Ola Kamara

Ola Williams Kamara (born 15 October 1989) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Allsvenskan club Häcken. He has previously played for Stabæk, Hønefoss, Strømsgodset, Molde, Austria Wien, TSV 1860 Munich, Columbus Crew SC, LA Galaxy, Shenzhen and D.C. United. Kamara represented Norway both at youth and senior international levels.

Ola Kamara
Kamara at a fan event for Columbus in 2017
Personal information
Full name Ola Williams Kamara
Date of birth (1989-10-15) 15 October 1989[1]
Place of birth Oslo, Norway
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Häcken
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2005 Frigg
2005–2006 Stabæk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Stabæk 6 (0)
2007 → Hønefoss (loan) 8 (0)
2009–2012 Strømsgodset 100 (34)
2013–2014 SV Ried 0 (0)
2013 → 1860 Munich (loan) 10 (0)
2013 → 1860 Munich II (loan) 5 (2)
2013 → Strømsgodset (loan) 14 (12)
2014–2016 Austria Wien 23 (2)
2015 → Molde (loan) 29 (14)
2016–2017 Columbus Crew 59 (34)
2018 LA Galaxy 31 (14)
2019 Shenzhen 5 (0)
2019–2022 D.C. United 85 (35)
2023– Häcken 9 (0)
International career‡
2006 Norway U17 7 (1)
2007 Norway U18 5 (0)
2012–2013 Norway U23 3 (0)
2013–2019 Norway 17 (7)
Medal record
Stabæk
WinnerTippeligaen2008
Strømsgodset
WinnerNorwegian Football Cup2010
WinnerTippeligaen2013
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2019

Early life

Ola's father moved from Sierra Leone to Norway as a refugee.[3] Kamara was born and raised in Oslo.[4] When Ola was one year old, his parents sought help in raising him and he spent every second weekend, holiday and birthday with a foster family.[5] He played for Frigg during his youth and made his debut for the first team in the Second Division at the age of 15.[6]

Club career

Stabaek

Kamara moved to Stabæk at the age of 16, and soon became an integral part team of Stabæk's youth team.[7] He scored the match-winning goal in the final against Viking when Stabæk won the Norwegian Youth Cup in 2008.[8]

Kamara made his debut for Stabæk in Tippeligaen at the age of 16,[9] when he replaced Somen Tchoyi as a substitute in the 2–2 draw against Lillestrøm on 1 October 2006.[10] The next season, he joined the First Division side Hønefoss on a short-term loan, as a replacement for the injured Lars Lafton and Kenneth Di Vita Jensen.[11] Kamara played three matches for Stabæk in 2008, enough to earn him a winners-medal, when the team won Tippeligaen. Kamara's contract expired after the 2008 season, and he wanted to find a new club, even though Stabæk wanted to renew his contract, because he found it too hard to compete with Daniel Nannskog and Veigar Páll Gunnarsson for playing time.[12] After unsuccessful trials with Reggina and Sandefjord, Kamara had gotten an offer from the 2. divisjon side Bærum but on the last day of the transfer window ahead of the 2009 season, he signed a two-year contract with the Tippeligaen side Strømsgodset.[13] As his wage was only 135,000 kr per year, Kamara had to move back home to his mother.[6][9]

Strømsgodset

Kamara was mostly back-up for Marcus Pedersen in his first season with Strømsgodset.[14] After Pedersen moved to Netherlands in August 2010, Kamara started to play regularly alongside Jo Inge Berget.[6] Kamara scored seven goal in 25 matches in the 2010 season, and became joint top goalscorer for Strømsgodset alongside Pedersen. Kamara also scored goals in the semifinal and the final when Strømsgodset won the 2010 Norwegian Football Cup.[9] Kamara signed a new two-year contract with Strømsgodset in December 2010, lasting till the end of the 2012 season.[14]

