Michael Vang

Michael Vang (born May 13, 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro club Portland Timbers 2.[1] Born in the United States, he plays for the Laos national team.

Michael Vang
Personal information
Full name Michael Vang
Date of birth (2000-05-13) May 13, 2000
Place of birth Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Portland Timbers 2
Number 88
Youth career
2013–2015 Minnesota Thunder Academy
2016–2018 Shattuck-Saint Mary's
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 S.U. 1º de Dezembro
2020–2021 Forward Madison 24 (4)
2022 Columbus Crew 2 22 (2)
2023– Portland Timbers 2 19 (2)
International career
2023– Laos 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:18, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

Playing career

Youth

Vang played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy through Shattuck-Saint Mary's in high school.[2]

Vang was committed to play soccer for the University of the Pacific, but decided instead to pursue playing professionally.[3]

Professional

In 2018, Vang went to Portugal to play for S.U. 1º de Dezembro of the Campeonato de Portugal. Vang reached the first team in 2019 and started three league games.[4]

Vang signed with Forward Madison FC of USL League One prior to the 2020 season.[2]

On February 18, 2022, Vang joined Columbus Crew 2, the reserve side of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, ahead of their inaugural MLS Next Pro season.[5] He made 22 appearances for the team and scored two goals, but was released at the end of the season. Vang signed with Portland Timbers 2 of MLS Next Pro, the reserve side of the Portland Timbers, in March 2023.[6]

Personal life

Vang was born to a Hmong family originally hailing from Laos, making him eligible to represent the country at international level. He is the first Hmong professional soccer player in the United States.[7][8]

Honors

Columbus Crew 2

References
  1. "Forward Madison FC 2020 Roster". ForwardMadisonFC.com. Forward Madison FC. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. Klein, Jason (January 16, 2020). "Forward Madison Adds 'Diamond in the Rough' in Michael Vang". ForwardMadisonFC.com. Forward Madison FC. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. Milewski, Todd D. (January 16, 2020). "Combine tryout gets midfielder Michael Vang 2020 roster spot with Forward Madison FC". Madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  4. Klein, Jason (January 16, 2020). "This Is How Michael Vang Got His Soccer Education in Portugal". ForwardMadisonFC.com. Forward Madison FC. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  5. "Columbus Crew 2 signs four players ahead of 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Season | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
  6. "Timbers2 announce 14 player signings ahead of 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season". Portland Timbers 2. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. Greder, Andy (August 19, 2020). "Meet St. Paul's Michael Vang, the first Hmong pro soccer player in U.S." Pioneer Press. St. Paul: Northwest Publications. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. "The Vang Brothers". Lao American Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
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