Chris Odoi-Atsem

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chris Odoi-Atsem

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Chris Odoi-Atsem

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}{{cite web |title=Chris Odoi-Atsem |url=https://www.dcunited.com/players/chris-odoi-atsem/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=D.C. United |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820131228/https://www.dcunited.com/players/chris-odoi-atsem/ |url-status=dead }}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|28}}

| birth_place = Mitchellville, Maryland, United States

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Alexandria Reds

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2008–2013

| youthclubs1 = Bethesda SC

| collegeyears1 = 2013–2016

| college1 = Maryland Terrapins

| collegecaps1 = 86

| collegegoals1 = 3

| years1 = 2017–2022

| clubs1 = D.C. United

| caps1 = 57

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2017

| clubs2 = → Richmond Kickers (loan)

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = → Loudoun United (loan)

| caps3 = 6

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023–

| clubs4 = Alexandria Reds

| caps4 = 1

| goals4 = 1

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

}}

Chris Odoi-Atsem (born May 28, 1995) is an American soccer player who currently plays for National Premier Soccer League club Alexandria Reds.

Early life

Chris Odoi-Atsem was born and raised in Mitchellville, Maryland and attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School and DeMatha Catholic High School.{{cite news|last1=Goff|first1=Steven|title=Two top hopefuls for MLS draft trace a bond back to D.C.-area elementary school|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/01/12/two-top-hopefuls-for-mls-draft-trace-a-bond-back-to-d-c-area-elementary-school/|accessdate=January 24, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 12, 2017}} where he played youth soccer for AC Bethesda in the National Capital Soccer League and eventually in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league. Odi-Atsem was a regular on the team from 2008 until 2013. Odoi-Atsem also played high school soccer for DeMatha Catholic High School, where he helped them win a state championship in 2011.

=College soccer=

During the 2013 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Odoi-Atsem made his college soccer debut, coming on as a sub in 3–3 draw against Stanford in Palo Alto, California on August 30, 2013.{{cite web|last1=Juarez|first1=Aaron|title=Soccer Box Score (Final) #2 Maryland Terrapins vs Stanford (Aug 30, 2013 at Stanford, Calif.)|url=http://www.umterps.com//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&CONTENT_ID=806003|website=Maryland Terrapins|publisher=UMTerps.com|accessdate=January 21, 2017|date=August 30, 2013}} On September 8, 2013, Odoi-Atsem scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–3 loss to VCU. He finished his freshman season making 25 appearances, and starting in 20 matches.

Odoi-Atsem earned his first conference honors during his sophomore year at Maryland. Following the end of the regular season, Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors. Odoi-Atsem played in and started in all 21 games the Terrapins played during the 2014 season. During his junior year, Odoi-Atsem achieved Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors and made 20 appearances for the Terrapins. As a senior, Odoi-Atsem was part of a Maryland squad that spent most of the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season ranked first in the country. Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, as well as NSCAA First Team All-Midwest Region.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Steven|title=Maryland's Chris Odoi-Atsem, Alex Crognale Now On Opposite Sides|url=https://www.pressboxdc.com/2017/01/20/marylands-chris-odoi-atsem-alex-crognale-now-on-opposite-sides|website=Pressbox DC|publisher=Monumental Sports|accessdate=January 24, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020319/https://www.pressboxdc.com/2017/01/20/marylands-chris-odoi-atsem-alex-crognale-now-on-opposite-sides|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://umterps.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/chris-odoi-atsem/3267|title=Chris Odoi-Atsem - Men's Soccer|website=University of Maryland Athletics}}

