CINCINNATI, OH – Sierra Leone international Michael Lahoud has signed a contract with FC Cincinnati and is due to join the club today, pending USL and federation approval.
“We are incredibly excited to bring Michael into the group,” said FCC head coach Alan Koch. “We are adding another excellent player who is very versatile. We look forward to welcoming him to the team and getting him up to match fitness as quickly as possible. His addition will add to the excellent healthy competition that we already have in the group.”
Technical director Luke Sassano added, “The opportunity to add a player with his experience, quality, and versatility to our already deep roster is another step forward as we push to achieve our goals this year. His professionalism and mentality reflect our core player principles, and we look forward to his contributions to FCC both on and off the field.”
The midfielder arrives in Cincinnati after two seasons in NASL with Miami FC, where he played alongside current FCC duo Richie Ryan and Blake Smith. While with Miami, Lahoud made 52 appearances including 50 starts and tallying 5 assists, one goal and an 88.5% pass completion percentage over his two seasons in South Florida. He was also named the 2016 NASL Humanitarian of the Year for his work to help provide accessible education to children in his native Sierra Leone. He went on to earn another 39 caps for Philadelphia after being traded to the Union in May 2016.
Prior to Miami FC, Lahoud spent a six season in Major League Soccer playing with both Chivas USA and Philadelphia Union. He was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the now-defunct Los Angeles-based Chivas USA, making 72 appearances and notching a trio of goals. In May of 2012, Lahoud was traded to Philadelphia Union where he went on to make another 36 showings.
Before his professional career, Lahoud made a name for himself playing collegiately for Wake Forrest University where he helped them to win the 2007 NCAA National Championship, sandwiched in between trips to the Final Four in 2006 and 2008.
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Lahoud immigrated with his family to the Annandale, Virginia, in 1992. He first earned an international call-up to his birth nation's national team in 2013 for the 2014 World Cup 2014 qualifiers, going on to earn several more call-ups and three more caps.
Name: Michael Lahoud
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 162
Date of birth: September 15, 1986
Age: 31
Hometown: Freetown
Country: Sierra Leone
Last club: Miami FC
How acquired: Signed on April 18, 2018
