Joe Gyau Explained

Joe Gyau
Fullname:Joseph-Claude Agyeman Gyau[1]
Birth Date:16 September 1992
Birth Place:Tampa, Florida, United States
Height:1.75 m
Position:Winger, full-back
Currentclub:Las Vegas Lights
Clubnumber:7
Youthyears1:2001–2007
Youthclubs1:Bethesda Roadrunners
Youthyears2:2007–2009
Youthclubs2:IMG Soccer Academy
Youthyears3:2009–2011
Youthclubs3:1899 Hoffenheim
Years1:2011–2014
Caps1:56
Goals1:9
Years2:2012–2014
Clubs2:1899 Hoffenheim
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2013
Clubs3:FC St. Pauli (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2013
Clubs4:FC St. Pauli II (loan)
Caps4:2
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2016
Clubs5:Borussia Dortmund II
Caps5:13
Goals5:2
Years6:2014–2016
Clubs6:Borussia Dortmund
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2017–2018
Caps7:46
Goals7:6
Years8:2018–2019
Clubs8:MSV Duisburg
Caps8:20
Goals8:2
Years9:2019–2021
Clubs9:FC Cincinnati
Caps9:51
Goals9:1
Years10:2022–2023
Clubs10:Degerfors IF
Caps10:48
Goals10:1
Years11:2024–
Caps11:3
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2007–2009
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalcaps1:28
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2010–2011
Nationalteam2:United States U20
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2012
Nationalteam3:United States U23
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2014–2019
Nationalteam4:United States
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Pcupdate:April 3, 2024
Ntupdate:June 26, 2021

Joseph-Claude Agyeman Gyau (born September 16, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights. From 2014 through 2019, Gyau represented the United States national team and earned three caps.

Early life

Born in Tampa, Florida, he grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland,[2] where he played youth soccer for the nearby Bethesda Roadrunners[3] before joining the IMG Soccer Academy in 2009. Gyau is of third-generation pedigree of professional footballers, being the son of former U.S. international Phillip Gyau and the grandson of Joseph "Nana" Gyau, a former Ghanaian international.

Club career

Gyau Signed for Hoffenheim with teammate Charles Renken in 2009. The two were under the age of 18 and could not participate in any matches and were loaned to the Vancouver Whitecaps where they were a part of a residency program from 2009 to 2010. After the season in Canada It was agreed upon that the two would start out playing for Hoffenheims U19 squad. Shortly after arriving and leading the team in minutes Gyau was moved up to Hoffenheims U23 in 2011. Gyau, only 18, made numerous appearances catching the eye of the first team and was soon moved up once again. Gyau made his Debut for the first team in a DFB pokal match against Greuther Furth in 2011 at the young age of 19. In April 2012 Gyau would sign His first team contract and In August 2012, Gyau was loaned to 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for the entire season, with an option for another season.[4] He made his League debut for Hoffenheim in April 2014, coming on in the final 21 minutes of a 0–0 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.[5] In June 2014, Gyau joined Borussia Dortmund. Initially this would only be for the U23 but shortly after he was moved up to the first team to participate in their preseason. Gyau scored a last minute game winner in a friendly match against Heidenheim. Post preseason Gyau remained with the first team and was a regular in the 18 man roster.[6] On September 24, 2014, he made his first team debut for Borussia Dortmund against VfB Stuttgart, coming on in the 74th minute of the match which ended in a 2–2 draw.[7] After being out with injuries for nearly two years, he made his return with Borussia Dortmund II as a substitute on October 29, 2016.[8] [9]

Following Gyau's return to match fitness in January 2017, Gyau moved to 3. Liga side SG Sonnenhof Großaspach on an 18-month deal. During those 18 months Gyau was able to return to form scoring 6 goals and adding 4 assists, earning himself a summer transfer[10]

Gyau moved to MSV Duisburg for their 2018–19 season in Germany's 2nd Bundesliga, tallying 2 goals and 1 assist during the campaign.[11]

On August 8, 2019, it was announced that Gyau had signed for Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati.[12] Gyau went on to make 51 total appearances for the club.

Gyau signed with Las Vegas Lights on February 16, 2024.[13]

International career

Gyau has been capped for the United States at the U-15, U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. In March 2012, Gyau was called into the US U-23 team for Olympic qualifying matches.[14] The team did not qualify for that year's Summer Olympics.

In November 2012, Gyau was called up to the United States national team.[15] His first start for the US was on September 3, 2014, against the Czech Republic in a friendly match.[16] Gyau made his second start for the national team on October 10, 2014, in a friendly match against Ecuador. After playing less than 15 minutes, he came off the pitch with a suspected sprained left knee and was replaced by Bobby Wood.[17] On October 12, it was announced that Gyau had torn his lateral meniscus and suffered a bone bruise.[18]

In June 2019, Gyau made his first United States national team appearance since 2014 in a friendly match against Jamaica.[19]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1899 Hoffenheim II2010–11Regionalliga7070
2011–12Regionalliga222222
2013–14Regionalliga277277
Total5690000569
1899 Hoffenheim2011–12Bundesliga001010
2012–13Bundesliga0000
2013–14Bundesliga2020
Total20100030
FC St. Pauli (loan)2012–132. Bundesliga15010160
FC St. Pauli II (loan)2012–13Regionalliga2121
Borussia Dortmund2014–15Bundesliga1010
Borussia Dortmund II2014–153. Liga112112
2015–16Regionalliga0000
2016–17Regionalliga2020
Total1320000132
Sonnenhof Großaspach2016–173. Liga161161
2017–183. Liga305305
Total4660000466
MSV Duisburg2018–192. Bundesliga20200202
FC Cincinnati2019Major League Soccer8080
2020Major League Soccer21110221
Total2910010301
Career total18421201018721

