Alex Nimo

Acquired

RSL: Selected in the second round (17th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft on 1/18/08

The development of midfielder Alex Nimo is on pace to accelerate in 2009, this after the now 19-year-old learned the ins and outs of professional life during his rookie campaign last year. While not seeing any first-team action in MLS play in 2008, Nimo did get his chance to shine in each of the team's three international exhibitions last summer, including a 90-minute effort against Mexican champion Santos Laguna during which he registered his first professional goal, RSL's lone tally in a 4-1 Xango Cup '08 defeat. Nimo's prime opportunity and development came in MLS Reserve Division play, where the youngster started in 10 of 12 contests for the RSL Reserves. Nimo would blossom late in the campaign en route to a collecting a team-high four assists as part of an explosive attack that averaged over two-and-a-half goals each time out. The maturing playmaker and U.S. U-17 Bradenton Residency product hopes to have a much busier sophomore season both for the "Claret-and-Cobalt" and "Red, White & Blue," as a stint for the U.S. Under-20 National Team should be on his radar as the USA prepares to qualify for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, taking place in Egypt this fall.

2008: Selected by RSL 17th overall (2nd Rd.) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore on 1/18/08 … Saw first action in an RSL uniform on 4/06 @ CHV in MLS Reserve Division play, starting and playing the full 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw on the right side of the midfield … Scored his first goal in an RSL uniform in the 2008 XanGo Cup on 7/09 v. Santos Laguna (MEX) … Took part in RSL's 2-1 international friendly loss v. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) on 7/23, playing the first half … Tallied his first assist in an RSL uniform for the RSL Reserves on 8/30 v. COL … Put in another 90-minute performance in exhibition play on 9/03 in a 1-0 victory over UANL Tigres (MEX) … Notched pair of assists for RSL Reserves on 9/21 v. CHV in a 3-1 win … Registered GWA for RSL Reserves on 10/26 @ COL on Beltran's 63rd minute tally.

U.S. Youth National Teams

U.S. Under-20 MNT: Made Four Appearances (Three Starts) For The Squad In The Prestigious 2008 Copa Chivas Tournament In January 2008 … Scored In His Debut, A 2-2 Draw With Mexico's Club America On 1/26 … Notched His Second Goal Of The Tournament In The Team's 1-1 Draw With Argentina's Estudiantes De La Plata … Played In Two Of Three Contests For The U.S. Under-20 MNT At The Campos Verdes International Tournament In Portugal In April 2008 … Started The U-20s' First Game In The Tournament On 4/15 V. Cape Verde Islands And Played All 90 Minutes In The USA's 3-1 Defeat … Entered At The Half On 4/18 V. Portugal, Logging The Final 45 Minutes Of A 4-0 Defeat To The Tournament Hosts … Took Part In U-20 Camp And Friendlies V. Guatemala In Mid-August 2008.

U.S. Under-17 MNT: Invited To The Under-17 Residency Program In Bradenton, FL In January 2007 … Enjoyed A Stellar Year On The U-17 MNT, Finishing With Six Goals And Two Assists In 16 Appearances … Played An Instrumental Role In Securing Qualification For The 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Scoring Three Goals And Dishing Out Two Assists While Starting All Five CONCACAF Region Qualifying Contests … Started All Four U.S. Matches And Played All But One Minute In The Tournament's Finals In Korea, Notching An Assist Along The Way … Assisted On What Was Then A Go-Ahead Goal (53') In The USA's Tournament Opener Against Tajikistan On 8/20/07 In An Eventual 4-3 Defeat … Drew The PK On 8/23 V. Tunisia That Led To The USA's Lone Goal In A 3-1 Loss.

 

High School/Club

Starred for four seasons at Benson High School in Portland, OR … Earned 2006 Portland Interscholastic League MVP Award and is considered the best player to ever play in the league … Was named to the 2006 Parade All-America High School Boys Soccer Team … Played club soccer for FC Portland after being discovered by legendary U.S. coach Clive Charles at the age of nine.

Personal

Escaped civil war-ravaged Liberia with his family and lived in a Ghanaian refugee camp, where he learned to play soccer … Family was granted asylum status and with the assistance of Catholic missionaries, relocated to the Portland area when he was nine … Enjoys hanging out with friends and playing video games in his free time - especially his PSP that he carries everywhere.