Kamara continued to score goals in the beginning of the 2011 season, and when he scored against Odd Grenland on 10 April 2011 he had scored in six home-matches in a row.[15] He became Strømsgodset's top goalscorer in the 2011 season, with 10 goals. Strømsgodset signed Péter Kovács and Adama Diomande ahead of the 2012 season, and Kamara was expected to play less than he had done the last two seasons, but was however playing regularly on the left wing during the season and was a great contributor to the team.[16] After only scoring one goal in the first half of the season, Kamara scored three goals on Lerkendal Stadion in the 3–3 draw against Rosenborg on 24 June 2012.[17] Kamara scored another hat-trick one week later, when Hønefoss was beaten 5–0.[18] In the 5–0 victory against Fredrikstad on 27 July 2012, Kamara scored one and assisted three other goals.[19] Kamara also scored the match-winning goal against Rosenborg on 5 November 2012, which eliminated Rosenborg title-chances. At the end of the season, Strømsgodset finished second behind Molde, and won their first league-medals since 1997.[20]

Kamara's contract with Strømsgodset expired after the 2012 season.[21]

1860 Munich

On 20 January 2013, Kamara signed for SV Ried, but was immediately loaned out to TSV 1860 Munich on a six-month contract until the end of the season 2012–13 season with an option to extend the deal to two years.[22] After the season, he went on loan to Strømsgodset.

Return to Strømsgodset

The loan spell at his old club Strømsgodset was very successful. He scored 12 goals in 14 matches, including a hat-trick in his first match, and thus played a vital role in the team that went on to win the league.

Austria Wien

After a failed trial at West Ham United Kamara signed for Austria Wien in January 2014 but scored only two goals in 23 matches.

Molde FK

On 28 January 2015, Molde FK announced that they had signed Kamara on loan for the 2015 season, with an option to buy the striker.[23]

On 4 August 2015, he scored a goal in 3-3 draw with Dinamo Zagreb in the second match of Third Qualifying Round UEFA Champions League.

Columbus Crew SC

On 4 February 2016, Kamara signed with Columbus Crew prior to the start of the MLS season. Terms of the transfer were not disclosed.[24] His 2016 base salary was $425,000.[25]

Kamara made his club debut 9 April 2016 in a 2–0 loss to Montreal Impact, replacing Kei Kamara in the 70th minute.[26] He started his time with Crew SC as the backup to Kei Kamara, but jumped into the starting role when Kei was traded to the New England Revolution. His first goal for the Crew was against Real Salt Lake on 28 May, adding two more to complete the hat trick.[27] Kamara ended his first season outside Europe with 16 goals and two assists in 25 MLS appearances.

LA Galaxy

After two successful seasons with Columbus, in January 2018 Kamara was traded to LA Galaxy in exchange for Gyasi Zardes and $400,000 in targeted allocation money.[28] LA sent an additional $100,000 in TAM to the Crew after Kamara passed the 12-goal mark last season. After the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Galaxy, Kamara wanted to pursue other options elsewhere. LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese in a club statement. "Ola wanted to pursue opportunities elsewhere, and we worked to complete a move that will give us options to strengthen our roster moving forward. We thank Ola for what he has contributed to this club and wish him the best in his future."[29]

Shenzhen paid the Galaxy a $3.5 million transfer fee for Kamara, who signed a three-year contract with the club that would pay him $3 million net per year.[29]

Shenzhen

On 27 February 2019, Kamara transferred to Chinese Super League newcomer Shenzhen.[30]

D.C. United

After an unsuccessful spell in China where he only made six appearances for Shenzhen, Kamara returned to Major League Soccer, joining D.C. United for a transfer fee of $2.5 million. D.C. United also sent $200,000 of General Allocation Money to Colorado Rapids in exchange for the No.1 slot in the 2019 Allocation Ranking, allowing them to select Kamara.[31] He appeared the first time for DC United after being subbed on for Wayne Rooney in the 74th minute of the Vancouver Whitecaps game on 17 August 2019[32] In his first start for DC, Kamara scored his first DC goal in the 55th minute against the New York Red Bulls on 21 August 2019.[33] In only his third start for DC United, he scored two goals against the Montreal Impact on 31 August 2019. The game ended as a 3–0 DC win.[34] During the 2019 season, Kamara suffered a hamstring injury. He then returned from injury coming on in the 69th minute in a crucial game against FC Cincinnati on 6 October 2019. The crucial game ended 0–0, crushing United's hopes of hosting a round one MLS playoff game.[35] DC had to travel to Toronto for the first round of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs and were defeated 5-1 after giving up 4 goals in AET to end their season.[36]