Professional career

Odoi-Atsem was considered one of the top prospects in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft{{cite web|last1=Galarcep|first1=Ives|title=Top prospects turn heads on opening day of MLS combine|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2017/01/09/31312172/top-prospects-turn-heads-on-opening-day-of-mls-combine|website=Goal.com|accessdate=January 24, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Parchman|first1=Will|title=Parchman: Which 2017 SuperDraft candidates are MLS-ready out of the box?|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/12/parchman-which-2017-superdraft-candidates-are-mls-ready-out-box|website=MLS Soccer|publisher=mlssoccer.com}} and was selected with the 12th overall pick by D.C. United.{{cite news|last1=Goff|first1=Steven|title=D.C. United drafts Maryland defender, waits on Ian Harkes resolution|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/01/13/d-c-united-drafts-maryland-defender-waits-on-harkes-resolution/|accessdate=January 24, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 13, 2017}}{{cite web|title=MLS Draft 2017: D.C. United selects Maryland Terrapins defender Chris Odoi-Atsem|url=http://www.blackandredunited.com/2017-mls-draft/2017/1/13/14267726/mls-draft-2017-dc-united-chris-odoi-atsem-maryland-terrapins|website=Black and Red United|date=January 13, 2017|accessdate=January 24, 2017}} On April 30, 2017, Odoi-Atsem made his professional and MLS debut in a 3–1 away win at Atlanta United. Odoi-Atsem came on in the 90th minute for Lloyd Sam and played the final five minutes of stoppage time.{{cite web|title=Stats: Atlanta United FC v DC United|url=http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-04-30-atlanta-united-fc-vs-dc-united/boxscore|website=Major League Soccer|publisher=mlssoccer.com|accessdate=April 30, 2017|date=April 30, 2017}} On November 28, 2017, his contract option with United was declined.{{cite web|title=D.C. United exercise contract options on six players|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2017/11/28/dc-united-exercise-contract-options-six-players|website=dcunited.com|accessdate=November 30, 2017|date=November 28, 2017}} D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem on February 16, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/united-sign-defender-chris-odoi-atsem|title=United sign defender Chris Odoi-Atsem | DC United|website=dcunited}}

He returned to the field after his battle with cancer on 29 May 2019, playing 67 minutes in a game against Chicago Fire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/05/29/chris-odoi-atsem-gets-first-dc-united-start-cancer-battle|title=Chris Odoi-Atsem gets first DC United start since cancer battle|last=Rodriguez|first=Alicia|date=29 May 2019|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104211336/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/05/29/chris-odoi-atsem-gets-first-dc-united-start-cancer-battle |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |access-date=28 December 2019}} Odoi-Astem played with D.C. United's USL affiliate, Loudoun United in 2019.

Odoi-Atsem scored his first goal for D.C. United on October 18, 2020, in a 2–1 win over FC Cincinnati.{{Cite web|last=Liljenwall|first=Ari|date=October 18, 2020|title=FC Cincinnati 1, D.C. United 2 {{!}} 2020 MLS Match Recap|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/18/fc-cincinnati-1-d-c-united-2-2020-mls-match-recap|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020171844/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/18/fc-cincinnati-1-d-c-united-2-2020-mls-match-recap |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2020|website=MLSsoccer.com}} On January 27, 2021, D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem to a two-year contract with a 2023 option.{{Cite web|last=Sigal|first=Jonathan|date=January 27, 2021|title=Chris Odoi-Atsem re-signs with DC United through 2022 season|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021/01/27/chris-odoi-atsem-re-signs-dc-united-through-2022-season|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127154638/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021/01/27/chris-odoi-atsem-re-signs-dc-united-through-2022-season |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021|website=mlssoccer.com}}

Following the 2022 season, his contract option was declined by D.C. United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-announce-roster-decisions-ahead-of-2023-season|title=D.C. United Announce Roster Decisions Ahead of 2023 Season | DC United|website=dcunited}}

In July 2023, Odoi-Atsem made an appearance for National Premier Soccer League side Alexandria Reds. He came on as a 59th-minute substitute and scored the game-winning goal in a 2–1 win away to Annapolis Blues.{{Cite web|url=http://npsl.bonzidev.com/sam/standings/ss/view_game_report.php?eventId=7806004&teamId=16083636|title=Game Report | National Premier Soccer League|website=npsl.bonzidev.com}}

Personal life

Odoi-Atsem is of Ghanaian descent through his parents.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickgh.com/more/ghanaians-abroad/1712-mls-side-dc-united-land-ghanaian-youngster-odoi-atsem|title=MLS side DC United land Ghanaian youngster Odoi-Atsem|website=www.kickgh.com}}

In October 2018, Odoi-Atsem was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, effectively ending his 2018 season with D.C. United as he began a chemotherapy regimen at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.{{cite news |last1=Goff |first1=Steven |title=D.C. United's Chris Odoi-Atsem has Hodgkin's lymphoma, plans to come back next season |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/10/16/dc-uniteds-chris-odoi-atsem-has-hodgkins-lymphoma-plans-come-back-next-season/ |newspaper=Washington Post |accessdate=14 November 2018 |language=en |date=16 October 2018}} He completed his cancer treatment in January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2019/01/31/chris-odoi-atsem-completes-final-cancer-treatment|title=Chris Odoi-Atsem Completes Final Cancer Treatment|last=|first=|date=31 January 2019|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228165330/https://www.dcunited.com/post/2019/01/31/chris-odoi-atsem-completes-final-cancer-treatment |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |access-date=28 December 2019}}