Alex Nimo

Alex Nimo
Personal information
Full name Alexander Frank Nimo[1]
Date of birth (1990-03-21) March 21, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Monrovia, Liberia
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
2006 F.C. Portland Soccer Academy
2007 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Real Salt Lake 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Portland Timbers (loan) 45 (1)
2012 Tammeka 29 (4)
International career
2007–2008 United States U17 16 (1)
2008–2009 United States U20 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Frank Nimo (born March 21, 1990) is a former soccer player. Born in Liberia, he represented the United States at youth level.

Early life

Alex moved with his parents, Tommy and Maima Nimo, 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.[2] 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.

Career

Youth

In 2003, Nimo was chosen for the player pool of the under-14 U.S. national team. The 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) midfielder attended Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, and was a two-time all-state forward.[3] He was considered one of the best players to ever come out of Oregon.[4] He was named a Parade All-American,[5] and all-state at Benson.[6] 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.[7]

Professional

In the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, Nimo—who had already been signed by the league to a Generation Adidas contract worth $45,000 per year—was selected 17th overall by Real Salt Lake.[8][9] He scored his first goal for the team on July 9, 2008, in an exhibition game against Santos Laguna, but would not see any league appearances during the season.[10] Shortly before the opening of the 2009 season, in March, the club announced that Nimo would be loaned out to the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division.[11] He was loaned to the Timbers again for the 2010 season.

It was announced on November 18, 2010, that Nimo would graduate from the MLS Generation Adidas program at the end of the 2010 season.[12]

On January 10, 2012, Nimo went on trial with Polish team Bytovia Bytów, which played in Polish Second League (3rd tier).[13]

JK Tammeka Tartu

On March 7, 2012, Nimo signed a two-year contract with Estonian Meistriliiga club JK Tammeka Tartu.[14] He made 34 appearances and scored six goals for the team in that season.[15] The contract was mutually terminated before the 2013 season.[16][17]

International

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.[18] 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.[19] In 2008, he became a regular with the United States U-20.[20]

Honors

Portland Timbers

References

  1. ^ "Tartu JK Tammeka (2012)" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  2. ^ "A hard road for Nimo". FIFA.com. May 30, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  3. ^ Brandon, Steve (April 3, 2007). "Nimo's soccer skills pave way". The Portland Tribune.
  4. ^ Freeman, Joe (January 10, 2007). "Prep Wednesday: Road to join U.S. elite, starts in refugee camp". The Oregonian. pp. D01.
  5. ^ "Alex Nimo". MLSnet.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  6. ^ "Soccer - The Oregonian All State Team 2006 - Class 6A - Boys". The Oregonian. December 13, 2006.
  7. ^ Freeman, Joe (May 21, 2007). "Nimo gets All-America team honor". The Oregonian. pp. D01.
  8. ^ Lewis, Michael C. (March 4, 2008). "RSL: Rookie toughened by years as refugee". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  9. ^ Edward, James (April 9, 2008). "RSL has 10 players making at least 6 figures". Deseret Morning News.
  10. ^ Lewis, Michael C. (July 9, 2008). "Soccer: RSL loses, while Kreis awaits punishment". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  11. ^ "Nimo to Portland". Behind the Shield. Real Salt Lake. 2009-03-10. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  12. ^ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/generation-adidas-players-graduate-seasons-end Generation adidas players to graduate at season's end
  13. ^ "Alexander Nimo i Artur Kowalczyk na testach w Bytovii". 90minut.pl. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  14. ^ "Alexander Nimoga sõlmiti 2-aastane leping!" (in Estonian). JK Tammeka Tartu. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Mängija statistika — Nimo, Alexander Frank" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Tammeka alustab uue peatreeneri käe all kontrollmänge" (in Estonian). JK Tammeka Tartu. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Nimo lahkus Tammekast, uued leegionärid tulekul" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  18. ^ U-17 Head Coach John Hackworth Names 20-Player Roster for CONCACAF Group B Qualifying
  19. ^ FIFA Player Profile
  20. ^ Edward, James (April 23, 2008). "RSL keeps looking for right mix at forward". Deseret Morning News.