C. J. Sapong
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = CJ Sapong
| image = C. J. Sapong.jpg
| image_size = 240
| caption = Sapong with the Philadelphia Union in 2017
| fullname = Charles Nana Kwabena Sapong
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|12|27|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Manassas, Virginia, United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = D.C. United
| collegeyears1 = 2007–2010
| college1 = James Madison Dukes
| collegecaps1 = 67
| collegegoals1 = 35
| years1 = 2009
| clubs1 = Fredericksburg Gunners
| caps1 = 8
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010
| clubs2 = Reading United
| caps2 = 11
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2011–2014
| clubs3 = Sporting Kansas City
| caps3 = 110
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 2013
| clubs4 = → Orlando City (loan)
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2015–2018
| clubs5 = Philadelphia Union
| caps5 = 123
| goals5 = 36
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = Chicago Fire
| caps6 = 43
| goals6 = 15
| years7 = 2021–2023
| clubs7 = Nashville SC
| caps7 = 74
| goals7 = 17
| years8 = 2023
| clubs8 = Toronto FC
| caps8 = 20
| goals8 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2012–2018
| nationalteam1 = United States
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = November 2, 2023
| ntupdate = March 30, 2019
}}
Charles "CJ" Nana Kwabena Sapong ({{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|p|ɒ|ŋ}}; born December 27, 1988) is a former American professional soccer player who played as a forward.
Born in Manassas, Virginia, Sapong was part of the D.C. United youth academy before playing college soccer for the James Madison Dukes. After playing four seasons with James Madison, Sapong was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City as the 11th overall pick.
After his debut professional season, Sapong was named the MLS Rookie of the Year for 2011. In 2012, Sapong won his first championship, helping Kansas City win the U.S. Open Cup. He then was part of the side that won MLS Cup in 2013. Prior to the 2015 season, Sapong was traded to the Philadelphia Union. He played for the Union for three seasons, converting from a winger to a forward, before being traded to the Chicago Fire in 2019. Sapong has also represented the United States internationally, earning four caps between 2012 and 2018.
Playing career
=College=
Sapong played college soccer at James Madison University, where he ended his career with 37 goals and 21 assists in four seasons from 2007 to 2010. He was awarded First Team All-Conference and team Offensive MVP honors all four years, a first in program history, and was the CAA Player of the Year as a senior co-captain in 2010. Sapong was a two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Atlantic Region selection. As a freshman, he was named the CAA and VaSID Rookie of the Year and chosen to the Third Team All-South Atlantic Region.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/01/sporting-kansas-city-selects-cj-sapong|title=Sporting Kansas City Selects C.J. Sapong|work=Sporting Kansas City|access-date=January 18, 2011|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219081905/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/01/sporting-kansas-city-selects-cj-sapong|url-status=dead}}
Sapong made eight appearances for Fredericksburg Gunners in the USL Premier Development League in 2009,{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/6188269.html#STATS|title=United Soccer Leagues (USL)|access-date=January 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008100829/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/6188269.html#STATS#STATS|archive-date=October 8, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} and made eleven appearances and scored four goals for Reading United during their 2010 PDL season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/22373.html#STATS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610082537/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/22373.html#STATS|url-status=dead|title=United Soccer Leagues (USL)|archive-date=June 10, 2011}}
=Club=
==Sporting Kansas City==
Image:C._J._Sapong_5.jpg On January 14, 2011, Sapong was drafted #10 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City. He signed with the club on March 1, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/sporting-kc-signs-three-mls-contracts|title=Sporting KC Signs Three to MLS Contracts|website=sportingkc.com|publisher=Sporting Kansas City|date=March 1, 2011|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105236/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/sporting-kc-signs-three-mls-contracts|url-status=dead}} He made his professional debut on March 19, in Kansas City's opening game of the 2011 MLS season against Chivas USA; he scored his first professional goal after just two minutes of the game, helping his team to a 3–2 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/bravos-debut-double-sporting-sinks-chivas-usa|title=Bravo's debut double for Sporting sinks Chivas USA|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=March 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415235138/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/bravos-debut-double-sporting-sinks-chivas-usa|archive-date=April 15, 2011}} Sapong was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for 2011, edging out Perry Kitchen and Michael Farfan, who finished second and third, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2011/11/08/sporting-kcs-sapong-named-rookie-year|title=Sporting KC's Sapong named Rookie of the Year |website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=May 23, 2020}}
==Orlando City==
