Nielsen Signs Player Contract with OKC Energy FC
April 1, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
OKC Energy FC News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY - OKC Energy FC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen and General Manager Jason Hawkins announced Wednesday Nielsen had signed a player contract with the team on an emergency basis. The signing comes after goalkeepers Evan Newton and Ray Clark were both ruled out for this weekend. Energy FC faces the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
"I'm absolutely terrified," Nielsen said. "I haven't played in almost two years, but this is what we feel is necessary considering our current situation. We're a team, and we're all in this together - everyone from myself to Carl Baum."
Hawkins stated he was unsure if Nielsen or Bryan Byars would get the start Saturday afternoon, noting "we'll have to make that call in a couple of days. It's just too soon to assume anything at this point."
Nielsen began his professional career with hometown club AaB Aalborg in Denmark, helping the team to the 1999 Danish Superliga championship. After a brief stint at Leicester City in 2007, he transferred to Danish club Vejle, for whom he made 63 appearances over two years. He was named Danish Goalkeeper of the Year in 1998 and 2004, and also represented his country at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
In February 2010, Nielsen joined Major League Soccer and became the starting goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City. As a member of Sporting KC, Nielsen was a two-time MLS All Star, the 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and goalkeeper for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open championship club and the 2013 MLS Cup winning squad. He was named team captain prior to start of the 2012 season.
When Nielsen began his MLS career, he instantly became a fan favorite, whose signature bleach-blonde locks earned his the nickname "White Puma." But it wasn't just his play that endeared Nielsen to fans, though-it was his personality. He was known for stopping his car at local parks when driving by and joining in games with random children. Often, Nielsen would pull kids out of the crowd and have them kick balls at him as part of his pre-game warm-up.
"I've been playing with the kids over in the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood," Nielsen added. "They're a pretty tough group and I'm headed over there this afternoon to get some more work in."
United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 1, 2015
- Aztex Fall 3-0 to Whitecaps FC 2 - Austin Aztex
- Defender Navarro, Forward Walker and Midfielder Ilich Join Orange County Blues - Orange County SC
- Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Charleston Battery Match Preview - Penn FC
- LA Galaxy II Ready to Face Arizona United SC Thursday at StubHub Center - LA Galaxy II
- USL's Week 3 Spans Four-Day Stretch - USL
- USL Discipline Report: Week 2 - USL
- Preview: STL FC on the Road to Tulsa - Saint Louis FC
- LA Galaxy II to Offer $2 Tacos for Next Four Home Matches - LA Galaxy II
- Match Preview: Sacramento Republic FC at Portland Timbers 2 - Sacramento Republic FC
- Nielsen Signs Player Contract with OKC Energy FC - OKC Energy FC
- Riverhounds Set PDL Tryouts for April 24-25 - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
