Gale Agbossoumonde
Encyclopedia
Gale Agbossoumonde is a Togo
lese born American
soccer player who is currently on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt
from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
, but his family fled to Benin
when Gale was an infant. At the age of eight, his family moved to Syracuse, New York
with the help of a church charity. Gale attended Christian Brothers Academy until the 9th grade, leading them to a NYS Soccer Championship runner-up finish that year.
in Bradenton, Florida
. He emerged as a force at centerback, earning high praise for his soccer IQ and his ability to effectively use his already large frame.
Agbossoumonde signed a three and a half year contract with Traffic Sports and Miami FC
on August 6, 2009. His professional debut shortly followed and he made six appearances during the 2009 USL season. On January 7, 2010, he moved to Sporting Braga of the Portuguese Liga
on a six-month loan that includes an option to buy.
Agbossoumonde was recently sent on loan to Allsvenskan
team Djurgården. On April 15th, he started his first match and went the full 90 minutes for Djurgården, against Malmö, having won "Man of the Match" honors. Agbossoumonde played eight games for Djurgården during the spring, but Djurgården decided not to use their option to buy him out of his contract, and Agbossoumonde will leave the club at the end of July..
In late July 2011, a couple of Swedish magazines wrote that Agbossoumonde had signed a half-year contract with 1. Bundesliga
club 1. FC Köln
, but the German club had not written anything about Agbossoumonde nor listed him as a player in the squad at that time.
On August 30th, it was announced that Agbossoumonde had been loaned to 2. Bundesliga
side Eintracht Frankfurt
. Gale received official clearance to play for Eintracht in the beginning of October, and made his debut for the U-23 squad in a match on October 8th vs. SGS Großaspach.
and participated in the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
in Trinidad & Tobago, helping the US to qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
in Egypt
. In the tournament in Egypt
, although only 17 at the time, he started all games for the US.
On November 11, 2010, Agbossoumonde received his first senior national team call up for the United States. His first senior international cap came on his birthday, November 17, 2010 against South Africa
in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who is currently on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Early life
Agbossoumonde was born in TogoTogo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, but his family fled to Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
when Gale was an infant. At the age of eight, his family moved to Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
with the help of a church charity. Gale attended Christian Brothers Academy until the 9th grade, leading them to a NYS Soccer Championship runner-up finish that year.
Club
After a semester with the U-17 National Team, Agbossoumonde was invited to join the IMG Soccer AcademyIMG Soccer Academy
The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. It is U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 and U-16 mens national teams. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects...
in Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
. He emerged as a force at centerback, earning high praise for his soccer IQ and his ability to effectively use his already large frame.
Agbossoumonde signed a three and a half year contract with Traffic Sports and Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
on August 6, 2009. His professional debut shortly followed and he made six appearances during the 2009 USL season. On January 7, 2010, he moved to Sporting Braga of the Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
on a six-month loan that includes an option to buy.
Agbossoumonde was recently sent on loan to Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
team Djurgården. On April 15th, he started his first match and went the full 90 minutes for Djurgården, against Malmö, having won "Man of the Match" honors. Agbossoumonde played eight games for Djurgården during the spring, but Djurgården decided not to use their option to buy him out of his contract, and Agbossoumonde will leave the club at the end of July..
In late July 2011, a couple of Swedish magazines wrote that Agbossoumonde had signed a half-year contract with 1. Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
club 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, but the German club had not written anything about Agbossoumonde nor listed him as a player in the squad at that time.
On August 30th, it was announced that Agbossoumonde had been loaned to 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
side Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
. Gale received official clearance to play for Eintracht in the beginning of October, and made his debut for the U-23 squad in a match on October 8th vs. SGS Großaspach.
International
He has been an active member of the United States U-20 teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
and participated in the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
The 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship is the biannual CONCACAF youth championship tournament for under-20 national teams. The 2009 edition was held in Trinidad and Tobago. All matches were played at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago and Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad...
in Trinidad & Tobago, helping the US to qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In the tournament in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, although only 17 at the time, he started all games for the US.
On November 11, 2010, Agbossoumonde received his first senior national team call up for the United States. His first senior international cap came on his birthday, November 17, 2010 against South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup.
Individual
- U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the YearU.S. Soccer Athlete of the YearThe U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year is given by the United States Soccer Federation to the American soccer players judged best in the calendar year. It is the longest running major American soccer award...
:- Winner: 2010