American professional soccer player (born 1993)
Miguel Angel "Mikey" Lopez Jr. (born February 20, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for USL Championship club Birmingham Legion .
Career
College and amateur
Born in Dallas , Texas , Lopez attended the St. Stephens Academy in Austin , Texas when he was in seventh grade in order to attract college scouts.[ 1] Lopez then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for which he played for the university's soccer team, the North Carolina Tar Heels .[ 2] While playing with the Tar Heels Lopez led his team to the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in which the Tar Heels won against the Charlotte 49ers and he was named the ACC Freshman Player of the Year.[ 1] Overall in two seasons with the Tar Heels, Lopez scored five goals and notched up five assists.[ 2]
Lopez also made one appearance for USL Premier Development League club Orange County Blue Star in 2011.[ 3]
Sporting Kansas City
On January 17, 2013, Lopez was selected as the 14th overall draft pick by Sporting Kansas City in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft .[ 2] Lopez made his debut for Sporting KC in a 2–0 win over the Des Moines Menace in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round on May 29, 2013.[ 4]
Orlando City (loan)
On March 17, 2014, it was announced that Lopez would join Sporting USL Pro affiliate Orlando City on loan for the entire season.[ 5] He made his debut for Orlando City on April 5, 2014.[ 6]
OKC Energy (loan)
In early June 2014, Sporting Kansas City transferred Lopez' loan contract to Oklahoma City Energy FC, where he earned immediate playing time.[ 7]
New York City FC
On January 26, 2016, New York City FC announced the signing of Lopez.[ 8] He made his debut on March 6, 2016, replacing Tony Taylor in the 69th minute of a 4–3 win over Chicago .[ 9] Lopez was released by New York at the end of the 2017 season.[ 10]
San Antonio
On January 26, 2018, Lopez signed with USL side San Antonio FC for the 2018 season.[ 11]
Birmingham Legion
On November 13, 2018, it was announced that Lopez would join Birmingham Legion ahead of their debut USL Championship season.[ 12]
International
Lopez was born in Dallas to Mexican parents.[ 13] Lopez was first called into the United States U20 national team in February 2013[ 14] and was a member of the squad that finished second at the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship .
Career statistics
As of October 5, 2019[ 15] [ 16]
References
^ a b Rasmussen, Peter. "Mission's Mikey Lopez headed to MLS" . The Monitor . Retrieved May 26, 2013 .
^ a b c Palmer, Tod. "Sporting KC takes midfielder Mikey Lopez in first round of MLS draft" . The Kansas City Star . Retrieved May 26, 2013 .
^ "2011 Orange County Blue Star stats" . USLsoccer.com . United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014 .
^ "Mikey Lopez makes debut for Sporting KC" . Sportingkc.com . May 29, 2013.
^ "ORLANDO RECEIVES SPORTING KANSAS CITY MIDFIELDER MIKEY LOPEZ ON LOAN" . Orlando City Soccer Club . Retrieved April 7, 2014 .
^ "Rochester Rhinos at Orlando City SC 1:3" . USL Soccer . Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014 .
^ Brannick, Chris (June 10, 2014). "OKC Energy FC gets a boost from Mikey Lopez" . Newsok.com . Retrieved June 19, 2014 .
^ "Former Sporting KC midfielder Lopez joins NYCFC" . Empire of Soccer . January 2023.
^ "Chicago Fire 4-3 loss to NYCFC" . Chicago-Fire.com . Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
^ "New York City FC Announce Roster Options for 2018 | New York City FC" . Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017 .
^ "SAN ANTONIO FC SIGNS MIDFIELDER MIKEY LOPEZ" . San Antonio FC . January 26, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019 .
^ "Lopez Links Up with Legion FC" . USL Championship . November 13, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019 .
^ "MLS SuperDraft: A day in the life of draft pick Mikey Lopez" . January 23, 2013.
^ "Mikey Lopez called in for U-20 MNT camp | the Bexar Co. Foot" . Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014 .
^ Mikey Lopez at Major League Soccer
^ Mikey Lopez at Soccerway
External links