Israel Sesay

Israel Sesay (born September 4, 1990) is a Sierra Leone-born American soccer player who currently plays as a defender for the Empire Strykers in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Israel Sesay
Personal information
Full name Israel Sesay
Date of birth (1990-09-04) September 4, 1990
Place of birth Kenema, Sierra Leone
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Defender/Forward
Team information
Current team
 Empire Strykers
Number 23
Youth career
2004–2005 Bethesda Arsenal
2005–2006 Potomac Cougars[1]
2006–2008 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Los Angeles Galaxy 30 (8)
2009 → Hollywood United Hitmen (loan) 4 (3)
2009 → Cleveland City Stars (loan) 12 (0)
2010 Real Maryland 18 (7)
2011–2012 Los Angeles Blues 43 (20)
2012–2013 Milwaukee Wave (indoor) 24 (5)
2013–2014 Ontario Fury (indoor) 7 (5)
2014 Las Vegas Legends (indoor) 8 (7)
2014– Empire Strykers (indoor) 163 (54)
International career‡
2006–2008 United States U17 14 (0)
United States U20 7
United States arena soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 18, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 15, 2009

Career

Early life and amateur

Sesay immigrated from his native Sierra Leone with his family at the age of 11, settling in Gaithersburg, Maryland.[2] He attended Quince Orchard High School, where he starred as a forward and helped lead his school to the Regional Quarterfinals in 2005. He also played for local club team Potomac Cougars.[3]

Professional

Sesay came to Los Angeles Galaxy as part of a weighted lottery in August 2007, and made his MLS debut on September 13, 2007, coming on as a substitute for Kyle Martino against Chivas USA; in doing so, Sesay became the youngest player in Los Angeles history to appear in a game, at the age of 17 years and 9 days, breaking the former record held by Guillermo Gonzalez, who was 17 years and 168 days when he made his debut in June 2003.[4]

With the MLS Reserve Division having been scrapped at the end of 2008, Los Angeles loaned Sesay to the Hollywood United Hitmen of the USL Premier Development League and the Cleveland City Stars[5] of the USL First Division for part of the 2009 season, to maintain his match fitness levels.[6] He scored two goals on his Hollywood debut on May 16, 2009, against Bakersfield Brigade.[7]

Sesay signed with the Real Maryland Monarchs of the USL Second Division on April 26, 2010.[8] However, Sesay was still considered to be a part of Los Angeles per the MLS Players Union Player Salaries as of June 14, 2010.[9]

Sesay signed with the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Pro in January 2011. He re-signed with LA for the 2012 season on October 7, 2011.[10]

In October 2013, Sesay signed with the Ontario Fury (now the Empire Strykers) of the Professional Arena Soccer League.[11] In January 2014, he was traded to the Las Vegas Legends. The following season he transferred back to the Ontario Fury.

International

Sesay played in 14 games with the U.S. national Under-17 team between 2006 and 2008, making ten starts and collecting three assists.

References
  1. THE TOP 10 OPPONENTS THAT I EVER COACHED AGAINST AT LMSC
  2. Player profile at MLS Archived 2007-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Israel Sesay - Potomac Soccer Association". Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  4. "Los Angeles Galaxy: Roster: Player Bio". Archived from the original on 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  5. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  6. Hollywood United Hitmen 2009 PDL roster Archived 2011-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  8. "Sesay Signs with Real Maryland". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2010-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  11. "Ontario Fury - News - Two More Players Join the Fury!". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
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