Johnny Menyongar

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Johnny Menyongar

| image = Johnny Menyongar.jpg

| upright = 0.9

| caption = Menyongar with Shillong Lajong in 2012

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|6|26}}

| birth_place = Monrovia, Liberia

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1998

| youthclubs1 = Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders

| years1 = 2000–2005

| clubs1 = Minnesota Thunder

| caps1 = 188

| goals1 = 56

| years2 = 2006–2009

| clubs2 = Rochester Rhinos

| caps2 = 106

| goals2 = 28

| years3 = 2010

| clubs3 = NSC Minnesota Stars

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2011

| clubs4 = United Sikkim

| caps4 = 13

| goals4 = 13

| years5 = 2011–2013

| clubs5 = Shillong Lajong

| caps5 = 15

| goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = → Dempo (loan)

| caps6 = 8

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2013–2014

| clubs7 = Bengaluru FC

| caps7 = 23

| goals7 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2000–2006

| nationalteam1 = Liberia

| nationalcaps1 = 25

| nationalgoals1 = 5

| medaltemplates =

}}

Johnny Menyongar (born 26 June 1980) is a Liberian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

=College=

Menyongar came to the United States from his native Liberia in 1998 and played college soccer at NAIA Lindsey Wilson College, leading the team to the NAIA Division III national championship.

=United States=

Menyongar signed his first professional contract in 2000 with Minnesota Thunder after impressing at a tryout camp. Menyongar spent the first six seasons of his professional career with Minnesota, totaling 50 regular-season goals in addition to many playoff and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tallies. He helped the Thunder to the 2003 A-League championship game and scored five goals as Minnesota reached the semifinals of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

In November 2005, Menyongar signed with the Rochester Raging Rhinos, where he was chosen as team MVP in 2008 and 2009. Prior to the 2010 season, he became the first signing for the new club NSC Minnesota Stars.

=India=

In February 2011, Menyongar was recruited by Baichung Bhutia to play for United Sikkim FC in their inaugural professional season and in the 2011 I-League 2nd Division,{{cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Rahul|title=India: Dazzling Launch For United Sikkim As Bhaichung Bhutia Shows Indian Football Does Have Investors|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1838/i-league-division-ii/2011/03/22/2406841/india-dazzling-launch-for-united-sikkim-as-bhaichung-bhutia|website=Goal.com|date=22 March 2011|access-date=16 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406085245/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1838/i-league-division-ii/2011/03/22/2406841/india-dazzling-launch-for-united-sikkim-as-bhaichung-bhutia|archive-date=6 April 2011|url-status=dead}} in which he scored 13 goals in 13 games. In June 2011, he announced that he would move to Shillong Lajong F.C. in the I-League.

Then on 3 January 2013 it was officially announced that Menyongar had signed for reigning I-League champions Dempo S.C. for the rest of the season.{{cite web|title=Dempo rope in Liberian midfielder Menyongar|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Dempo-rope-in-Liberian-midfielder-Menyongar/articleshow/17864055.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=2 January 2013|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512205132/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Dempo-rope-in-Liberian-midfielder-Menyongar/articleshow/17864055.cms|url-status=live}} He made his debut for the club against United Sikkim F.C. on 19 January 2013 at home in which Dempo won 7–0.{{cite web|last=Noronha|first=Anselm|title=Dempo SC 7–0 United Sikkim FC: The Eagles fly past the injured Snow Lions|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/96235/dempo-sports-club-vs-united-sikkim-football-club/report|work=Goal.com|access-date=19 January 2013|archive-date=23 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123105811/http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/96235/dempo-sports-club-vs-united-sikkim-football-club/report|url-status=live}}

