Oguchi Onyewu

Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Oguchi Onyewu pursued his education at Clemson University, earning a dual B.A. in Language (French) and International Business. His professional soccer career commenced in Europe in 2002, where he played for clubs in France, Belgium, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain over 15 years. Notable teams included Newcastle United, AC Milan, Sporting Lisbon, and Malaga CF, where he demonstrated consistent performance as a central defender. He was an integral part of Standard Liège’s success, contributing to their back-to-back Belgian First Division titles in 2007–08 and 2008–09.

Onyewu was a prominent figure for the U.S. Men’s National Team for over a decade, representing his country in the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. He earned 69 caps and scored six international goals. His contributions to the national team also included winning three CONCACAF Gold Cup titles in 2005, 2007, and 2013, and being named the 2006 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year.

After retiring from professional play in 2018, Onyewu transitioned into sports management. He held positions as Sporting Director for Orlando City B and Secretary General for R.E. Virton in Belgium. In 2023, he was appointed Vice President of Sporting for U.S. Soccer, where he focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of all 27 national teams and promoting diversity and participation across all levels of the sport. His fluency in English, French, and Spanish, combined with his professional certifications and passion for youth development, supports his current role.