Edward Opoku

Edward Opoku Yeboah Alexander (born 1 August 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger. He previously appeared at the senior level with AC Connecticut, Columbus Crew SC, Saint Louis FC, and Birmingham Legion.

Edward Opoku
Opoku with Columbus in 2018
Personal information
Full name Edward Opoku Yeboah Alexander
Date of birth (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996
Place of birth Konongo, Ashanti, Ghana
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s) Winger
Youth career
2006–2011 Right to Dream Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Virginia Cavaliers 56 (16)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 AC Connecticut 8 (1)
2018–2019 Columbus Crew SC 5 (0)
2018 → Saint Louis FC (loan) 2 (0)
2019 → Birmingham Legion (loan) 17 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 October 2019

Opoku came to the United States through the Right to Dream Academy at the age of 15, attending the Millbrook School and winning three state championships. He played collegiately for three seasons at Virginia, earning all-conference honors during each season, and spent time with AC Connecticut during the college offseason. Opoku signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and was selected by Columbus Crew SC in the second round. He made his professional debut while on loan to Saint Louis FC, and would later spend time on loan at Birmingham Legion. Opoku is eligible to play for the national teams of Ghana and the United States and is a citizen of both countries.[1]

Early life

Born in Konongo, Ghana, Opoku was a product of the Right to Dream Academy, which he joined when he was 10 years old. He came to the United States through the academy at the age of 15, earning a scholarship to attend the Millbrook School.[2] Opoku helped the Mustangs win three NEPSAC Class C state titles, was a Western New England Prep School All-Select honoree in all four years of high school, and was named as the co-most valuable player of the 2014 High School All-America Game.[3] He set school records with 85 goals and 115 total points in his four years at the school.[4]

Opoku was ranked as the ninth-best player in the high school class of 2015 by College Soccer News.[5] He committed to play college soccer at Virginia, part of a recruiting class that ranked second in the nation and also included Derrick Etienne.[6]

College and amateur

Opoku made his Virginia debut on 29 August 2015, coming off the bench in a victory over Charlotte.[7] He went on to appear in all 18 matches, one of just three Cavaliers to do so, and started 15 times, primarily playing as a forward. His first collegiate goal came on 5 October, helping Virginia to a 3–2 victory against Portland.[4] Opoku was named Third Team All-ACC and to the ACC All-Freshman Team after finishing the season with two goals and three assists.[8] He was one of just two freshmen to be named to an all-ACC team, the other being Jack Harrison. As a sophomore, Opoku netted six goals in 18 appearances for the Cavaliers. Five of those six goals were game-winners, a mark that ranked 13th nationally and second in the conference.[4] His only goal that was not a game-winner came on 28 October 2016 against James Madison but was accompanied by an assist for the first multi-point game of his collegiate career. Opoku was named to the All-ACC Second Team at season's end.[9]

As a junior, Opoku tallied multiple career-highs: eight goals and four assists in 20 appearances. He scored five times through the first six matches of the year, punctuating that stretch with two goals in a victory over Virginia Tech on 15 September 2017.[10] Opoku added a golden goal in a victory over Portland on 2 October, the eighth game-winning goal of his career.[11] He capped the season with his third consecutive all-conference honour, earning a spot on the All-ACC Second Team.[12] Opoku departed Virginia following the year, ending his collegiate career with 16 goals in 56 appearances for the Cavaliers.[4]

AC Connecticut

Following his freshman season at Virginia, Opoku joined AC Connecticut of the Premier Development League (PDL). He made his club debut three games into the campaign, entering as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Westchester Flames on 28 May 2016. Opoku went on to appear four times during the year, tallying just a shot and a yellow card in his time on the pitch.[13]

Opoku returned to AC Connecticut following his sophomore year of college, joining the club for the 2017 PDL season. He scored his first goal for the club, and his first goal in the PDL, on 21 May 2017, although Connecticut was defeated 2–1 by Seacoast United Phantoms.[13] Opoku scored once in four total appearances on the year, and concluded his two seasons with the club having played eight times and scored once.[13]

Club career

Columbus Crew SC

2018: Loan to Saint Louis

Ahead of the 2018 MLS Combine, Opoku signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer (MLS), making him the seventh member of the Generation Adidas class.[14] He was selected by Columbus Crew SC with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, the first Generation Adidas player drafted by Columbus since Dilly Duka in 2010.[15] In a bid to find playing time, Opoku was sent on loan to United Soccer League (USL) club Saint Louis FC on 27 April.[16] He made his club and professional debut one day later, replacing Joey Calistri in the 78th minute of a 1–1 draw with Swope Park Rangers.[17] Opoku made just one more appearance for Saint Louis before being recalled by Columbus on 18 May.[18] He went on to make his Crew debut on 6 June, replacing Niko Hansen in the second half of a 2018 U.S. Open Cup match against Chicago Fire. He converted his kick in the penalty shootout as the Crew were eliminated on penalties.[19] Opoku played his first MLS game on 21 July, beginning a stretch in which he appeared in four consecutive matches, and concluded the season with eight appearances in all competitions: six with Columbus and two with Saint Louis.[1][20]