Kamara's 2020 season was extremely disappointing, although the COVID-19 Pandemic did cause a break in the MLS season and subsequent rearrangement of the schedule. He played in 22 of D.C.'s 23 regular season matches and started 17 but only managed to net four goals and did not provide a single assist. Kamara did score on the final day of season in the 33rd minute to give D.C. a 2–1 lead over Montreal Impact but two late goals by the Impact to turn the match around denied D.C. a second straight playoff appearance.[37]

The 2021 Season did not start on a high note for Kamara. Due to a preseason injury setback he missed D.C.’s first three matches and was limited to 90 minutes total in his next four.[38] He caught fire, however, during the summer months as he scored 13 goals in 14 matches in July, August, and September.[39] He also lead the league in G/90 with 0.94.[40] On the final day of the season Kamara scored a brace in a 3–1 win against Toronto FC which pushed him into a tie at the top of the 2021 MLS Golden Boot standings.[41] Ultimately, though, he lost out to Valentin Castellanos due to the assist tiebreaker.[42] That hurt was coupled by the fact that even though D.C. won their final match, other results did not go in their favor and they missed out on the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs by one point.[43]

Kamara started his 2022 season with a goal in D.C.'s 3–0 win against new-comers Charlotte FC on February 26.[44]

International career

Kamara was eligible to represent either Norway or Sierra Leone national teams at international levels, as his mother is Norwegian and his father Sierra Leonean. Kamara was selected for regional teams (Norwegian: Kretslag) in Oslo at the age of 15,[3] and later represented Norway at under-16 and under-17 level. He has also represented the Norway under-23 national football team. Kamara made his debut for the Norway national team when he replaced Daniel Braaten in the 61st minute of the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on 11 October 2013.[45] In the match against Iceland four days later, Kamara made his starting-debut on his 24th birthday and played a total of 55 minutes.[46]

Career statistics

Club
As of 17 April 2022[1][47][48]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stabæk 2006 Tippeligaen 3000––30
2007 0011––11
2008 301000–40
Total 602100–81
Hønefoss (loan) 2007 Adeccoligaen 8010––90
Strømsgodset 2009 Tippeligaen 15421––175
2010 25752––309
2011 3011312[lower-alpha 1]0–3512
2012 301242––3414
Total 1003414620–11640
SV Ried 2012–13 Austrian Bundesliga 0000––00
2013–14 0000––00
Total 0000––00
1860 Munich (loan) 2012–13 2. Bundesliga 10000––100
1860 Munich II (loan) 2012–13 Regionalliga Bayern 52–––52
Strømsgodset (loan) 2013 Tippeligaen 1412002[lower-alpha 1]1–1613
Austria Wien 2013–14 Austrian Bundesliga 1210000–121
2014–15 11100––111
Total 2320000–232
Molde (loan) 2015 Tippeligaen 29144211[lower-alpha 2]5–4421
Columbus Crew SC 2016 MLS 251610––2616
2017 341800–5[lower-alpha 3]13919
Total 593410–516535
LA Galaxy 2018 MLS 311410––3214
Shenzhen 2019 Chinese Super League 5010––60
D.C. United 2019 MLS 5300–1[lower-alpha 3]063
2020 22400–00224
2021 281900–002819
2022 6400–002819
Total 613000–106230
Career total 35114224915661396158
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and four goals in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

International
As of 2 April 2021[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway 201340
201431
201500
201600
201720
201845
201941
Total177
Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kamara goal.[49]
List of international goals scored by Ola Kamara
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
115 January 2014Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Moldova1–12–1Friendly
223 March 2018Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Australia1–14–1Friendly
33–1
44–1
519 November 2018GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Cyprus1–02–02018–19 UEFA Nations League C
62–0
726 March 2019Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Sweden3–33–3UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Personal life

In March 2018, Kamara earned a U.S. green card, which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[50]

