Omar Cummings (born 13 July 1982) is a former Jamaican international footballer who played as a forward. He spent his entire professional career in the United States.

Omar Cummings
Cummings with Colorado Rapids in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-07-13) 13 July 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Old Harbour, Jamaica
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2002–2003 Rivoli United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Cincinnati State College
2005–2006 Cincinnati Bearcats
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Colorado Rapids 148 (39)
2013–2014 Houston Dynamo 37 (3)
2015 San Antonio Scorpions 29 (10)
2016–2017 FC Cincinnati 20 (3)
Total 234 (55)
International career
2008–2012 Jamaica 35 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Youth and amateur

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Cummings attended Jonathan Grant High School, Cincinnati State College and the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in criminal justice.[1]

Professional

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Cummings with Houston Dynamo in 2014

Cummings was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft as a Round 3, number 31 overall pick.[2] On 4 September 2010, Cummings scored two goals to help the Rapids to a 3–0 victory over Chivas USA at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The performance led to him being voted as Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 23 of the MLS season by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).[3] On 27 December 2010, it was announced that the Colorado Rapids had granted Cummings permission to trial with English Premier League club Aston Villa.[4] On 17 January 2011, Aston Villa manager Gérard Houllier announced that Cummings had impressed on the trial.[5] Due to work permit issues, a deal did not proceed.[6]

Having returned to play for Colorado again in 2010, Cummings made his 100th MLS appearance for the Rapids on 30 April 2010, in a game against Chicago Fire.

On 22 December 2012 Cummings was traded to Houston Dynamo in exchange for Nathan Sturgis and allocation money.[7] He remained with Houston for two years.

In 2015, Cummings signed with San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League.[8] He enjoyed a successful season, scoring 10 goals in 29 matches.

On 21 January 2016, Cummings signed with expansion side FC Cincinnati of the United Soccer League.[9]

On 23 July 2017, FC Cincinnati announced that Cummings would be retiring from professional soccer.[10] He played his final match the following day in an international friendly against Valencia CF. During the match's halftime, the club honored Cummings with a brief ceremony and presented him with a framed jersey.[11] Following his retirement, Cummings joined the front office of FC Cincinnati working on youth academy and community initiatives.[12]

International

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Cummings made his international debut for Jamaica in July 2008.[2]

International goals

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As of 30 March 2011[13]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competitions
1 9 November 2008 Truman Bodden Stadium, George Town, Cayman Islands   Cayman Islands
0 – 1
0 – 2
International Friendly
2 19 November 2008 Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica   Canada
3 – 0
3 – 0
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 10 July 2009 FIU Stadium, Miami, USA   El Salvador
0 – 1
0 – 1
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
4 7 September 2010 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA   Peru
1 – 1
2 – 1
International Friendly
5 5 December 2010 Stade d'Honneur de Dillon, Fort-de-France, Martinique   Guadeloupe
1 – 1
1 – 1
2010 Caribbean Championship
6 29 March 2011 Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador   El Salvador
1 – 3
2 – 3
International Friendly
7 2 September 2011 Quito, Ecuador   Ecuador
1 – 4
2 – 5
International Friendly

Personal life

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Cummings is the cousin of fellow soccer players Rafe Wolfe, Wolry Wolfe and Kemeel Wolfe.[14]

Cummings holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Profile". University of Cincinnati Athletics official website. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Profile". Colorado Rapids official website. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ^ Joshua Mayer (6 September 2010). "Colorado's Omar Cummings named MLS Player of the Week". Seattle Times. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  4. ^ German Sferra (27 December 2010). "Cummings to train with EPL's Aston Villa". Colorado Rapids official website. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Colorado Rapids striker Omar Cummings impresses Villa". BBC Sport. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  6. ^ German Sferra (18 January 2011). "Work permit issues end Cummings' EPL stay". Colorado Rapids official website. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  7. ^ "New-look Rapids deal veteran Cummings to Dynamo". MLSsoccer.com. 23 December 2012. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  8. ^ "San Antonio Scorpions Sign Omar Cummings". 27 March 2015.
  9. ^ "FC Cincinnati Signs Six More Players | FC Cincinnati". Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  10. ^ Kimura, Fumi (24 July 2017). "Omar Cummings Announces Retirement". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. ^ FC Cincinnati [@fccincinnati] (24 July 2017). "WATCH: #FCCINCY Honors @ocummings14 For A Fantastic Career! #ThankYouOmar #CINvVAL" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Brennan, Patrick (23 July 2017). "Omar Cummings announces retirement from soccer". Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Jamaica International Matches Details 1998-2010". RSSSF.
  14. ^ "Wolry Wolfe - Jamaica - Caribbean Football". caribbeanfootballdatabase.com. 29 October 2018.
  15. ^ German Sferra (17 January 2012). "Rapids have four International roster slots available". Colorado Rapids. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
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