Tesho Akindele
{{short description|Canadian and American former soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tesho Akindele
| image = Tesho Akindele (18283513644).jpg
| caption = Akindele with Canada in 2015
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|3|31}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=390669/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926110017/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=390669/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2015|title=FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Tesho AKINDELE|website=FIFA.com}}
| birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| height = 1.85 m{{cite web |title=Tesho Akindele |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/players/tesho-akindele/ |access-date=22 August 2022 |publisher=Orlando City SC}}
| currentclub = Des Moines Menace
| clubnumber =
| collegeyears1 = 2010–2013
| college1 = Colorado Mines Orediggers
| collegecaps1 = 83
| collegegoals1 = 76
| years1 = 2013
| clubs1 = Real Colorado Foxes
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2014–2018
| clubs2 = FC Dallas
| caps2 = 133
| goals2 = 24
| years3 = 2019–2022
| clubs3 = Orlando City SC
| caps3 = 104
| goals3 = 19
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = → Orlando City B (loan)
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Des Moines Menace
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 139
| totalgoals = 44
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1 = Canada U17
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2021
| nationalteam2 = Canada
| nationalcaps2 = 19
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| club-update = April 3, 2024
| ntupdate = December 12, 2022
}}
Tesho Akindele (born March 31, 1992) is a Canadian and American{{Cite web|date=2024-08-28|title=YIMBYs For Harris |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w66kn5TtjOw |publisher=YIMBYs For Harris |website=YouTube |access-date=2024-08-29}} former professional soccer player. He spent most of his career with FC Dallas and Orlando City SC in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Club career
=Early career=
Tesho Akindele was born in Canada to a Nigerian father and a Canadian mother and moved with his family to the US at the age of eight.{{cite web|author1=Marc Weber|title=Tesho Akindele's come from obscurity to No. 1 option for FC Dallas|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/Tesho+Akindele+come+from+obscurity+option+Dallas/10066288/story.html|publisher=The Province|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728200841/http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Tesho+Akindele+come+from+obscurity+option+Dallas/10066288/story.html|archive-date=July 28, 2014|date=July 26, 2014}} He grew up in Thornton, Colorado, and was a standout for Northglenn High School, turning down an offer to join the Colorado Rapids academy at the age of 17 to focus on academics.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_25006385/tesho-akindele-colorado-mines-takes-unusual-route-mls|title=Tesho Akindele of Colorado Mines takes unusual route to MLS|work=denverpost.com|date=January 27, 2014|access-date=April 20, 2015}}
Akindele played four years of college soccer at the Colorado School of Mines, where he became the school's all-time goals leader with 76 goals scored and was a four-time All-American. He ranked second in the nation in goals scored in 2012 with 22 and was named a First Team NSCAA All-American and the 2012 RMAC Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts. Also an NSCAA First Team All-American and the RMAC Freshman of the Year in 2010, Akindele was the first player in the history of his school's conference to score three consecutive hat tricks.{{cite web|url=http://www.csmorediggers.com/sports/msoc/2013-14/bios/akindele_tesho_rgh7|title=Tesho Akindele - Colorado School of Mines|work=csmorediggers.com|access-date=April 20, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111520/http://www.csmorediggers.com/sports/msoc/2013-14/bios/akindele_tesho_rgh7|archive-date=April 27, 2015}}
Akindele also made a single appearance for USL PDL club Real Colorado Foxes in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2013/13598684.html#STATS |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |access-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414091145/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2013/13598684.html |archive-date=April 14, 2014 }}
=FC Dallas=
On January 16, 2014, Akindele was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas,{{cite web|url=http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2014/01/tesho-akindele-fc-dallas-2014-mls-superdraft-reaction|title=Tesho Akindele lands with FC Dallas after whirlwind 2014 MLS SuperDraft first round|work=FC Dallas|access-date=April 20, 2015|archive-date=November 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111050858/http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2014/01/tesho-akindele-fc-dallas-2014-mls-superdraft-reaction|url-status=dead}} becoming the highest-highest-drafted NCAA Division II player in MLS history. Akindele made his professional debut in a 2–3 loss against Seattle Sounders FC on April 12, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-12-fc-dallas-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/recap|title=FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders FC - MLS MatchCenter|work=MLSsoccer.com MatchCenter|access-date=April 20, 2015}} After scoring seven goals in 26 appearances, Akindele was named MLS Rookie of the Year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/11/24/tesho-akindele-fc-dallas-rookie|title=FC Dallas forward Tesho Akindele named MLS Rookie of the Year|last=Wire|first=SI|work=SI.com|access-date=March 27, 2017}}
