Israel Sesay
Encyclopedia
Israel Sesay is a Sierra Leone
-born American
soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Blues
in the USL Professional Division.
with his family at the age of 11, settling in Gaithersburg, Maryland
. He attended Quince Orchard High School
, where he starred as a forward and helped lead his school to the Regional Quarterfinals in 2005. He also played for local club team Bethesda Arsenal before joining U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in August 2006.
as part of a weighted lottery in August 2007, and made his MLS debut on September 13, 2007, coming on as a substitute for Kyle Martino
against Chivas USA; in doing so, Sesay became the youngest player in Los Angeles history to appear in a game, at the age of 17 years and 9 days, breaking the former record held by Guillermo Gonzalez, who was 17 years and 168 days when he made his debut in June 2003.
With the MLS Reserve Division
having been scrapped at the end of 2008, Los Angeles loaned Sesay to the Hollywood United Hitmen
of the USL Premier Development League
and the Cleveland City Stars
of the USL First Division
for part of the 2009 season, to maintain his match fitness levels. He scored two goals on his Hollywood debut on May 16, 2009, against Bakersfield Brigade
.
Sesay signed with the Real Maryland Monarchs
of the USL Second Division
on April 26, 2010. However, Sesay was still considered to be a part of Los Angeles per the MLS Players Union Player Salaries as of June 14, 2010.
Sesay signed with the Los Angeles Blues
of the USL Pro
in January 2011. He re-signed with LA for the 2012 season on October 7, 2011.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Blues
Los Angeles Blues
Los Angeles Blues is an American soccer team based in the Los Angeles suburb of Fullerton, California, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL Professional Division.
Early Life and Amateur
Sesay immigrated from his native Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
with his family at the age of 11, settling in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
. He attended Quince Orchard High School
Quince Orchard High School
Quince Orchard High School is a secondary school located on Quince Orchard Road in an unincorporated area of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Quince Orchard's incoming freshmen come from Lakelands Park and Ridgeview Middle School as well as Roberto Clemente Middle School...
, where he starred as a forward and helped lead his school to the Regional Quarterfinals in 2005. He also played for local club team Bethesda Arsenal before joining U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in August 2006.
Professional
Sesay came to Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
as part of a weighted lottery in August 2007, and made his MLS debut on September 13, 2007, coming on as a substitute for Kyle Martino
Kyle Martino
Kyle Martino is a retired American soccer player and currently a TV soccer color analyst.-High School:Martino attended Staples High School in Westport, CT...
against Chivas USA; in doing so, Sesay became the youngest player in Los Angeles history to appear in a game, at the age of 17 years and 9 days, breaking the former record held by Guillermo Gonzalez, who was 17 years and 168 days when he made his debut in June 2003.
With the MLS Reserve Division
MLS Reserve Division
The MLS Reserve Division is an USA soccer league for the reserve teams of Major League Soccer.It was inaugurated on April 9, 2005, with the first official reserve game being a 2-0 victory by Chivas USA over the host San Jose Earthquakes, and disbanded after the 2008 season.The reserve division...
having been scrapped at the end of 2008, Los Angeles loaned Sesay to the Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen is an American soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division, having switched from the...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
and the Cleveland City Stars
Cleveland City Stars
Cleveland City Stars was an American professional soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until 2009...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
for part of the 2009 season, to maintain his match fitness levels. He scored two goals on his Hollywood debut on May 16, 2009, against Bakersfield Brigade
Bakersfield Brigade
Bakersfield Brigade was an American soccer team based in Bakersfield, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...
.
Sesay signed with the Real Maryland Monarchs
Real Maryland Monarchs
Real Maryland F.C., commonly known as the Real Maryland Monarchs, is an American soccer team based in Rockville, Maryland, United States...
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
on April 26, 2010. However, Sesay was still considered to be a part of Los Angeles per the MLS Players Union Player Salaries as of June 14, 2010.
Sesay signed with the Los Angeles Blues
Los Angeles Blues
Los Angeles Blues is an American soccer team based in the Los Angeles suburb of Fullerton, California, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
in January 2011. He re-signed with LA for the 2012 season on October 7, 2011.