Sainey Nyassi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sainey Nyassi

| image =

| full_name = Sainey Nyassi{{Cite web |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2007/pdf/FWYC_2007_SquadLists.pdf |publisher=FIFA |page=9 |date=5 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000046/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2007/pdf/FWYC_2007_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=31 December 2013}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|1|31|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bwiam, Gambia

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2001–2004

| youthclubs1 = Gambia Ports Authority

| years1 = 2004–2007

| clubs1 = Gambia Ports Authority

| caps1 = 82

| goals1 = 18

| years2 = 2007–2013

| clubs2 = New England Revolution

| caps2 = 104

| goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2013

| clubs3 = D.C. United

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2014

| clubs4 = RoPS

| caps4 = 19

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2015–2017

| clubs5 = FC Edmonton

| caps5 = 72

| goals5 = 5

| nationalyears1 = 2005

| nationalteam1 = Gambia U17

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2007

| nationalteam2 = Gambia U20

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2010–2015

| nationalteam3 = Gambia

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| pcupdate = 4 July 2019

}}

Sainey Nyassi (born 31 January 1989) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Club career

Sainey Nyassi began his career in the Gambia, playing in the GFA League First Division for Gambia Ports Authority.

He was scouted by New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol while playing in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and signed with the Revolution shortly thereafter along with his Gambian teammate, Kenny Mansally.{{cite web|url=https://standard.gm/nyassi-leaves-fc-edmonton/ |title=Nyassi Leaves FC Edmonton |access-date=4 October 2024}}

Nyassi officially signed for the Revolution on August 31, 2007, as a "youth international."{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135826/https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |url=https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |title=ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=4 October 2024}} He made his MLS debut on 9 September 2007 against D.C. United as a substitute, playing the final eight minutes on the right wing. The appearance would be his only contribution to the 2007 season.{{cite book |title=2024 Media Guide |publisher=New England Revolution|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322013528/https://revolution.1rmg.com/season/2024/media-guide/ |access-date=4 October 2024}}

Nyassi made his first start, and scored his first MLS goal, on 29 March 2008 in the Revs' 3-0 2008 opening-day victory over Houston Dynamo. In doing so, he became the youngest Revolution player to ever start a season-opener.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/sainey-nyassi/ |access-date=October 4, 2024 |title=Profile}} His goal won "Sierra Mist Goal of the Week" for week 1. During the 2009 season, he won MLS Goal of the Week in week 3 for his strike against FC Dallas.

As an understudy of Steve Ralston,{{cite web|url=https://www.frankdellapa.com/july-20-2010-steve-ralston-announces-retirement/ |title=July 20, 2010 – Steve Ralston announces retirement |date=20 July 2017 |access-date=4 October 2024}} Nyassi became a core piece of the Revolution for the next four seasons, never playing in fewer than 20 matches for the club until 2012, when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury in early March, returning on June 27. He was released by New England on 16 May 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2013/05/revolution-waives-sainey-nyassi |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703090954/http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2013/05/revolution-waives-sainey-nyassi |title=Revolution waives Sainey Nyassi

|date=16 May 2013 |access-date=4 October 2024 |archive-date=3 July 2013}}

On 27 May 2013, Nyassi signed with D.C. United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2013/05/28/dc-united-signs-midfielder-sainey-nyassi|title=D.C. United signs midfielder Sainey Nyassi|last=|first=|date=28 May 2013|website=DC United |access-date=11 May 2020}}

On 9 June 2014, Nyassi signed for Finnish Club RoPS.{{cite web |url=http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/sainey-nyassi-signs-with-finnish-club |title=Sainey Nyassi signs with Finnish club - Daily Observer |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150314/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/sainey-nyassi-signs-with-finnish-club |archive-date=14 July 2014}}

Nyassi signed with FC Edmonton in February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcedmonton.com/news/detail/uuid/c3irwxzqp4lq1byp4v9x0faxp/nyassi-set-to-sign-with-the-eddies#.VN1bFC4bXIU|title=Nyassi Set to Sign with the Eddies|date=10 February 2015}} He spent three seasons in Edmonton. After the 2017 season, with the future of FC Edmonton and the NASL in doubt, Nyassi was released by the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcedmonton.com/news/2017/11/15/release--fc-edmonton-announce-four-departures-in-ameobi-corea-fordyce-and-nyassi|title=FC Edmonton announce four departures in Ameobi, Corea, Fordyce and Nyassi|website=FC Edmonton|date=16 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://the11.ca/with-the-clubs-path-unclear-fc-edmonton-begins-releasing-players/|title=With the club's path unclear, FC Edmonton begins releasing players|website=the11.ca|author=Steven Sandor|date=16 November 2017}}

International career

Nyassi has represented his nation at various youth levels. He played for the Gambian U-17 national team in the 2005 U-17 world championships, and for the U-20 national team in the 2007 U-20 FIFA Championships. He scored his first goal for the Senior national team on 4 September 2010 in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Namibia.

=International goals=

:Scores and results list Gambia's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/35248/Sainey_Nyassi.html|title=Nyassi, Sainey|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=12 May 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align: left;"
bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
# !Date !Venue !Opponent !Score !Result !Competition
1 \| 9 January 2010 \| Stade El Menzah, Tunis \| {{fb\|TUN}} \| {{center\|2–0}} \| {{center\|2–1}} \| Friendly
2 \| 4 September 2010 \| Independence Stadium, Bakau \| {{fb\|NAM}} \| {{center\|1–0}} \| {{center\|3–1}} \| 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align: left;"

bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"

!Date

!Venue

!Opponent

!Score

!Result

!Competition

| 9 January 2010

| Stade El Menzah, Tunis

| {{fb|TUN}}

| {{center|2–0}}

| {{center|2–1}}

| Friendly

| 4 September 2010

| Independence Stadium, Bakau

| {{fb|NAM}}

| {{center|1–0}}

| {{center|3–1}}

| 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Personal life

Sainey is the twin brother of fellow professional footballer Sanna Nyassi.

Nyassi received his U.S green card on 31 January 2012, which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.{{cite web |url=http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2012/01/nyassi-gains-permanent-resident-status |title=Nyassi gains permanent resident status {{!}} New England Revolution |website=www.revolutionsoccer.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203190940/http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2012/01/nyassi-gains-permanent-resident-status |archive-date=3 February 2012}}