[MLS] Akron’s Steve Zakuani, Soccer America Men’s Collegiate Player of the Year 2008, is leaving Akron after his sophomore season to enter the 2009 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas player.
Zakuani is only the second sophomore to win Soccer America Men’s Player of the Year honors, after Claudio Reyna, who won the first of back-to-back awards in 1992.
Zakuani landed at Akron because new Zips coach Caleb Porter was looking at tape of an English player he hoped to fill out his first recruiting class in 2006 when he spotted Zakuani, who arrived the next year.
Zakuani was born in Zaire and raised in London, where he played up until the age of 15 in Arsenal’s youth system. His older brother Gabby was signed by Fulham from Leyton Orient for $2 million in 2006 but has never made a first-team appearance for the Cottagers.
Steve, meanwhile, was open to the idea of coming to America to study. He had a decent freshman season with six goals, then as a sophomore he led the nation with 20 goals and 47 points. Seven of his goals were gamewinners.
Zakuani is the first UA underclassman to leave school early to pursue a professional career in any sport, according to AP.
“Those are the reasons that made the decision to leave a truly difficult one,” Zakuani said. “However, my dream has always been to play professional soccer and so when this great opportunity came knocking on my door, it was almost impossible for me to turn it down. I feel that the time is right for me to make the natural progression to the next level and I am excited about my future.”
Generation adidas (called Project-40 until 2005) is joint venture between MLS and U.S. Soccer that offers a college tuition stipend for players should they wish to continue their studies after going pro.
The expansion Seattle Sounders have the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS Super Draft, which will be held on Jan. 15 in St. Louis, Mo.