Oka Nikolov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 May 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Erbach im Odenwald, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Los Angeles FC (goalkeeping) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1981–1989 | SG Sandbach | ||
| 1989–1991 | Darmstadt 98 | ||
| 1991–1993 | Eintracht Frankfurt | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1996 | Eintracht Frankfurt II | 73 | (0) |
| 1995–2013 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 379 | (0) |
| 2013 | Philadelphia Union | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 8 | (0) |
| Total | 460 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998–2001 |
Macedonia | 5 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014 | Germany U-19 (goalkeeping) | ||
| 2015 |
Macedonia (goalkeeping) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Philadelphia Union (assistant) | ||
| 2018 | LA Galaxy (assistant) | ||
| 2019–2020 | Philadelphia Union (assistant) | ||
| 2021 | D.C. United (assistant) | ||
| 2022– | Los Angeles FC (goalkeeping) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Orhej "Oka" Nikolov (German pronunciation:
Club career
Born Erbach im Odenwald, Hessen, West Germany, Nikolov grew up in Sandbach in Hessen, starting playing football with local SG Sandbach.[citation needed]
Nikolov started his senior career at Eintracht Frankfurt as backup, first to Uli Stein and then Andreas Köpke.[citation needed] After the latter left the team in June 1996 following the team's relegation from the Bundesliga he became first-choice, losing that status in early 2002 to newly-signed Dirk Heinen; he made his debut in the top division on 9 September 1995, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.[citation needed]
In the following years Nikolov played in every season.[citation needed] In February 2007, after Pröll received a rib injury, he was reinstated by manager Friedhelm Funkel, contributing with 20 games during the team's 2006–07 season.[3]
In January 2010, it was announced that the 35-year-old Nikolov would not renew his contract with Eintracht that was due to expire in the summer, but he eventually signed a new deal until 2012, and later until 2013.[4] In June 2013, Eintracht revealed that the goalkeeper's contract would be cancelled, effective immediately to allow Nikolov to fulfill his lifelong dream to play in the United States.[5]
On 19 June 2013, Nikolov signed with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.[6] He made his first start as a Union player on 30 July 2013 in a friendly against Stoke City playing 45 minutes.[citation needed]
Nikolov signed with Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 19 February 2014 on a contract for the nine-game Spring season.[citation needed] Nikolov started and played eight matches in goal for the Strikers, posting two clean sheets. The team ended up as runners-ups.[3]
Coaching career
- Director of Coaching at JFC Frankfurt
- Project Director and Coach at the Eintracht Frankfurt Football Academy
- Assistant coach for the Germany national under-19 team.
- Nikolov also served as Assistant Coach for the Macedonian National Team as well as a goalkeeper coach for LA Galaxy.[7]
Nikolov joined the coaching staff of Los Angeles FC in February 2022.[8]
International career
Nikolov chose to represent the country of his ancestors, going on to win five
His final international was a match in November 2001 against Hungary.[10]
Honours
Eintracht Frankfurt
References
- ^ Feick, Michael (12 August 2010). "Oka Nikolov bleibt im Eintracht-Tor" [Oka Nikolov remains in Eintracht goal] (in German). Eintracht's official website. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Nikolov kehrt zurück" [Nikolov returns] (in German). Frankfurter Neue Presse. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ a b "O. Nikolov". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Oka Nikolov verlängert bis 2013" [Oka Nikolov renews until 2013] (in German). Frankfurter Rundschau. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Frankfurt release Oka Nikolov" [Frankfurt release Oka Nikolov] (in German). Bundesliga.de. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ^ "Union sign veteran goalkeeper Oka Nikolov". Philadelphia Union. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ "LA Galaxy add Oka Nikolov and Junior Gonzalez to coaching staff". lagalaxy.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ "LAFC Announces Assistant Coaching Staff Ahead Of Club's Fifth MLS Season". LAFC.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Oka Nikolov". MacedonianFootball. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
External links
- Oka Nikolov at fussballdaten.de (in German)
- Eintracht Frankfurt archives (in German)
- Profile at MacedonianFootball (in English)
- Oka Nikolov at National-Football-Teams.com
- Oka Nikolov at Soccerway