Michael Lahoud

Michael Lahoud (French: Michel Lahoud, Arabic: مايكل لحود‎‎) (born September 15, 1986) is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Miami FC. He also holds American citizenship.

College

Born in Freetown, Lahoud moved from his country to Annandale, Virginia in the United States when he was six years old. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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

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. 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.

Updated April 21, 2014

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.

In July 2011, Lahoud posed for the NOH8 campaign, which raises awareness for gay rights.

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.

Wake Forest University

• Washington Post All Met Player of the Year: 2005
• All-ACC Freshman Team: 2005
• Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie Team of the Year: 2005
• ACC Player of the Week: 2007
• Soccer America Player of the Week: 2007
• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 2007

Individual

• FIFPro Merit Award:2015

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/hssports/longterm/allmets/spring05/soccer.htm