Andre Akpan

Career

Youth and college

Akpan was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, to a Nigerian father and an American mother. He played for coaches Hassan Nazari and David Hudgell on the '88 Dallas Texans, and his prolific scoring touch helped lead his team to back-to-back-to-back USYSA National Championships (U17, U18, U19), as well as a Dallas Cup Super Group Victory - a feat that no other American team has accomplished in the last 25 years. He played high school soccer at The Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, where he was the all-time leading scorer with 111 goals over four years. He also attained the single-season scoring record with 37 goals.

In 2006, Akpan entered Harvard University where he played on the men's soccer team, and was also a member of The Phoenix – S K Club. He was the 2006 Ivy League rookie of the year and first team All Ivy League. In 2007, he was a second team NSCAA All American. While at Harvard he also made appearances for USL Premier Development League clubs Westchester Flames and Chicago Fire Premier, helping the latter to the 2009 USL PDL championship game, and scoring in the final.

Professional

Akpan was drafted in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado Rapids. He made his professional debut on April 13, 2010, in a US Open Cup game against the Kansas City Wizards. His first MLS goal was scored on April 30, 2011, against the Chicago Fire equalizing just after halftime.

Akpan made a short-term loan switch to USL Second Division club Real Maryland Monarchs in June 2010, where he made one league appearance and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearance. Akpan made his second short-term loan switch of the season to USSF D-2 club FC Tampa Bay in July 2010.

On March 28, 2013, Akpan was traded to New York Red Bulls in exchange for a conditional 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick. In his first season with New York, Akpan played in seven regular season matches, recording two assists. He was also the team's top scorer in the MLS Reserve League scoring 10 goals.

Akpan was traded by New York with allocation money to New England Revolution in exchange for Saër Sène and an international roster spot on August 12, 2014.

International

Akpan was a member of the United States U-20 team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored a hat trick in qualifying and appeared in the quarterfinals.

Honors

Colorado Rapids

• Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2010
• Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2010

New York Red Bulls

• MLS Supporters' Shield(1): 2013

References

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players". FIFA.
2. "Frosh Eyes Next Goal {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson".
3. [https://archive.today/20120914084645/http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72011+Elements/Display+E+47116+News/Display/+6188518+20202833+2452 Fusion overcome Fire for PDL title]
4. [http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/superdraft/2010/draft_tracker.jsp 2010 MLS SuperDraft] {{webarchive. link. (2010-03-19)
5. (14 April 2010). "US Open Cup qualifying: Wells Thompson brace gives Rapids qualifying win over Wizards (Video) {{!}} TheCup.us - Full Coverage of US Open Cup Soccer".
6. "Rapids come back to snap losing streak with tie vs. Fire | Major League Soccer".
7. "News {{!".
8. "FC Tampa Bay Rowdies".
9. "Red Bulls Acquire Forward Andre Akpan from Colorado {{!".
10. (12 August 2014). "Red Bulls acquire Sène". newyorkredbulls.com.
11. "Andre Akpan".
12. "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Andre AKPAN".