Alex Nimo

Infobox Football biography


playername = Alex Nimo
fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|3|21cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=115172&&cc=5901|title=Alex Nimo #7 M|work=Real Salt Lake|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|accessdate=2008-09-11]
cityofbirth = Monrovia
countryofbirth = Liberia
height = height|m=1.65
position = Forward
currentclub = Real Salt Lake
clubnumber = 7
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2008-
clubs = Real Salt Lake
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
nationalyears = 2007-2008
2008-
nationalteam = United States U-17
United States U-20
nationalcaps(goals) = 16 (2)
06 (2)
pcupdate = 13:42, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Alex Nimo (born March 21, 1990) is an Liberian-American soccer player. He is a striker with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. [ [http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/players/roster.jsp?club=t121 Real Salt Lake Roster.] Major League Soccer. Retrieved on September 10 2008.] He played four games for the United States U-17 at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. [cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=574817.html|title=Nimo: We never give up|date=August 21, 2007|publisher=FIFA.com|accessdate=2008-09-11] In 2008, he became a regular with the United States U-20. [ [http://www.ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_79-2008U20MNTResults.html 2008 U.S. U-20 National Team Results] ]

Nimo was drafted 17th overall in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake. Nimo is on a Generation Adidas contract. He has yet to appear for Salt Lake's first team but has made numerous appearances with their reserves.

Early life

Born in Monrovia to Tommy and Maima Nimo, Alex moved with his family to a refugee camp in Ghana as an infant. There he spent most of the first nine years of his life as the family escaped from the First Liberian Civil War.cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=529231.html|title=A hard road for Nimo|date=May 30, 2007|publisher=FIFA.com|accessdate=2008-09-11] Nimo and his family were granted asylum as political refugees and moved to Oregon with the assistance of Catholic Ministries. In Oregon, he was discovered by the late University of Portland soccer coach Clive Charles and placed in F.C. Portland.

In 2003, he was chosen for the player pool of the under-14 U.S. national team. The height|ft=5|in=5 midfielder attended Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, and was a two time all-state forward. [cite news
title= Nimo's soccer skills pave way
first=Steve
last=Brandon
work=The Portland Tribune
date=April 3, 2007
url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=117555025498810600] He was considered one of the best players to ever come out of Oregon.cite news|title=PREP WEDNESDAY Road to join U.S. elite, starts in refugee camp|last=Freeman|first=Joe|date=January 10, 2007|work=The Oregonian|pages=D01|accessdate=2008-09-11] He was named a Parade All-American, [cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=mls&player=nimo_a&event=superdraft&year=2008|title=Alex Nimo|work=MLSnet.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|accessdate=2008-09-11] and all-state at Benson. [cite news|title=Soccer - The Oregonian All State Team 2006 - Class 6A - Boys |date=December 13, 2006|work=The Oregonian|accessdate=2008-09-11] Nimo received his U.S. citizenship in November 2006. In 2007, he joined the U.S. Residency camp located in Bradenton, Florida, and played for the U-17 national team. [cite news|title=Nimo gets All-America team honor|last=Freeman|first=Joe|date=May 21, 2007|work=The Oregonian|pages=D01|accessdate=2008-09-11]

Professional career

In January 2008, Nimo was drafted by Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SLTB&p_theme=sltb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=RSL:%20Rookie%20toughened%20by%20years%20as%20refugee%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(RSL:%20Rookie%20toughened%20by%20years%20as%20refugee)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |title=RSL: Rookie toughened by years as refugee|last=Lewis|first=Michael C.|date=March 4, 2008|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|accessdate=2008-09-11] He was selected 17th overall in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. A Generation Adidas player, he earns $45,000 per year from Real Salt Lake. [cite news|title=RSL has 10 players making at least 6 figures|last=Edward|first=James|date=April 9, 2008|work=Deseret Morning News|accessdate=2008-09-11] In April 2008, he played for the Under-20 national team. [cite news|title=RSL keeps looking for right mix at forward|last=Edward|first=James|date=April 23, 2008|work=Deseret Morning News|accessdate=2008-09-11] He scored his first goal for Real Salt Lake on July 9, 2008, in a exhibition game against Santos Laguna. [cite news|title=Soccer: RSL loses, while Kreis awaits punishment |last=Lewis|first=Michael C.|date=July 9, 2008|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|accessdate=2008-09-11]

National team

In 2006, Nimo was called up to the United States U-17 men's national soccer team as it entered its qualification campaign for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. [ [http://ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281888.html U-17 Head Coach John Hackworth Names 20-Player Roster for CONCACAF Group B Qualifying] ] He then played all four U.S. games at the World Cup as the U.S. went to the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Germany. [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=273612/index.html FIFA Player Profile] ] In 2008, he became a regular with the United States U-20. [ [http://www.ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_79-2008U20MNTResults.html 2008 U.S. U-20 National Team Results] ]

ee also

*List of current MLS players

References

External links

* [http://ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281888.html Alex Nimo in United States U-17 men's national soccer team - http://ussoccer.com]
* [http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Nimo_long_journey_leads_him_to_Utah200712345617.htm Nimo's long journey leads him to Utah] LiberianSoccer.com
* [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=498706&root=mls&cc=5901 2008 combine notable for defensive talent] - ESPN