USSF U-19 coach Michael Nsien, who is of Nigerian descent, is one of the emerging coaches set to take the football world by storm, writes ’TANA AIYEJINA
Back in Nigeria, Michael Nsien’s name hardly rings a bell in the football sector. But in the United States, it’s the exact opposite — Nsien, whose father hails from Eket in Akwa Ibom State, is one of the elite coaches revolutionising soccer and taking the game to the next level in the US, his country of birth.
Born February 14, 1981 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nsien is part of a new generation of coaches currently saddled with the task of managing America’s future football talents and the gaffer has proven his mettle since he changed mantle from playing to coaching.
Nsien, who holds a US Soccer Pro License (the first African-American to earn it in 2020) and UEFA ‘A’ License, is seen by his peers in the US as a trailblazer in a sector with very few black coaches.
Growing up in the Greenwood District of downtown Tulsa and attending Booker T. Washington High School, Nsien began his playing career at the University of Dayton.
As a footballer, the retired defender might not have had a trophy-filled cabinet after moving from the University of Dayton to LA Galaxy and then on to Portland Timbers and Saudi Arabian giants Al-Shabab, but he’s shown he’s a coach capable of handling top-class pros — while at FC Tulsa — and also identifying young talents and helping chart a career path for them since assuming the role of the head coach of the US U-19 MYNT five months ago.
A native Oklahoman, Nsien rose through the coaching ranks in his hometown of Tulsa. Prior to joining the USL club, he enjoyed a decorated youth coaching career with Tulsa Soccer Club. As Youth Academy Boys Director and Elite Team coach, Nsien won eight state championships from 2010 to 2018, while helping more than 100 players go on to play college soccer.
After showing promise as a youth soccer coach in Tulsa, Nsien was added to FC Tulsa’s (then known as the Tulsa Roughnecks FC) coaching staff in 2017. Midway through the 2018 USL Championship season, Nsien was named the interim head coach, taking over a club that was 0-8-7 at the time. He secured a victory on his professional head coaching debut, a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy II.
He then rose through the ranks to become Tulsa’s head coach and Technical Director on December 7, 2018.
After some early struggles in his first two seasons in charge, Nsien led Tulsa to their two banner years in 2020 and 2021, reaching the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever and the first time overall since 2017.
In his three seasons as the full-time head coach, Nsien produced a record of 28 wins, 31 losses and 22 draws, while leading FC Tulsa to consecutive USL Championship Playoff berths in 2020 and 2021.
Under his leadership, both seasons (2020 and 2021) were the best in Tulsa’s six-year USL Championship history as the club made the Playoffs twice, compiled a franchise-best seven-match unbeaten streak and had the club’s best-ever defence in 2020. They also boasted the club’s best record in franchise history and most points earned in a single season in 2021.
“I wear the (Tulsa) badge with pride, as a badge of honour,” Nsien said. “I think first and foremost, I want the club to do very well and represent Tulsa on a national scale, to the highest level possible. I put a lot of responsibility on myself as far as being a coach from Tulsa and representing the club,” Nsien said.
Thereafter he caught the attention of the United States Soccer Federation officials, who named him their U-16 MYNT in November 2022.
Some would tag it “a baptism of fire” transiting from club coaching to national duties but had a successful spell with the squad, guiding them to a 4-1-1 international record with wins against England, Japan, Nigeria and Wales before serving as an assistant to interim USMNT head coach B.J. Callaghan during the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
It thus didn’t come as a surprise to many of his followers when the USSF again appointed Nsien to manage their U-19 team last September.
“Working for US Soccer and helping to grow the game in this country has been an incredible opportunity,” Nsien said after his appointment five months ago. “I’m excited to move up to the U-19 MYNT to continue helping young players reach their full potential. We have a deep, talented pool of players in this country.”
While Nsien cuts a reserved figure on the touchline during matches, his style of play and training sessions are anything but. Despite his background as a defender, he loves to attack. His everyday training sessions are up tempo as he pushes his players to the limit on a regular basis.
He credits that style to a fellow coach that shares his Nigerian roots.
“Growing up, I had a coach, Tama Aondofar, who I still have a good connection with,” Nsien told fctulsa.com.
“He’s a Nigerian coach. He’s still based there. I just loved the tempo and intensity that he applied to training and how uncomfortable it made me. He also was a youth coach of mine, and then he also followed me to college. He ended up being assistant coach at Dayton when I was in college. So, he’s someone that I kept a good connection with coaching-wise.”
The gaffer also has playing links with Nigeria, despite being born in Oklahoma.
After playing four years of college soccer at the University of Dayton, he headed to Nigeria to prepare with the U-23 squad for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. After the Olympic bid failed, Nsien returned to the US to spend a few years as a roster reserve with the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.
The ambitious 43-year-old is hoping to join the global elite coaching class soon, which has seen him spend time learning the coaching ropes with European giants Benfica, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City at their respected academies.
“I have a strong desire to compete amongst the best in the football profession and find success,” Nsien told The PUNCH. “I thoroughly enjoy the learning aspect and the finer details of the game, proven leadership capability with the competency of forming and managing elite level teams as well as coaching staff and high performance; strengths in tactical acumen, long-term planning, man-management and media relations.”
Lee Carsley, current England men’s U-21 national team coach, who first met Nsien while at English champions Manchester City six years ago, is thrilled by Nsien’s achievements ever since.
“I met Michael in 2018 while I was working for Manchester City. Michael came to study and observe the clubs best practices and working environment. We have stayed connected since, great to see his achievements along with his ambition,” Carsley said.
Nsien’s style of management places emphasis on his personal knowledge of his players and his relationship with them.
”Yes, I value understanding the player first as a person before I can understand them as a player,” he added.
“Although I was born in the United States, I am well versed in the modern trends of the game worldwide. I have a disciplined yet fluid model for style of play that would suit the qualities of the player.
“I have a clear understanding of my principles and style of play. I have well thought out and defined methods of how to train, develop and share my concepts to my staff and my players. I am strong in defending my principles but open to adapting and implementing new concepts.
“I have worked with various levels of talent, and I know that I can help develop and execute a process that will maximise the potential for all players that are at my disposal. I have a proven track record of collaborations within organisations, to assist in being objective in setting goals and reaching them.”
His coaching style, which seeks to improve high performance using technology and benchmarks hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Working with Michael, I’ve seen firsthand his professionalism and attention to detail. His meticulous nature to get things right will make him a success in any environment. I’ve had experiences all over the world and Michael Is among the elite coaches,” former US international Oguchi Onyewu, who is now the USSF Vice Sporting Director, said.
David Bell, a former Instructor, UEFA A and B Courses FAI, said, “I first met Michael at the UEFA B course in 2014 as my student. He constantly asked questions, seeks knowledge and stood out among the candidates as a professional. I’ve watched him continue in this industry with ambition, humility and constantly improving his methods.”
