Gyasi
Zardes
- Position Forward
- Number 9
- Date of Birth Sep 02 1991
- Hometown Hawthorne, CA
- Height 6' 2"
- Club Colorado Rapids
With plenty of pace, Gyasi Zardes has proven his ability both as a forward and a wide midfielder. Zardes was first called up in January of 2015 and quickly earned his first start the next month. He had a breakout year with MNT that year and went on play an important role in the USA’s fourth-place finish at the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup title. At CSU Bakersfield, Zardes led the team to their first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. He was signed as a Homegrown Player by the LA Galaxy in 2012 and distinguished himself scoring 34 goals in 131 appearances with the club. In 2018, he was transferred to the Columbus Crew SC where he experienced a renaissance, registering a career-high 19 goals as the club’s lead target forward.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Zardes scored his first goal with the MNT on June 5, 2015, against the Netherlands. He’s gone on to appear dozens of times with the MNT, contributing goals and a tireless work rate. He also has experience playing under current MNT coach Gregg Berhalter from his time at the Columbus Crew, where he scored 19 goals in 33 games for the future MNT boss in 2018. Having worked with Berhalter previously, Zardes has an innate understanding of the coach’s system and tactics, making him a valuable player to continue in the U.S. player pool.
THE HAIR
While his play makes him standout, his distinctive bleached blonde hairstyle has made him standout for years in Major League Soccer and with the U.S. Men’s National Team. The color choice is more than a fashion statement though, with Zardes choosing to go blonde to allow his grandparents to identify him more easily when they watch his games on television.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Zardes scored his first goal with the MNT on June 5, 2015, against the Netherlands. He’s gone on to appear dozens of times with the MNT, contributing goals and a tireless work rate. He also has experience playing under current MNT coach Gregg Berhalter from his time at the Columbus Crew, where he scored 19 goals in 33 games for the future MNT boss in 2018. Having worked with Berhalter previously, Zardes has an innate understanding of the coach’s system and tactics, making him a valuable player to continue in the U.S. player pool.
THE HAIR
While his play makes him standout, his distinctive bleached blonde hairstyle has made him standout for years in Major League Soccer and with the U.S. Men’s National Team. The color choice is more than a fashion statement though, with Zardes choosing to go blonde to allow his grandparents to identify him more easily when they watch his games on television.
PERSONAL SIDE
Gyasi was born on September 2, 1991, to parents Linda and Glen. He is of Ghanaian descent and was approached by their national team before he was first called up to the MNT. In college, he majored in physical education and kinesiology. He is married to longtime girlfriend Madison and together they have three children. When not on the pitch or in training, Zardes is an avid gamer spending time with both the FIFA and Call of Duty franchises. He also enjoys spending his free time with a good book, particularly those dealing with finances.
