech during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 46th season of the university fielding a program. The Hokies played their home fixtures at Sandra D. Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were led by ninth year head coach Mike Brizendine.

The 2018 Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represented Virginia Tech during the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 47th season of the university fielding a program. The Hokies played their home games at Sandra D. Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were led by tenth year head coach Mike Brizendine.

The 2019 Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represented Virginia Tech during the 2019 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 48th season of the University fielding a program. The Hokies played their home games at Sandra D. Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were led by eleventh year head coach Mike Brizendine.

The 2020 Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represented Virginia Tech during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 49th season of the University fielding a program. The Hokies played their home games at Sandra D. Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were led by twelfth-year head coach Mike Brizendine.

The 2021 Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer team represented Virginia Tech during the 2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 50th season of the University fielding a program. The Hokies played their home games at Sandra D. Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were led by thirteenth-year head coach Mike Brizendine.

References

1 2 Berman, Mark (January 15, 2008). "Nyarko taking kicks to MLS". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
↑ Kilgore, Adam (December 14, 2007). "Hokies' First College Cup a Foreign Concept". Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
↑ "Tech Topples No. 4 Tar Heels". hokiesports.com. October 8, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
↑ "Nyarko named MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist". hokiesports.com. December 15, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
↑ "Nyarko, like others, needs time to develop". dailyherald.com. July 8, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
↑ Fire get goal scorer in Nyarko Archived February 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
↑ "D.C. United acquire Patrick Nyarko from Chicago Fire". January 6, 2016.
↑ "HIGHLIGHTS: San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United | April 2, 2016". mlssoccer.com. April 3, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
↑ "D.C. United player Chris Rolfe retires 18 months after suffering concussion - The Washington Post". The Washington Post .
↑ "D.C. United exercise contract options on six players". dcunited.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
↑ "Ghana midfielder Patrick Nyarko considers retirement due to persistent brain injury". September 22, 2017.
↑ "Nyarko Late Addition to Ghana Roster for Wednesday friendly vs. Chile". chicago-fire.com. Chicago Fire Soccer Club. February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
↑ Simon Borg (January 30, 2012). "Chicago's Nyarko would welcome switch to USMNT". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.

External links

Patrick Nyarko at Major League Soccer

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[takingkickstomls-1] 1 2 Berman, Mark (January 15, 2008). "Nyarko taking kicks to MLS". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[2] Kilgore, Adam (December 14, 2007). "Hokies' First College Cup a Foreign Concept". Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[3] "Tech Topples No. 4 Tar Heels". hokiesports.com. October 8, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[4] "Nyarko named MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist". hokiesports.com. December 15, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[5] "Nyarko, like others, needs time to develop". dailyherald.com. July 8, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.

[6] Fire get goal scorer in Nyarko Archived February 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

[7] "D.C. United acquire Patrick Nyarko from Chicago Fire". January 6, 2016.

[8] "HIGHLIGHTS: San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United | April 2, 2016". mlssoccer.com. April 3, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2020.

[9] "D.C. United player Chris Rolfe retires 18 months after suffering concussion - The Washington Post". The Washington Post .

[contracts_declined_2017-10] "D.C. United exercise contract options on six players". dcunited.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.

[11] "Ghana midfielder Patrick Nyarko considers retirement due to persistent brain injury". September 22, 2017.

[12] "Nyarko Late Addition to Ghana Roster for Wednesday friendly vs. Chile". chicago-fire.com. Chicago Fire Soccer Club. February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.

[13] Simon Borg (January 30, 2012). "Chicago's Nyarko would welcome switch to USMNT". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.

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