Sapong was loaned to USL Pro's Orlando City in July 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/07/11/4340196/sporting-kc-sends-sapong-ellis.html|title=Sporting KC sends Sapong, Ellis to Orlando City on loan|website=kansascity.com|publisher=Sporting Kansas City|date=July 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219083549/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/07/11/4340196/sporting-kc-sends-sapong-ellis.html|archive-date=December 19, 2013}} On July 18, only a week after being loaned to Orlando, Sapong was recalled by Sporting Kansas City. In total, Sapong scored one goal in three matches while tallying one assist.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2013/13380700.html#STATS |title=Orlando City Stats |website=uslsoccer.com |publisher=United Soccer League|access-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804031046/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2013/13380700.html#STATS#STATS |archive-date=August 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
==Philadelphia Union==
On December 8, 2014, Sapong was traded by Kansas City to Philadelphia Union in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2014/12/philadelphia-union-acquires-forward-cj-sapong-sporting-kansas-city|title=Philadelphia Union acquires forward C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City|work=Philadelphia Union|access-date=August 18, 2015|archive-date=December 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214141006/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2014/12/philadelphia-union-acquires-forward-cj-sapong-sporting-kansas-city|url-status=dead}} After several seasons of being deployed on the wing with Kansas City, Sapong was positioned as the Union's lone center forward, taking advantage of his strength and hold-up play.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/02/cj-sapong-and-his-hold-play-analysts-den|title=CJ Sapong and his hold-up play|author=Matt Doyle|website=MLSsoccer.com|date=2 July 2017|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305135459/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/02/cj-sapong-and-his-hold-play-analysts-den|url-status=dead}} He led the Union in goals during the 2015 season (with 9) and would build on those totals in subsequent seasons. He scored his first career hat-trick in Philadelphia's 3–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium on May 6, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2017/05/06/cj-sapong-records-first-career-hat-trick-philadelphia-defeats-new-york-red-bulls-3-0|title=CJ Sapong records first career hat-trick as Philadelphia defeats New York Red Bulls 3–0|author=Bodiford, Matt|publisher=Philadelphia Union|date=May 6, 2017}}
On October 22, 2017, Sapong broke the Union's (and his own) single-season scoring record, previously held by Sebastian Le Toux (14 goals during the 2010 season). At home against Orlando City, on the final day of the season, Sapong scored his fifteenth and sixteenth goals for the record.{{cite web|url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2017/10/22/16517086/watch-cj-sapong-breaks-unions-single-season-scoring-record|title=CJ Sapong breaks Union's single-season scoring record|author=John Rossi|publisher=Brotherly Game|date=22 October 2017|access-date=4 March 2018}}
==Chicago Fire==
On February 23, 2019, Sapong was traded by Philadelphia to Chicago Fire in exchange for up to $450,000 in Allocation Money.
The specifics of the Allocation Money are as follows: $200,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money, $100,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money, and an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to be conveyed to Philadelphia should the Chicago Fire acquire said funds this year.
If the Fire do not acquire an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to convey to Philadelphia this season, then that money conveys as GAM in 2020, and the Union also receive $50,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money from Chicago should Sapong hit certain performance incentives in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2019/02/23/union-acquire-450000-allocation-money-chicago-fire-cj-sapong|title=Philadelphia Union Acquire Up To $450,000 In Allocation Money From Chicago Fire For CJ Sapong|website=philadelphiaunion.com|publisher=Philadelphia Union|date=February 23, 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2020}}
Sapong's contract with the club expired at the end of the 2020 season.{{Cite web|last=mlssoccer|title=MLS contract options: Who's staying and who's going entering 2021 offseason {{!}} MLSSoccer.com|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-contract-options-whos-staying-and-whos-going-entering-2021-offseason|access-date=2021-09-17|website=mlssoccer|language=en}}
==Nashville SC==
On February 10, 2021, Sapong signed as a free agent with Nashville SC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/2021/02/10/nashville-sc-acquires-10-year-major-league-soccer-veteran-striker-cj-sapong|title = Nashville SC Acquires 10-Year Major League Soccer Veteran Striker CJ Sapong}}
==Toronto FC==
On April 25, 2023, Sapong was traded to Toronto FC for Lukas MacNaughton and up to $200,000 of general allocation money.{{cite web | url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-acquires-lukas-macnaughton | title=Nashville Soccer Club Acquires Lukas MacNaughton and Receives up to $200,000 in General Allocation Money from Toronto FC in Exchange for CJ Sapong }} At the end of the 2023 season, the club declined his option for the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-announce-2023-roster-moves|title=Toronto FC announce 2023 Roster Moves|date=November 2, 2023|work=Toronto FC}} On May 6, 2025, Sapong announced his retirement from professional soccer.{{Cite web |last=Kuhn |first=Mike |date=2025-05-07 |title=Across State Lines: Sapong Announces His Retirement |url=https://kcsoccerjournal.com/05/07/2025/across-state-lines-sapong-announces-his-retirement/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=KC Soccer Journal |language=en-US}}
=International=
On January 21, 2012, Sapong made his debut for the senior side of the United States (as a second-half substitute) in the 1–0 win over Venezuela in a friendly match. On November 14, 2017, Sapong made his first start for the United States in a friendly against Portugal, notching an assist with an incisive pass to Weston McKennie.
