Mikey Lopez

Miguel Angel "Mikey" Lopez Jr. (born February 20, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for USL Championship club Birmingham Legion.

Mikey Lopez
Mikey Lopez with Birmingham Legion in September 2023
Personal information
Full name Miguel Angel Lopez Jr.
Date of birth (1993-02-20) February 20, 1993
Place of birth Mission, Texas, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham Legion
Number 5
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 North Carolina Tar Heels 46 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Orange County Blue Star 1 (0)
2013–2015 Sporting Kansas City 14 (0)
2014 → Orlando City (loan) 9 (0)
2014 → Oklahoma City Energy (loan) 5 (2)
2015 → Oklahoma City Energy (loan) 8 (0)
2016–2017 New York City FC 27 (0)
2018 San Antonio FC 31 (3)
2019– Birmingham Legion 119 (6)
International career‡
2012–2013 United States U20 17 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Runner-upCONCACAF U-20 Championship2013
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 16, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 6, 2013

Career

College and amateur

Born in Dallas, Texas, Lopez attended the St. Stephens Academy in Austin, Texas when he was in seventh grade in order to attract college scouts.[1] Lopez then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for which he played for the university's soccer team, the North Carolina Tar Heels.[2] While playing with the Tar Heels Lopez led his team to the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in which the Tar Heels won against the Charlotte 49ers and he was named the ACC Freshman Player of the Year.[1] Overall in two seasons with the Tar Heels, Lopez scored five goals and notched up five assists.[2]

Lopez also made one appearance for USL Premier Development League club Orange County Blue Star in 2011.[3]

Sporting Kansas City

On January 17, 2013 Lopez was selected as the 14th overall draft pick by Sporting Kansas City in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.[2] Lopez made his debut for Sporting KC in a 2-0 win over the Des Moines Menace in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round on May 29, 2013.[4]

Orlando City (loan)

On March 17, 2014 it was announced that Lopez would join Sporting USL Pro affiliate Orlando City on loan for the entire season.[5] He made his debut for Orlando City on April 5, 2014.[6]

OKC Energy (loan)

In early June 2014, Sporting Kansas City transferred Lopez' loan contract to Oklahoma City Energy FC, where he earned immediate playing time.[7]

New York City FC

On January 26, 2016, New York City FC announced the signing of Lopez.[8] He made his debut on March 6, 2016, replacing Tony Taylor in the 69th minute of a 4-3 win over Chicago.[9] Lopez was released by New York at the end of the 2017 season.[10]

San Antonio

On January 26, 2018, Lopez signed with USL side San Antonio FC for the 2018 season.[11]

Birmingham Legion

On November 13, 2018, it was announced that Lopez would join Birmingham Legion ahead of their debut USL Championship season.[12]

International

Lopez was born in Dallas to Mexican parents.[13] Lopez was first called into the United States U20 national team in February 2013[14] and was a member of the squad that finished second at the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

Career statistics
As of October 5, 2019[15][16]
Club Season League Playoffs[lower-alpha 1] Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Orange County Blue Star 2011 PDL 10–––10
Sporting Kansas City 2013 MLS 00–10–10
2014 80–––80
2015 60–––60
Total 140001000150
Orlando City (loan) 2014 USL 90–––90
OKC Energy (loan) 2014 USL 52–––52
2015 80–––80
Total 132000000132
New York City FC 2016 MLS 1501010–170
2017 120–10–130
Total 270102000300
San Antonio FC 2018 USL 313–31–344
Birmingham Legion 2019 USL Championship 263–––263
Career total 12181061001289
  1. Appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs

References
  1. Rasmussen, Peter. "Mission's Mikey Lopez headed to MLS". The Monitor. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  2. Palmer, Tod. "Sporting KC takes midfielder Mikey Lopez in first round of MLS draft". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  3. "2011 Orange County Blue Star stats". USLsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  4. "Mikey Lopez makes debut for Sporting KC". Sportingkc.com. May 29, 2013.
  5. "ORLANDO RECEIVES SPORTING KANSAS CITY MIDFIELDER MIKEY LOPEZ ON LOAN". Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  6. "Rochester Rhinos at Orlando City SC 1:3". USL Soccer. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  7. Brannick, Chris (June 10, 2014). "OKC Energy FC gets a boost from Mikey Lopez". Newsok.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  8. "Former Sporting KC midfielder Lopez joins NYCFC". Empire of Soccer.
  9. "Chicago Fire 4-3 loss to NYCFC". Chicago-Fire.com. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  10. "New York City FC Announce Roster Options for 2018 | New York City FC". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  11. "SAN ANTONIO FC SIGNS MIDFIELDER MIKEY LOPEZ". San Antonio FC. January 26, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  12. "Lopez Links Up with Legion FC". USL Championship. November 13, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. "MLS SuperDraft: A day in the life of draft pick Mikey Lopez". January 23, 2013.
  14. "Mikey Lopez called in for U-20 MNT camp | the Bexar Co. Foot". Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  15. Mikey Lopez at Major League Soccer
  16. Mikey Lopez at Soccerway
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