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: United States . CONCACAF . 16 . May 21, 2019 . Bernews . June 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190605133158/http://cloudfront.bernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019_Concacaf_Gold_Cup_Preliminary_Lists_May_20.pdf . live .
  2. News: Silver Spring's Joe Gyau rising up European soccer ranks. Steven Goff. January 10, 2013. Washington Post. September 1, 2017. December 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221232751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/silver-springs-joe-gyau-rising-up-european-soccer-ranks/2013/01/10/e287878a-5b3f-11e2-b8b2-0d18a64c8dfa_story.html. live.
  3. Web site: Joe Gyau Latest on Injury Rehab, Memories of Playing in DMV. DMV Soccer. August 17, 2015. August 17, 2015. August 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150820002309/http://www.dmvsoccer.com/2015/08/17/dmvs-finest-joe-gyau/. live.
  4. Web site: Gyau loaned out to FC St. Pauli . TSG 1899 Hoffenheim . August 30, 2012 . September 29, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131225115645/http://www.achtzehn99.de/gyau-loaned-out-to-fc-st-pauli/ . December 25, 2013 . dead .
  5. Web site: Seltzer. Greg. American Exports: John Anthony Brooks gets back on USMNT radar; Joe Gyau makes Bundesliga debut. Major League Soccer. MLSSoccer.com. April 26, 2014. April 26, 2014. January 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150102105319/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/26/american-exports-john-anthony-brooks-gets-back-usmnt-radar-joe-gyau-makes-bu. live.
  6. Web site: Borussia Dortmund signs U.S. prospect Joe Gyau . Goal.com . Goal.com Edition: America . June 30, 2014 . July 1, 2014 . Floyd, Thomas . https://web.archive.org/web/20140726092149/http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1614/americans-abroad/2014/06/30/4925830/borussia-dortmund-signs-us-prospect-joe-gyau?ICID=OP . July 26, 2014 . dead .
  7. Web site: Borussia Dortmund 2 - 2 Stuttgart Match report - 24/09/2014 Bundesliga - Goal.com. goal.com. September 24, 2014. March 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150301082906/http://www.goal.com/en-ie/match/borussia-dortmund-vs-stuttgart/1713459. live.
  8. Web site: Joe Gyau makes return from injury. Joseph. Brendan. October 29, 2016. Stars and Stripes FC. October 30, 2016. October 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031150410/http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/10/29/13467920/joe-gyau-borussia-dortmund. live.
  9. Web site: Nearly two years since his injury, USA's Joe Gyau nearing match fitness. Stejskal. Sam. September 22, 2016. mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. October 30, 2016. October 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031103806/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/22/nearly-two-years-his-injury-usas-joe-gyau-nearing-match-fitness. live.
  10. Web site: Joseph-Claude Gyau spielt zukünftig für den Dorfklub. January 18, 2017. January 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170117154253/http://www.sg94.de/index.php?id=78&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=1663&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=6c969b0af979e60b90f3739de7577b1b. dead.
  11. Web site: "Ein sehr spannender Neuzugang": Joseph-Claude Gyau wird ein Zebra. May 17, 2018. June 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620232025/https://www.msv-duisburg.de/aktuelles/artikel/ein-sehr-spannender-neuzugang-joseph-claude-gyau-wird-ein-zebra/. live.
  12. Web site: Club acquires midfielder Joseph-Claude Gyau. August 8, 2019. fccincinnati.com. August 8, 2019. August 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190808124250/https://www.fccincinnati.com/post/2019/08/08/club-acquires-joseph-claude-gyau. live.
  13. Web site: Las Vegas Lights FC welcomes three new signings for 2024 season.
  14. Web site: Caleb Porter Names 19 Players to U-23 Men's National Team Training Camp Roster. US Soccer. March 12, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314092937/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-23-MNT/2012/03/Caleb-Porter-Names-19-Players-to-U23-Training-Camp-Roster.aspx. March 14, 2012.
  15. Web site: U.S. roster for Russia friendly . washingtonpost.com . November 12, 2012 . April 14, 2013 . Steven . Goff . August 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140811010638/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2012/11/12/u-s-roster-for-russia-friendly/ . live .
  16. Web site: U.S. MNT Earns First Victory Against Czech Republic to Open New World Cup Cycle. ussoccer.com. September 24, 2014. September 4, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140904084542/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/09/03/15/40/140903-mnt-first-win-against-czech-republic. live.
  17. Web site: At half: Donovan exits, Diskerud scores, Gyau injured in busy half -. nbcsports.com. October 10, 2014. October 11, 2014. October 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011004204/http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/10/at-half-donovan-exits-diskerud-scores-gyau-injured-in-busy-half/. live.
  18. Web site: Joe Gyau Injury: Updates on Borussia Dortmund Star's Knee and Return. Gianni Verschueren. Bleacher Report. October 13, 2014. October 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141014231717/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2228910-joe-gyau-injury-updates-on-borussia-dortmund-stars-knee-and-return. live.
  19. Web site: USMNT Falls 1-0 To Jamaica In Washington, D.C.. www.ussoccer.com. July 18, 2020. November 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191126220947/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/06/usmnt-falls-1-0-to-jamaica-in-washington-dc. live.