Personal life
Born in the United States, Sapong is of Ghanaian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://africans-in-america.com/2019/02/24/ghanaian-american-cj-sapong-joins-mls-club-chicago-fire/|title=Ghanaian-American CJ Sapong joins MLS club Chicago Fire|date=February 24, 2019|website=Africans in America}} On February 23, 2017, Sapong helped launch the Sacred Seeds foundation, which promotes and enhances the growth of underserved communities through sustenance and self-sustainability.{{cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2017/03/29/sapong-sprouting-growth-his-foundation-sacred-seeds|title=Sapong sprouting growth with his foundation Sacred Seeds|author=Jacob Born|publisher=Philadelphia Union|date=29 March 2017|access-date=4 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thesacredseeds.org/about/|title=About Sacred Seeds|publisher=Sacred Seeds|access-date=4 March 2018}} He was inspired by his own experiences recovering from injuries during his soccer career and being reluctant to rely on painkillers rather than more nutritional methods.
On May 1, 2015, Sapong was arrested for DUI and reckless driving.{{cite web|last1=Carlisle|first1=Jeff|title=Philadelphia Union's C.J. Sapong: DUI 'changed my life'|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/2859726/philadelphia-unions-cj-sapong-dui-changed-my-life?src=com|website=ESPN.com|access-date=February 9, 2018|date=April 27, 2017}} He was found not guilty of the DUI charge but still faced the reckless driving charge and was still forced to have attended an MLS league-mandated stint at a treatment facility in Malibu, California. Sapong has credited the experience with having "changed [his] life."
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played September 24, 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|ContinentalIncludes CONCACAF Champions League !colspan="2"|OtherIncludes Leagues Cup !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Sporting Kansas City
|2011 |rowspan="4"|Major League Soccer |34 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 6 | |||
| 2012
|31 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 11 | |||
| 2013
|25 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 5 | ||
| 2014
|20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!110 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 24 | |
| Orlando City (loan)
|2013 |4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="5"|Philadelphia Union
|2015 |rowspan="4"|Major League Soccer |27 | 9 | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 9 | ||||
| 2016
|31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 7 | |||
| 2017
|33 | 16 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 17 | ||||
| 2018
|32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 5 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!123 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 135 | 38 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Chicago Fire
|2019 |rowspan="2"|Major League Soccer |32 | 13 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 13 | |||
| 2020
|11Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 2 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!43 | 15 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 15 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Nashville SC
|2021 |rowspan="3"|Major League Soccer |33 | 12 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 12 | ||||
| 2022
|33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 6 | |||
| 2023
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!74 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 18 | |
| Toronto FC
|2023 |Major League Soccer |20 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!370 | 90 | 16 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 377 | 97 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played January 28, 2018}}{{NFT|46328}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|United States
|2012 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 4 | 0 |
Honors
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|charles-sapong/132892}}
- {{MLS player|cj-sapong}}
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720115027/http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14400&ATCLID=1150506 |date=July 20, 2011 |title=JMU profile }}
- {{NFT player|46328}}
- [https://www.thesacredseeds.org/ Sacred Seeds]
{{Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year Award}}
{{SportingKCFirstPick}}
{{2011 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{VaSID Award - Men's Soccer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sapong, CJ}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:African-American soccer players
Category:James Madison Dukes men's soccer players
Category:Fredericksburg Gunners players
Category:Reading United AC players
Category:Sporting Kansas City players
Category:Orlando City SC (2010–2014) players
Category:Philadelphia Union players
Category:Chicago Fire FC players
Category:American sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:Sportspeople from Manassas, Virginia
Category:Soccer players from Virginia
Category:Sporting Kansas City draft picks
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:United States men's international soccer players
Category:Men's association football forwards