Chris Odoi-Atsem

Chris Odoi-Atsem
Personal information
Full name Chris Odoi-Atsem
Date of birth (1995-05-28) May 28, 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Mitchellville, Maryland, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Alexandria Reds
Youth career
2008–2013 Bethesda SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Maryland Terrapins 86 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2022 D.C. United 57 (1)
2017 → Richmond Kickers (loan) 1 (0)
2019 → Loudoun United (loan) 6 (0)
2023– Alexandria Reds 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Chris Odoi-Atsem (born May 28, 1995) is an American soccer player who currently plays for National Premier Soccer League club Alexandria Reds.

Early life

Chris Odoi-Atsem was born and raised in Mitchellville, Maryland and attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School and DeMatha Catholic High School.[2] where he played youth soccer for AC Bethesda in the National Capital Soccer League and eventually in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league. Odi-Atsem was a regular on the team from 2008 until 2013. Odoi-Atsem also played high school soccer for DeMatha Catholic High School, where he helped them win a state championship in 2011.

College soccer

During the 2013 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Odoi-Atsem made his college soccer debut, coming on as a sub in 3–3 draw against Stanford in Palo Alto, California on August 30, 2013.[3] On September 8, 2013, Odoi-Atsem scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–3 loss to VCU. He finished his freshman season making 25 appearances, and starting in 20 matches.

Odoi-Atsem earned his first conference honors during his sophomore year at Maryland. Following the end of the regular season, Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors. Odoi-Atsem played in and started in all 21 games the Terrapins played during the 2014 season. During his junior year, Odoi-Atsem achieved Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors and made 20 appearances for the Terrapins. As a senior, Odoi-Atsem was part of a Maryland squad that spent most of the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season ranked first in the country. Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, as well as NSCAA First Team All-Midwest Region.[4][5]

Professional career

Odoi-Atsem was considered one of the top prospects in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft[6][7] and was selected with the 12th overall pick by D.C. United.[8][9] On April 30, 2017, Odoi-Atsem made his professional and MLS debut in a 3–1 away win at Atlanta United. Odoi-Atsem came on in the 90th minute for Lloyd Sam and played the final five minutes of stoppage time.[10] On November 28, 2017, his contract option with United was declined.[11] D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem on February 16, 2018.[12]

He returned to the field after his battle with cancer on 29 May 2019, playing 67 minutes in a game against Chicago Fire.[13] Odoi-Astem played with D.C. United's USL affiliate, Loudoun United in 2019.

Odoi-Atsem scored his first goal for D.C. United on October 18, 2020, in a 2–1 win over FC Cincinnati.[14] On January 27, 2021, D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem to a two-year contract with a 2023 option.[15]

Following the 2022 season, his contract option was declined by D.C. United.[16]

In July 2023, Odoi-Atsem made an appearance for National Premier Soccer League side Alexandria Reds. He came on as a 59th-minute substitute and scored the game-winning goal in a 2–1 win away to Annapolis Blues.[17]

Personal life

Odoi-Atsem is of Ghanaian descent through his parents.[18]

In October 2018, Odoi-Atsem was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, effectively ending his 2018 season with D.C. United as he began a chemotherapy regimen at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.[19] He completed his cancer treatment in January 2019.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Chris Odoi-Atsem". D.C. United. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Goff, Steven (January 12, 2017). "Two top hopefuls for MLS draft trace a bond back to D.C.-area elementary school". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  3. ^ Juarez, Aaron (August 30, 2013). "Soccer Box Score (Final) #2 Maryland Terrapins vs Stanford (Aug 30, 2013 at Stanford, Calif.)". Maryland Terrapins. UMTerps.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Jones, Steven. "Maryland's Chris Odoi-Atsem, Alex Crognale Now On Opposite Sides". Pressbox DC. Monumental Sports. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "Chris Odoi-Atsem - Men's Soccer". University of Maryland Athletics.
  6. ^ Galarcep, Ives. "Top prospects turn heads on opening day of MLS combine". Goal.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  7. ^ Parchman, Will. "Parchman: Which 2017 SuperDraft candidates are MLS-ready out of the box?". MLS Soccer. mlssoccer.com.
  8. ^ Goff, Steven (January 13, 2017). "D.C. United drafts Maryland defender, waits on Ian Harkes resolution". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "MLS Draft 2017: D.C. United selects Maryland Terrapins defender Chris Odoi-Atsem". Black and Red United. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Stats: Atlanta United FC v DC United". Major League Soccer. mlssoccer.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "D.C. United exercise contract options on six players". dcunited.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "United sign defender Chris Odoi-Atsem | DC United". dcunited.
  13. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (May 29, 2019). "Chris Odoi-Atsem gets first DC United start since cancer battle". Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  14. ^ Liljenwall, Ari (October 18, 2020). "FC Cincinnati 1, D.C. United 2 | 2020 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (January 27, 2021). "Chris Odoi-Atsem re-signs with DC United through 2022 season". mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "D.C. United Announce Roster Decisions Ahead of 2023 Season | DC United". dcunited.
  17. ^ "Game Report | National Premier Soccer League". npsl.bonzidev.com.
  18. ^ "MLS side DC United land Ghanaian youngster Odoi-Atsem". www.kickgh.com.
  19. ^ Goff, Steven (October 16, 2018). "D.C. United's Chris Odoi-Atsem has Hodgkin's lymphoma, plans to come back next season". Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  20. ^ "Chris Odoi-Atsem Completes Final Cancer Treatment". January 31, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.