Oguchi Onyewu

American Exports: Defender Oguchi Onyewu training with EPL promotion seekers Queens Park Rangers

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AMSTERDAM – Free agent US defender Oguchi Onyewu is now training with English Championship title chasers Queens Park Rangers, though it remains to be seen if the visit will yield a contract offer.

The 31-year-old was released from the final season on his Sporting CP contract in late August. Since then, Onyewu has spent time training with former clubs Málaga in Spain and Metz in France.

La Liga giants Valencia and Belgian side Gent have also recently been linked with interest. Earlier this summer, Onyewu had glances from Augsburg, FC Copenhagen and Stuttgart without receiving an offer.

Led by manager Harry Redknapp, QPR currently stand second in the Championship, two points off the top.



Background

Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to study in Washington, D.C. They are ethnic Igbo people of Nigeria. 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 St. Andrew Apostle School and Sherwood High School before enrolling in the U.S. residency program in Bradenton, Florida.[3] He then returned to Sherwood to graduate and went on to play soccer for two years at Clemson. He also holds Belgian citizenship.[4] He speaks English, French, Italian and Portuguese.[5] Onyewu is a practising Catholic.[6]
At 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 210 lb (95 kg), Onyewu is the second-tallest outfield player in U.S. team history (after Omar Gonzalez).[7]
Club career[edit]

Onyewu played two years of college soccer at Clemson University, and moved to Europe in 2002, signing with Metz of Ligue 2 in France. 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. After the season, he was named to the Belgian league's Best XI as well as Foreign Player of the Year for 2005.
On December 26, 2006, Onyewu was voted U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He was the first defender to earn the award since Alexi Lalas in 1995. Having been the subject of many transfer rumors regarding clubs throughout Europe, Onyewu finally completed a loan deal with Newcastle United on January 30, 2007, covering the remainder of the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for Newcastle against Fulham on February 3, 2007,[8] and his home debut a week later, alongside Titus Bramble, in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool. The two formed an ill-fated partnership, making a number of costly mistakes which was ultimately to cost Onyewu his place. Following the arrival of new manager Sam Allardyce, Onyewu fell out of favor, and Newcastle decided not to make the loan deal permanent.[9] He returned to Standard, and his play continued to improve. He made his 100th Belgian First Division appearance for Standard Liège on March 14, 2008, against Germinal Beerschot, and was an integral part of the club as they went on a 29-match unbeaten streak to win the 2007–08 Belgian First Division. After the season he was named to the Belgian league Best XI for the second time. His strong form continued during the 2008–09 season. He led the Standard defense to a second consecutive Belgian league title. Standard was drawn with Anderlecht at season's end, and Standard won a two-legged playoff for the championship.
A.C. Milan[edit]
Onyewu signed a three-year contract with Milan on July 7, 2009, but never played a league game in his year and a half stint at the club.[10][11] He made his Milan debut on July 22, coming on as a substitute for Alessandro Nesta in a loss to Club América in the World Football Challenge.[12] He made his competitive debut on September 30, again relieving Nesta in a Champions League loss to Zürich at San Siro.[13] Onyewu missed all the 2009–10 season – appearing in only one Champions League match – due a knee injury suffered while on national team duty. At the end of the season, on May 17, 2010, it was announced that Onyewu's contract with Milan was extended by one season, keeping him under contract with the club until the end of the 2012–13 season; upon Onyewu's request, the one-year extension included no salary.[14][15]
On November 5, 2010; Onyewu made international headlines when he and teammate Zlatan Ibrahimović engaged in a fight during training,[16] prior to a league match against Bari. It was reported that Onyewu suffered a reckless tackle from Ibrahimović, causing Onyewu to confront him. The two were then separated by team mates, though the club reported he and Ibrahimović have made up for their fight.[17]
Twente (loan)[edit]
Onyewu left Milan on 11 January 2011, to join Dutch Eredivisie champions Twente on loan for the remainder of the season.[18][19]
Sporting[edit]
On June 28, 2011, Oguchi joined Sporting CP on a free transfer signing a three-year deal from AC Milan.[20] At the club he became a first choice pick for Sporting's defence alongside World Cup winner Ânderson Polga who he formed a solid partnership with. He helped the club to a semi final of the 2011-12 Europa League in his debut season with the club.
Málaga[edit]
On 31 August 2012, during the last hours of the transfer window, Onuyewu was signed on loan by La Liga outfit Málaga CF, with an option to buy after the season.[21] He made his debut for Málaga on 24 October 2012, playing the last minute in a 1-0 home win against his former club AC Milan, in the Champions league group stage. One week later, on 31 October, he started his first official match for Málaga and went on scoring in a 4−3 away win against CP Cacereño in the Copa del Rey. Onyewu scored his second goal for Malaga in stoppage time against Eibar in Copa del Rey on 18 December 2012 to earn his side a draw.
Termination of Sporting contract[edit]
On 30 August 2013 Sporting announced the termination of Onyewu's contract by mutual consent.[22]
Racism controversy[edit]

Onyewu has dealt with racism during his time in Europe, even having been punched and shouted at by racist fans while playing for Standard.[23] The most well-publicized incident occurred in the 2008–09 Championship playoff when Anderlecht defender Jelle Van Damme, according to Onyewu, allegedly repeatedly called him a "dirty ape,"[24] even after Onyewu relayed the information to the referees.[25] Van Damme denied the accusations following the match and in return said that Onyewu himself taunted him in a racist way by calling him "dirty Flemish."[24] Approximately two weeks later, on June 2, 2009, it was announced by Onyewu's lawyer that he was suing Van Damme in an effort to end on-field racism in European football.[26] The case was withdrawn in February 2011 after a meeting between the two players when Van Damme apologised for any offence he may have given.[27]
International career[edit]

Onyewu was a mainstay on the United States national team for the 2006 and 2010 World Cup cycles. Prior to this, he also represented the U.S. at various youth levels, including at the 2001 World Youth Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior national team on October 13, 2004, against Panama.
Onyewu scored his first international goal in the 2005 Gold Cup, nodding home the extra time winner in the semifinal against Honduras, and was later named to the tournament Best XI.
Oguchi played for the U.S. in the 2006 World Cup, and started in all three United States games. Just before halftime of the third and final group stage match against Ghana, Onyewu conceded a penalty from which Ghana scored, and the U.S. were eliminated with the resultant 2–1 defeat.[28][29]
During the 2009 Confederations Cup, Onyewu was paired with Jay DeMerit due to the injury of his normal partner, Carlos Bocanegra, who was unable to play in the group stage. Onyewu played well against Egypt, helping lead the U.S. to a 3–0 win that earned them a berth in the semifinals. He also had a standout performance in the 2–0 semifinal victory over Spain.
In a World Cup qualifier draw against Costa Rica on October 14, 2009, Onyewu suffered a patellar tendon rupture, forcing him to miss the rest of qualifying.[30]
During the 2010 World Cup, Onyewu started and played the full 90 minutes in the United States' first group match against England on June 12. During the second group match against Slovenia on June 18, he got his second start but was subbed out in the 80th minute. He did not play in the third group match against Algeria on June 23, nor did he play during their second round meeting against Ghana on June 26.


Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.

 

Rumours abound that Harry is making a signing today. I wonder who it will be?

 

Good lord Eamon, I'm starting to worry about your grey matter mate.

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/233752-Oguchi-Onyewu