==Bengaluru FC==

On 13 July 2013 it was confirmed that Menyongar had signed for new direct-entry I-League side Bengaluru FC for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|title=JSW sign John Menyongar from Shillong Lajong FC|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2013/07/13/4114673/jsw-sign-john-menyongar-from-shillong-lajong-fc|work=Goal.com|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107000507/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2013/07/13/4114673/jsw-sign-john-menyongar-from-shillong-lajong-fc|url-status=live}} He made his debut for the team in the team's first official match against Mohun Bagan in the I-League on 22 September 2013 at the Bangalore Football Stadium.{{cite web|title=BENGALURU VS. MOHUN BAGAN 1 - 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/22/india/i-league/bengaluru/mohun-bagan-ac/1585279/|work=Soccerway|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015113729/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/22/india/i-league/bengaluru/mohun-bagan-ac/1585279/|url-status=live}} He played the full match as Bengaluru FC drew the game 1–1. He then scored his first goal for the club on 26 November 2013 against Salgaocar at the Duler Stadium in which his 21st-minute strike set Bengaluru FC up for a 2–1 victory – their first away victory in team history.{{cite web|title=SALGAOCAR VS. BENGALURU 1 - 2|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/11/26/india/i-league/salgaocar-sports-club/bengaluru/1585345/|work=Soccerway|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=29 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129120847/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/11/26/india/i-league/salgaocar-sports-club/bengaluru/1585345/|url-status=live}}

Soon after he scored his second goal of the season on 11 December 2013 in the I-League against Mohammedan in which his 21st-minute strike gave Bengaluru FC the early 1–0 lead which would eventually turn into a 3–2 victory.{{cite web|last=Bera |first=Koustav |title=Mohammedan Sporting 2-3 Bengaluru FC: The table toppers win the five goal thriller amidst controversy and furore |url=http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/mohammedan-sporting-2-3-bengaluru-fc-another-chhetri-103000301.html |work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=22 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113954/http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/mohammedan-sporting-2-3-bengaluru-fc-another-chhetri-103000301.html |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}

Menyongar went on to win the I-League in Bengaluru FC's first season in the league, however, after the season ended he was released by the team. He started in 23 of the side's 24 matches that season.{{cite web|last=Manjunath|first=Akash|title=BFC release Menyongar; Contract extension for Rooney|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2014/04/30/4786103/bfc-release-menyongar-contract-extension-for-rooney|website=Goal.com|date=19 January 2013|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123105811/https://www.goal.com/en-india/match/96235/dempo-sports-club-vs-united-sikkim-football-club/report|archive-date=23 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

On 27 July 2015, he announced his retirement from competitive football.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/bengaluru-fc-midfielder-johnny-menyongar-calls-time-playing-career|title=Bengaluru FC midfielder Johnny Menyongar calls time on playing career|date=27 July 2015|access-date=28 February 2016|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817183330/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/bengaluru-fc-midfielder-johnny-menyongar-calls-time-playing-career|url-status=live}}

International career

Menyongar made his international debut with Liberia in 1995. Menyongar has played in two qualifying matches for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and played in two matches at the 2002 African Nations Cup.{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3835/Johnny_Menyongar.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Menyongar, Johnny|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=26 September 2022|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518141317/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3835/Johnny_Menyongar.html|website=national-football-teams.com}} Menyongar played four matches during the team's qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but the team lost 0–2 against Senegal. He also captained the team from 2004 to 2006.

On official Liberian rosters, he is listed as John Menyongai.

Honors

;Minnesota Thunder

USL A-League runner-up: 2000, 2003

;Shillong Lajong

I-League 2nd Division: 2011[http://www.goal.com/en-india/scores/result-standings/186/i-league-india-division-2 I-League 2nd Division standings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420085551/http://www.goal.com/en-india/scores/result-standings/186/i-league-india-division-2 |date=20 April 2010 }} Goal.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021

;Bengaluru

I-League: 2013–14{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/Bengaluru-FC-crowned-champions-on-I-League-debut/articleshow/34058479.cms|title=Bengaluru FC crowned champions on I-League debut|work=The Times of India|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906190329/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/Bengaluru-FC-crowned-champions-on-I-League-debut/articleshow/34058479.cms|archive-date=6 September 2017|url-status=live}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080220115400/http://www.liberiansoccer.com/pLAYERSPAGES/john_menyongai.htm Profile] on LiberianSoccer.com (archived 20 February 2008)
{{Soccerway}}
{{NFT player}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Liberian men's footballers

Category:Liberian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Liberia men's international footballers

Category:Minnesota Thunder players

Category:Rochester New York FC players

Category:Minnesota United FC (2010–2016) players

Category:United Sikkim FC players

Category:Shillong Lajong FC players

Category:Dempo SC players

Category:Bengaluru FC players