= Orlando City =
On December 9, 2018, Dallas traded Akindele to Orlando City in exchange for $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money in 2019 and $50,000 of General Allocation Money in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/orlando-city-sc/orlando-city-tesho-akindele/|title=Orlando City acquires forward Tesho Akindele from FC Dallas|last=Culver|first=Jordan|website=prosoccerusa.com|publisher=Pro Soccer USA|date=December 9, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015936/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/orlando-city-sc/orlando-city-tesho-akindele/|url-status=dead}} He scored on his debut, a 2–2 draw in Orlando's season opener against New York City FC. Akindele had his option for the 2020 season exercised by Orlando, keeping him with the club for 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2019/11/21/orlando-city-sc-announces-2019-end-season-roster-decisions|title=Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions|website=orlandocitysc.com|publisher=Orlando City SC |date=November 21, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2020}} On May 1, 2021, Akindele broke the record for the fastest goal scored in Orlando City history at the time when he intercepted a backpass from Nick Hagglund to score the opener of a 3–0 win over FC Cincinnati in 31 seconds, breaking the previous record of 63 seconds set by Chris Mueller in 2018.{{cite web |title=Tesho Akindele Scores Fastest Goal in Club History in 3-0 Win Over FC Cincinnati |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2021/05/02/recap-tesho-akindele-scores-fastest-goal-club-history-3-0-win-over-fc-cincinnati |website=Orlando City SC}} Upon completion of the 2021 season, Akindele's option for the 2022 season was picked up by Orlando.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-exercises-contract-options-on-11-players-following-2021-mls-season|title=Orlando City Exercises Contract Options on 11 Players Following 2021 MLS Season|website=Orlando City|date=December 1, 2021}} The club declined Akindele's contract option as part of the end of season roster moves on November 14, 2022. At the time of his departure he ranked second all-time in appearances for the club in all competitions with 121 behind only Chris Mueller and sixth for goals with 21.{{cite web |title=Orlando City SC announces end-of-season statuses following 2022 MLS season |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-announces-end-of-season-statuses-following-2022-mls-season |website=www.orlandocitysc.com}}
In December 2022, Akindele announced his retirement from professional soccer.{{cite tweet|author=Tesho Akindele|user=Tesho13|number=1605333426068148224|title=When I was starting my career, my mom told me, "it's great to be known as a good soccer player, but I'd rather you be known as a good person." I worked every day to live up to that|date=December 20, 2022|access-date=December 20, 2022}}
= Des Moines Menace =
In April 2024, Akindele joined Des Moines Menace ahead of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup second round match.{{cite web |last1=Bogert |first1=Tom |title=Sacha Kljestan and the Des Moines Menance play their next Open Cup match tonight, against USL League One side Union Omaha. |url=https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1775536943423426581 |website=Twitter.com |access-date=3 April 2024}}
International career
Akindele attended a youth training camp of the Canadian youth national team in 2009{{Canada Soccer player|169|accessdate=September 30, 2020}} and played for Canada's U-17 national team in a friendly against Costa Rica on April 2, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=27645|title=Canada falls 0:2 to Costa Rica|access-date=September 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726221309/http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=27645|archive-date=July 26, 2014|date=April 2, 2009}} On November 5, 2014, it was reported that Akindele had turned down a call-up from Canada with a view to represent the United States instead,{{Cite web|title=Tesho Akindele declines Canada call-up, keeps USMNT in picture|url=http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/mls-usmnt/2014/11/5/7164483/tesho-akindele-canada-usmnt-fc-dallas|date= November 2, 2014}} and on January 9, 2015, he was called up to the United States senior team camp ahead of friendly matches versus Chile and Panama.{{cite news|title=Klinsmann Calls 28 Players for First Training Camp of 2015 |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/01/09/11/46/150109-mnt-january-camp-roster-rel|website=ussoccer.com|publisher=U.S. Soccer|date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112084851/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/01/09/11/46/150109-mnt-january-camp-roster-rel|archive-date=January 12, 2015}} He did not play in either friendly due to not having an American passport at the time of the friendlies.
