Rodney Michael (born 10 August 1999) is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a forward for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 (age 23) | ||
| Place of birth | Freetown, Sierra Leone | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Indy Eleven | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2017 | Santa Barbara SC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2020 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | 59 | (23) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | South Georgia Tormenta 2 | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | South Georgia Tormenta | 16 | (1) |
| 2022– | Indy Eleven | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 17, 2022 | |||
Michael played three seasons of high school soccer at Dunn School, been named 2016-17 California Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year and lead the Earwigs to the CIF Southern Section Championship in 2015 and 2017. Michael earned All-CIF honors all three seasons after scoring 74 goals and tallying 43 assists in his career. Michael also played club soccer for USSDA side Santa Barbara Soccer Club from 2014 to 2017, helping the club to the 2016 U18 National Championship and earned Best-XI honors.[1][2]
Michael attended the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017 to play college soccer. Over four seasons with the Gauchos, Michael made 59 appearances, scoring 23 goals and tallying 15 assists. During his time at college, Michael earned accolades including Big West All-Freshman Team, All-Big West First Team and Big West Freshman of the Year in 2017, All-Big West First Team and All-Far West Region First Team in 2018, Top Drawer Soccer All-America Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team in 2019. He didn't play a senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Michael was tipped to be drafted in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, but wasn't one of the 86 picks.[4] He spent time on trial with USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds in April 2021,[5] but wasn't signed by the team.
Michael spent time with amateur USL League Two side South Georgia Tormenta 2[6] before planning to play his senior college season later in 2021. However, South Georgia Tormenta's professional USL League One side opted to offer him a professional contract, and he signed with the club on June 7, 2021.[7] He made his professional debut on June 19, 2021, appearing as a 56th-minute substitute during a 3–1 win over Greenville Triumph.[8] He netted his first professional goal on 30 June 2021, scoring Tormenta's lone goal in a 2–1 loss to Toronto FC II.[9]
On March 22, 2022, Michael was transferred from Tormenta to USL Championship side Indy Eleven.[10]
Indy Eleven – current squad | |
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