Michael Lahoud

Michael Lahoud
	Lahoud with FC Cincinnati in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Michael Lahoud
Date of birth	September 15, 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth	Freetown, Sierra Leone
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
College career
Years	Team
2005–2008	Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Senior career*
Years	Team
2006–2008	Carolina Dynamo
2009–2012	Chivas USA
2012–2016	Philadelphia Union
2016	→ New York Cosmos (loan)
2016–2017	Miami FC
2018	FC Cincinnati
2019	San Antonio FC
International career‡
2013	Sierra Leone
Managerial career
2021–2022	Trinity Tigers (assistant)
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2019; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 October 2014

Michael Lahoud (born September 15, 1986) is a Sierra Leonean former footballer and former broadcaster for Austin FC.^[1] He also holds American citizenship.^[2]^[3]

Club career

College

Born in Freetown,^[4] Lahoud moved from his country to Annandale, Virginia in the United States when he was six years old.^[5] He attended Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, and played college soccer at Wake Forest University, playing a total of 95 games. As a freshman forward in 2005, Lahoud was tied for second on the team with seven goals which landed him on the 2005 All ACC Freshman Team as well. He finished with 14 goals and 20 assists in four seasons. He helped win the NCAA National Championship in 2007, and final four appearances in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team. Lahoud is ranked in a tie for second in career games played at Wake Forest with 95 and fourth in career games started with 89.

During his college years Lahoud also played with Carolina Dynamo in the USL Premier Development League.^[6]

Professional

Lahoud was drafted in the first round (9th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA. He made his professional debut on 21 March 2009, in Chivas's first game of the 2009 MLS season against Colorado Rapids.^[7] He played in 16 games (nine starts) with one goal and one assist. His first MLS goal was on Oct. 25, 2009 vs Houston in the 59th minute. Scored his first goal as a profession in the SuperLiga match on June 20, 2009, against Tigres UANL.^[8] On September 14, 2010, Chivas USA beat CD Guadalajara and won the ChivaClásico Trophy following a penalty kick shootout after both sides ended scoreless in regulation. Michael Lahoud buried the final penalty to give the American Red-and-Whites a 4–2 victory. He was awarded the MVP Trophy.

On May 17, 2012, Lahoud was traded to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for Danny Califf.^[9]

On January 12, 2016, Lahoud joined NASL side New York Cosmos on a season-long loan.^[10] Lahoud's loan was cut short on May 24, 2016, when he was sold to NASL side Miami FC for a reported $300,000.^[11]

Lahoud joined United Soccer League side FC Cincinnati on April 18, 2018.^[12]

International career

Lahoud received his first international call for Sierra Leone in late August 2013 for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Equatorial Guinea despite not having been to Sierra Leone since 1993.^[13]^[14] Lahoud made his international debut in the match, a 3–2 victory for Sierra Leone, after being substituted in for the final 15 minutes of the match.^[13]

Managerial career

In January 2021, Lahoud joined the coaching staff of Trinity University in San Antonio.^[15]

Volunteer work

Lahoud was the August recipient of MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month honor in 2010 for his efforts with HIV prevention through The Wall Memorias Project. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies game at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2010. Alongside former Chivas USA teammate Justin Braun he volunteers and mentors the Compton United Soccer Club.

In March 2011, Lahoud created a charity event "Schools for Salone" that helps schools in Sierra Leone.^[16]

In July 2011, Lahoud posed for the NOH8 campaign, which raises awareness for gay rights.^[17]^[18]

In December 2015, Lahoud and national teammate and fellow-MLS player Kei Kamara were the co-recipients of the 2015 FIFPro Merit Award for their efforts in creating a school for children displaced by civil war in their native Sierra Leone.^[19]

Career statistics

Club

Updated April 21, 2014

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
2009	Chivas USA	Major League Soccer	16	1	1	0	2	0	-	-	19	1
2010			23	0	3	1	-	-	-	-	26	1
2011			23	1	1	0	-	-		-	24	1
2012			2	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	3	0
2012	Philadelphia Union		22	0	4	0	-	-	-	-	26	0
2013			9	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	9	0
2014			1	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	1	0
Total	US		96	2	10	1	2	0	0	0	108	3
Career total			96	2	10	1	2	0	0	0	108	3