Niko Tsakiris

Nikolas Diego Tsakiris (born June 19, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.

Niko Tsakiris
Personal information
Full name Nikolas Diego Tsakiris[1]
Date of birth (2005-06-19) June 19, 2005[1]
Place of birth Saratoga, California, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 San Jose Earthquakes
Youth career
De Anza Force
2015–2017 IMG Academy
2017–2022 San Jose Earthquakes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– San Jose Earthquakes II 7 (1)
2022– San Jose Earthquakes 25 (0)
International career
2022– United States U20 9 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Youth

Tsakiris started playing academy soccer with De Anza Force. In 2015, at the age of 10, he moved to Florida to play with IMG Academy. A couple years later in 2017 he returned to the Bay Area and began play with the San Jose Earthquakes academy for four years, until receiving his first professional contract with San Jose at the beginning of 2022.[2]

Professional

On January 13, 2022, Tsakiris signed as a Homegrown Player for Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes. He was the tenth homegrown signed by the Quakes in their history and the fifth youngest player they had ever signed.[2]

Tsakiris made his professional debut with San Jose on March 12, 2022, in an MLS match away to Philadelphia Union. Tsakiris became the third youngest player to appear in MLS for San Jose.[3] Tsakiris made his professional start in San Jose's matchup against Bay Cities FC in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. Tsakiris also scored his first professional goal in the 83rd minute of the match.[4]

International

On March 3, 2020, Tsakriris was called up to a training camp for the United States national under-15 team.[5] On April 20, 2022, Tsakiris was called up to a training camp for the United States national under-20 team. He was the second youngest player called for the camp.[6]

Personal life

Niko's father is Shaun Tsakiris, an American former soccer player who is currently an assistant coach of the U.S. under-20 men's soccer team and the director of Los Gatos United academy.[2][7] He is of Greek and Portuguese descent.[8]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played October 21, 2023[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Jose Earthquakes II 2022 MLS Next Pro 61———61
2023 10———10
Total 71———71
San Jose Earthquakes 2022 MLS 10021——121
2023 150——2[lower-alpha 1]0170
Total 250210020291
Career total 321210020362
  1. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

United States U20

References
  1. "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. sjearthquakes. "NEWS: Earthquakes Sign 16-Year-Old Midfielder Niko Tsakiris to Homegrown Contract | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. sjearthquakes. "MATCH RECAP: PHI vs SJ | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  4. sjearthquakes. "MATCH RECAP: SJ vs Bay Cities FC | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  5. sjearthquakes. "ACADEMY: Four Academy players called to Youth National Teams | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  6. sjearthquakes. "NEWS: Niko Tsakiris Called to U.S. U20 National Team Training Camp | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  7. "Niko Turns Pro! – Los Gatos United Soccer Club". January 19, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  8. Chairez, Marcus (August 22, 2022). "2022 Youth Series: Top 20 Born in 2005".
  9. Niko Tsakiris at Soccerway. Retrieved May 15,2023.
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