Patrick Nyarko

Entering his fifth season with the Fire, Patrick Nyarko’s 2011 production for the side came one assist short of his 2010 contributions…Having played most of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 out on the wing, Nyarko moved up top with fellow Ghanaian Dominic Oduro midway through last season, forming a partnership that would help the club make a strong postseason push. Despite fighting concussion symptoms, Nyarko has appeared in more regular season matches (57) over the past two seasons than any other Chicago Fire player. A Ghanaian attacker with aspirations of one day playing for his country, Nyarko will continue to be a key cog in the Fire’s attack as one of the more senior members of the squad in 2012.

2011: Matched his career high of 30 appearances in a season, starting 24 matches… For the second-consecutive season, led the team in assists with nine, adding one goal in 2266 minutes played…Four of his nine helpers came on goals from fellow Ghanaian Dominic Oduro: 1-1 draw 6/18 at NE,
1-1 draw 7/2 @ CHV, 2-2 draw 8/13 at NY and a 3-2 win 9/17 vs. CHV…Assisted on Diego Chaves’ eighth minute equalizer in 2-1 loss 4/9 at SEA …Assisted on Cristian Nazarit’s 62^nd minute equalizer in a 2-1 loss 7/9 at LA…Assisted on Orr Barouch’s 80^th minute goal in a 4-2 loss 8/7 at VAN…Scored what would stand as the game-winner in the 30^th minute of a 3-2 victory 9/25 vs. NE…Assisted on Marco Pappa’s ninth minute goal in a 3-0 win 9/28 at RSL…Assisted on Sebastian Grazzini’s 92^nd minute goal in a 2-1 victory 10/15 at DC…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Appeared in five matches, starting four and tallying one assist, Oduro’s 61^st minute winner in a 2-1 victory at RIC to send the Fire to the 2011 Open Cup final…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Started both matches, logging 124 minutes combined in a 3-1 loss 7/23 to Manchester United and a 1-0 loss 9/14 to Chivas de Guadalajara.

2010: Led the team in matches played with 27 and finished second on the team in minutes with 2,068, behind only C.J. Brown…Recorded 1 goal and 10 assists – tying him for fifth overall league-wide...Two of his 10 assists were game-winners: 4/17 at DC and 10/8 vs. CLB…Rode a four-match assists streak, tallying one in matches on 4/10 vs. SJ, 4/17 at DC, 4/24 vs. HOU and 5/1 vs. CHV…Scored his first and only goal of the season in a 3-0 win at SJ on 9/29…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Came on at halftime, playing 75 minutes in the scoreless shootout loss to Charleston Battery on 6/29…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Appeared in 2 of 3 international friendlies, going 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on May 19 and again in a 1-0 loss to A.C. Milan on May 30.

2009: Played all 30 games this year for the Fire starting in 22 for 1983 minutes… scored 4 goals, 2 of which were game winners 7/18 vs. SJ and 8/1 vs. RSL. ... LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: played 45 minutes in the Fire’s loss in the 3^rd round…SUPERLIGA: Played 5 games, starting two of them for 227 minutes and scoring one goal.

2008: Played 8 games, started in 2 for 151 minutes… made MLS debut for 19 min. off the bench at DAL in 1-0 loss on 6/15…netted his first goal in his first MLS start on 8/02 game vs. CHV…suffered a mild concussion in 45th min. on 8/2 …suffered a right knee strain in Sept…MLS Cup Playoffs: came off the bench in the Eastern Conference Final @ CLB for 20 min. of play…Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Made first team debut in 91+ min. vs. CLB in USOC play-in 3-2 win…came off bench for 45 min. vs. Cleveland City Stars in 4-1 3rd round USOC win on 6/2...International Exhibitions: Started and played 45 min. in 2-0 win vs. Everton on 7/30…MLS Reserve Division – Scored 2 goals and 4 assists through 7 games played, 6 started…recorded 535 min.

College: In only 57 matches, ranks third all-time in goals (31) and assists (24) and fourth in points (86) at Virginia Tech … 2007: MAC Hermann Trophy Runner-up … Led Hokies to first-ever College Cup appearance … NSCAA All-American First Team … First-Team All-ACC … College Soccer News First-Team All-American 2006: Led ACC with a school-record 16 goals … Set a school record with 40 points … First-Team All-ACC … ACC All-Tournament team … NSCAA All-South Atlantic Second Team … 2005: Named ACC Freshman of the Year … First-Team All-ACC … Soccer America and College Soccer News All-Freshman first team … Named to Soccer America Team of the Week, Soccer America Player of the Week, College Soccer News National Team of the Week, ACC Player of the Week, and Virginia Tech Athlete of the Week

Club/Prep: Played for club team Kaaseman FC … Attended Opoku Ware High School in Kumasi, Ghana.

Personal: Son of Dominic Osei Nyarko and Rosemary Asiamah … Majored in Psychology at Virginia Tech…Enjoys watching basketball…Favorite thing to eat is soup.