Honours

Strømsgodset

Häcken

References
  1. "Ola Kamara". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. "Ola Kamara". D.C. United. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. Oksnes, Bernt Jakob (15 July 2005). "Her er nye Norge" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. p. 26. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. Torkelsson, Mattias (20 January 2013). "Ola Kamara till 1860 München". SvenskaFans.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. Kjernlie, Eira; Dimmen, Sofie Dege (11 October 2013). "Ola takker sine helgeforeldre". Budstikka (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  6. Solbakken, Espen (14 November 2010). "Godset-helten bor hjemme hos mamma" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  7. "Full fart på Nadderud og i Østfoldhallen – ungdomsbloggen uke 46" (in Norwegian). Stabæk Fotball. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. Olsen, Olav Rege (1 November 2008). "Målkalas i finalen" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. Langerød, Dag; Vik, Marius (14 November 2010). "Matchhelt på luselønn" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  10. "Lillestrøm – Stabæk". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). 1 October 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. Rudstaden, Ole Martin (25 May 2007). "HBK hentet Kamara" (in Norwegian). Ringerikes Blad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  12. Hasle, Anders Mehlum (26 November 2008). "Kamara trener med SF" (in Norwegian). Sandefjords Blad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  13. Bakkehaug, Wegard (15 October 2013). "Spisskometen Kamara var én dag fra å ende i 2. divisjon". TV 2 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  14. Nilsen, Jostein (3 December 2010). "Signerte ny kontrakt" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  15. Hoff, Jørgen B.; Nilsen, Jostein (11 April 2011). "Scorer alltid på Marienlyst" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. Nilsen, Magne J. (20 April 2012). "Klorer seg fast på SIF-laget" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  17. Nilsen, Sondre (24 June 2012). "Hattrick-helten: – Du tok feil, Ronny Deila!" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
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  23. "Ola Kamara til Molde!" [Ola Kamara to Molde!]. moldefk.no/ (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
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  25. "2016 MLS Player Salaries: May 15, 2016: By Club" (PDF). Major League Soccer Players Union. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  26. "Montreal Impact 2-0 Columbus Crew SC". ESPNFC. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  27. "Ola Kamara". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  28. "LA Galaxy acquire forward Ola Kamara | LA Galaxy".
  29. "Stejskal: LA Galaxy complete transfer of Ola Kamara to China's Shenzhen FC | MLSSoccer.com".
  30. "深圳官方宣布伊布队友加盟 36场19球全能射手来投". Sina.com (in Chinese). 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  31. "DC United acquire Ola Kamara from China for multi-million fee | MLSSoccer.com".
  32. Becherano, Lizzy (18 August 2019). [Wayne Rooney gets sent off early, and D.C. United falls to the New York Red Bulls "Frustration reigns as D.C. United fall 1-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps"]. Black & Red United. Retrieved 25 August 2019. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  33. Giambalvo, Emily (22 August 2019). "Wayne Rooney gets sent off early, and D.C. United falls to the New York Red Bulls". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  34. Becherano, Lizzy (31 August 2019). "Ola Kamara sparks first half blitz as D.C. United downs Montreal Impact 3-0". Black & Red United. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  35. "D.C. United fails to break down 9-man FC Cincinnati in frustrating 0-0 draw". 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  36. mlssoccer. "DC United admit extratime collapse in Toronto is "hard to process," hail Wayne Rooney's influence | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
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  39. mlssoccer. "Ola Kamara | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  40. mlssoccer. "MLS Player Stats | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  41. dcunited. "Post-Match Facts | #TORvDC | DC United". dcunited. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  42. mlssoccer. "New York City FC's Valentín "Taty" Castellanos wins 2021 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  43. "D.C. United's playoff hopes die on the final day of the season for the second straight year". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  44. Quillen, Ian Nicholas (26 February 2022). "Recap: DC United 3, Charlotte FC 0". MLS. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  45. Kvam, Lars Hojem (12 October 2013). "Én norsk spiller storkoste seg mot Slovenia". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  46. Røed-Johansen, Daniel (15 October 2013). "Slik spilte Norge i Høgmos Ullevaal-debut". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  47. Ola Kamara at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  48. Ola Kamara at Major League Soccer
  49. "Ola Kamara". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  50. "Ola Kamara receives green card". LAGalaxy.com. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
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