2019: Loan to Birmingham

On 22 March 2019, Opoku was loaned to USL Championship expansion club Birmingham Legion for the duration of the 2019 USL Championship season.[21] He made his debut for the Legion on 31 March, helping the club earn its first-ever victory. Opoku replaced Prosper Kasim in the 69th minute of an eventual 3–2 win for Birmingham.[22][23] Later in the season, Opoku tallied his first professional goal, doing so in the second round of the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. Against West Chester United, he scored in the 89th minute, notched two assists, and drew the foul that led to a Legion penalty kick.[24] He added a goal in league play against Tampa Bay Rowdies on 10 August, but then suffered an injury one week later in a fixture against Memphis 901.[25][26] Opoku would miss the rest of the season due to the injury, finishing his year with two goals from 18 appearances in all competitions. Following the end of the season in Columbus, Opoku had his contract option declined by the Crew, ending his time with the club after two seasons.[27]

Personal life

In 2018, Opoku started the clothing brand BeHappy, inspired by and named after his lifelong motto. The goal behind the brand was "to highlight the happy moments in average days, as people around the world do the same in their varied situations."[28] Profits from the company were donated to the Fifi Soccer Foundation, a program founded by fellow Ghanaian and former Crew SC player Fifi Baiden.[29]

Career statistics
As of 17 August 2019[30][31]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AC Connecticut 2016[32] PDL 40–––40
2017[33] 41–––41
Total 8100000081
Columbus Crew SC 2018 MLS 5010–0060
2019 0000––00
Total 5010000060
Saint Louis FC (loan) 2018 USL 2000–0020
Birmingham Legion (loan) 2019 USL Championship 17111–00182
Career total 322210000343
  1. All appearances in the U.S. Open Cup

Honors

Individual

References
  1. "Edward Opoku – Columbus profile". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Columbus Crew SC. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  2. Erickson, Andrew (19 October 2018). "Big break lets Edward Opoku achieve his dream". Dispatch.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  3. "Edward Opoku '15 Signs National Letter of Intent for University of Virginia". Millbrook.org. Millbrook School. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. "Edward Opoku – Virginia profile". VirginiaSports.com. Virginia Athletics. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  5. "Recruiting: Class of 2015 (High School Seniors)". CollegeSoccerNews.com. College Soccer News. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  6. "Virginia Welcomes Six Student-Athletes for 2015-16 School Year". VirginiaSports.com. Virginia Athletics. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  7. "No. 2 Virginia Downs No. 17 Charlotte in Season Opener, 1-0". VirginiaSports.com. Virginia Athletics. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  8. "2015 All-ACC Men's Soccer Teams Announced". TheACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  9. "ACC Announces 2016 Men's Soccer Awards". TheACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  10. Darney, Caroline (16 September 2017). "#12 Virginia soccer defeats Va Tech, 2-1, as Gelnovatch gets win 300". StreakingtheLawn.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  11. "Opoku's golden goal completes UVA comeback win over Portland". AugustaFreePress.com. Augusta Free Press. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  12. "Six Cavaliers Recognized on All-ACC Teams". VirginiaSports.com. Virginia Athletics. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  13. "Edward Opoku – AC Connecticut profile". USLLeagueTwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  14. Baer, Benjamin (11 January 2018). "Edward Opoku added to Generation adidas class". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  15. Johnson, Collin (19 January 2018). "Columbus Crew SC select midfielder Edward Opoku with the 32nd overall pick". MassiveReport.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  16. Crew SC Communications (27 April 2018). "Opoku loaned to Saint Louis FC". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Columbus Crew SC. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  17. "Swope Park Rangers 1–1 Saint Louis FC". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  18. @AEricksonAU (18 May 2018). "Berhalter said team is trying to find him a new USL loan assignment. Consistent game time is the goal. #CrewSC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. Torres, Guilherme (7 June 2018). "Game Grades: Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire". MassiveReport.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  20. Schudel, Ralph (24 July 2018). "Opoku cherishes his MLS debut and is ready for more". MassiveReport.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  21. Crew SC Communications (22 March 2019). "Columbus Crew SC Sends Forward Edward Opoku on Loan". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Columbus Crew SC. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  22. Guldan, Patrick (3 April 2019). "Loan report: How the away Crew players performed this week". MassiveReport.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  23. Arlia, John (1 April 2019). "First Goal, Victory Well Worth the Wait for Legion FC". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  24. Fuller, John (17 May 2019). "2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Eddie Opoku helps Birmingham Legion make Alabama soccer history". TheCup.us. TheCup.us. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  25. "Eddie Opoku named Man of the Match as super strike wins it for Birmingham Legion in USL". Ghananewss.com. Ghananewss. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  26. WREG staff (17 August 2019). "Memphis crumbles in final minutes in 0–1 loss at Birmingham". WREG.com. WREG-TV. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  27. Crew SC Communications (21 October 2019). "Columbus Crew SC announces roster updates ahead of 2020 season". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Columbus Crew SC. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  28. "BeHappy". BeHappyOrders1.wixsite.com. Wix.com Ltd. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  29. Erickson, Andrew (23 June 2018). "Crew Cuts: Crew SC's Edward Opoku explains meaning of #BeHappy, charity work". Dispatch.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  30. Edward Opoku at Soccerway
  31. Edward Opoku at Major League Soccer
  32. "Premier Development League 2016 Statistics". USLLeagueTwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  33. "Premier Development League 2017 Statistics". USLLeagueTwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
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