However, on April 14, 2015, Canada coach Benito Floro told media that Akindele was "99.9 percent" going to represent Canada instead of the United States,{{cite web|url=http://the11.ca/2015/04/14/akindele-99-9-per-cent-committed-to-canada-floro-unhappy-with-double-standard-applied-to-his-call-ups-and-klinsmanns-call-ups/|first=Steven|last=Sandor|date=April 14, 2015|title=Akindele "99.9 per cent" committed to Canada; Floro unhappy with double standard applied to his call-ups and Klinsmann's call-ups|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422222753/http://the11.ca/2015/04/14/akindele-99-9-per-cent-committed-to-canada-floro-unhappy-with-double-standard-applied-to-his-call-ups-and-klinsmanns-call-ups/|archive-date=April 22, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/04/14/canadian-national-team-manager-benito-floro-says-fc-dallas-tesho-akindele-cl|first=Daniel|last=Squizzato|date=April 14, 2015|title=Canadian national team manager Benito Floro says FC Dallas' Tesho Akindele close to representing Les Rouges|access-date=April 15, 2015|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621204845/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/04/14/canadian-national-team-manager-benito-floro-says-fc-dallas-tesho-akindele-cl|url-status=dead}} and on June 2, Akindele accepted a call-up to the Canada national team for two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Dominica.{{cite web|url=http://www.wakingthered.com/2015/6/2/8709897/akindele-inclusion-highlights-canada-roster-for-dominica-games|title=Akindele inclusion highlights Canada roster for Dominica games|date=June 2, 2015|first=Dave|last=Rowaan}} He made his debut for Canada against Dominica on June 11.{{cite web|url=http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-06-11-dominica-vs-canada-mens-national-team/recap|title=Dominica 0, Canada 2 - World Cup Qualifying Match Recap|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221958/http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-06-11-dominica-vs-canada-mens-national-team/recap|url-status=dead}} He scored his first goal for Canada on June 16 in the return leg against Dominica at BMO Field in a 4–0 victory. Akindele scored his second Canada goal in a 1–1 friendly draw in June 2016 with Azerbaijan.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/canada-vs-azerbaijan/2219131/ratings|title=Canada 1 - 1 Azerbaijan Player & Team ratings - 6/3/16 Friendlies - Goal.com|access-date=June 4, 2016}}
Having been left out of the original 23-man squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Akindele was called-up by Canada at the quarter-final stage on July 23 as an injury replacement for Ayo Akinola.{{cite web |title=Tesho Akindele added to Canada's Gold Cup roster |url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/tesho-akindele-added-to-canadas-gold-cup-roster/ |website=Canada Soccer}} He appeared as a 70th-minute substitute against Costa Rica as Canada progressed to the semi-finals with a 2–0 win.{{cite web |title=Costa Rica v Canada, 2021 Gold Cup |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/gold-cup/game-details?matchid=568665 |website=CONCACAF Gold Cup|date = March 11, 2021}}
Personal life
Akindele has two children with his wife Taylor, an accountant.{{cite news |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=December 28, 2022 |title=Tesho Akindele turns to "building the better neighborhood" after MLS career |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/tesho-akindele-turns-to-building-the-better-neighborhood-after-mls-career |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=January 27, 2024}} He has a bachelor's degree in engineer and master's degree in finance.{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Neil |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Canadian international Tesho Akindele hopes to lift U.S. Open Cup with Orlando City |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/canadian-international-tesho-akindele-hopes-to-lift-u-s-open-cup-with-orlando-city/article_06f71416-1b44-53da-91da-e474ad9612d5.html |work=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |accessdate=January 27, 2024}} Akindele is an urbanism activist who advocates for mixed-use development and affordable housing, largely through social media.{{cite news |last=Shadoff |first=Adam |date=September 20, 2022 |title=How Orlando City player Tesho Akindele is working to fix and support housing issues in Orlando |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/sports/how-orlando-city-player-tesho-akindele-is-working-to-fix-and-support-housing-issues-in-orlando |publisher=Fox 35 Orlando |accessdate=January 27, 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|League !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Real Colorado Foxes
|2013 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="6"|FC Dallas
|rowspan="5"|MLS |2014 |26 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 9 | ||
| 2015
|28 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 6 | ||
| 2016
|31 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 41 | 7 | |
| 2017
|29 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 4 | ||
| 2018
|18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 3 | |
| colspan=2 |Total
!132||24||10||3||12||2||9||0||0||0||163||29 | |||||||||||
| rowspan="5"|Orlando City SC
|rowspan="4"|MLS |2019 |28 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 11 | |||
| 2020
|17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4Knockout Round of the MLS is Back Tournament. | 1 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2021
|32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2022
|27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 3 | ||
| colspan=2 |Total
!104||19||4||0||8||1||1||0||4||1||121||21 | |||||||||||
| Orlando City B (loan)
|2022 |1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 1 | ||||
| colspan=3|Career statistics
!238||44||14||3||20||3||10||0||4||1||286||51 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Canada national team | ||
| 2015 | 7 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| Total||19||3 |
|---|
==International goals==
:As of match played January 7, 2020. Canada score listed first, score column indicates score after each Akindele goal.{{Soccerway|tesho-akindele/332677}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |
| scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |
|---|
| scope=row|1
|June 16, 2015||BMO Field, Toronto, Canada||2||{{fb|DMA}}||1–0||4–0||2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| scope=row|2
|June 3, 2016||Stadion Rohrbach, Rohrbach an der Lafnitz, Austria||11||{{fb|AZE}}||1–0||1–1||rowspan=2|Friendly |
| scope=row|3
|January 7, 2020||Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, United States||15||{{fb|BRB}}||2–0||4–1 |
Honours
= Club =
FC Dallas
- Supporters' Shield: 2016
- U.S. Open Cup: 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/07/akindeles-eyes-on-cup-history-for-orlando-city|title=Akindele's Eyes on Cup History for Orlando City|website=www.ussoccer.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}}
Orlando City
- U.S. Open Cup: 2022
= Individual =
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{MLS player|tesho-akindele}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Awards and achievements
|fg= navy
|bg= gold
|list1=
{{2014 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{FCDallasFirstPick}}
{{Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year Award}}
}}
{{Canada squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Canada squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akindele, Tesho}}
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Colorado Mines Orediggers men's soccer players
Category:Real Colorado Foxes players
Category:Orlando City SC players
Category:Orlando City B players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:FC Dallas draft picks
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players
Category:Canada men's international soccer players
Category:Canadian sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Soccer players from Calgary
Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:Sportspeople from Thornton, Colorado