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Oguchialu Jacob "Oguchi" Onyewu or "Gooch" (born May 13, 1982 in Washington, D.C.) is an American soccer player who plays in defense for Standard Liège and the United States.

Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Onyewu has two brothers, Uche and Nonye, and two sisters, Chi-Chi and Ogechi. Growing up in Silver Spring and later Olney, Maryland, Onyewu attended Sherwood High School where he played soccer for two years. ^[1] He then enrolled in the U.S. residency program in Bradenton, Florida, before returning to Sherwood to graduate.

Onyewu then played two years of college soccer at Clemson University, and moved to Europe in 2002, signing with FC Metz of France's Ligue 1. In 2003, he was loaned out to La Louvière in Belgium, and to Standard Liège a year later. The move to Liège was made permanent for the 2004-05 season.

Onyewu, often referred to by the nickname "Gooch," is, at 6 ft 4[1] in (1.93 m) and 202 pounds (92 kg), believed to be the tallest field player in US team history, though two goalkeepers were taller, according to U.S. Soccer. ^[2]

Onyewu has been part of various U.S. youth teams, and played at the 2001 World Youth Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior national team on October 13, 2004 against Panama.

Onyewu scored his first international goal in dramatic fashion, nodding home the extra time winner in the semifinal of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Honduras. The powerful defender was later named to the tournament Best XI. He has also been named to the Belgian league Best XI twice and was named Foreign Player of the Year in 2005.

Oguchi played for the USA in the FIFA World Cup 2006 held in Germany, and started in all three of the USA's games. Just before halftime of the third and final match of group play, with the USA tied 1-1 against Ghana, Onyewu was called for a foul in the penalty area. Ghana took the lead on the ensuing penalty kick, and the USA was eliminated with the 2-1 loss.

On December 26, 2006, Onyewu was voted U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He was the first defender to earn the award since Alexi Lalas in 1995.

Having been the subject of many transfer rumors regarding clubs throughout Europe, Onyewu finally completed a loan deal with Newcastle United on 30 January 2007, covering the remainder of the season. He wore the number 15 shirt, previously worn by another loan signing, Giuseppe Rossi. He made his debut for Newcastle United against Fulham F.C. on February 3rd, 2007 ^[3] . Onyewu's performance was one of the only positives to be taken out of a 2-1 defeat for Newcastle United ^[4]

Oguchi Onyewu made his home debut on Saturday 10 February 2007 alongside Titus Bramble for Newcastle, in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Following the arrival of new manager Sam Allardyce, Newcastle decided not to make the loan deal permanent.^[5]

• Oguchi Onyewu career stats at Soccerbase
• Onyewu articles on Yanks Abroad
• How to pronounce Oguchi Onyewu
• Sing a Song for Oguchi Onyewu

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1 Howard • 2 Albright • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Cherundolo • 7 Lewis • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Reyna • 11 Ching • 12 Berhalter • 13 Conrad • 14 Olsen • 15 Convey • 16 Wolff • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Hahnemann • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Onyewu • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena