Press Release:
(December 1, 2015) – Global sports and entertainment leader Octagon announced the signing of Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Lahoud. Lahoud is part of the recently launched Octagon Soccer representation division led by Co-Directors of North American Soccer Eddie Pope and Mike Senkowski.
Lahoud was drafted ninth overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and has made 122 regular season appearances, including 86 starts. A native of Sierra Leone, Lahoud received his first international call to play for his home country during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match. Prior to joining Philadelphia Union, Lahoud played four seasons on MLS team Chivas USA. The midfielder spent his college career at Wake Forest University where he was an integral part of the NCAA 2007 National Championship team, and made Final Four appearances in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, Lahoud was named to the All-ACC Second Team.
“Mike is an outstanding player who works hard on and off the pitch to make a difference,” said Pope. “Over the past five years, he has made a significant impact in the MLS and will continue to have a bright future ahead of him. We are thrilled to be representing Mike and begin managing his career.”
As a finalist for the MLS W.O.R.K.S. “Humanitarian of the Year” award, the 29-year-old has always been charity focused. Since 2011, Lahoud has been committed to building a school in Sierra Leone, working with fellow Sierra Leonean and MLS star Kei Kamara and the Schools for Salone foundation. Since 2005, the foundation has built 16 schools and two libraries, including the “Education for All Primary School” in Allen Town, East End Freetown, which was personally funded by Lahoud and Kamara with the help of the MLS Players Union.
Lahoud has been awarded the Pioneer Award of Excellence from the Bresee Foundation and co-created the #KickEbolaInTheButt Challenge with Temple University School of Tourism Hospitality and Management to raise awareness for the deadly virus that was ravaging West Africa. Lahoud was also the first MLS player to participate in the NOH8 campaign, supporting same sex marriage and gender equality, and has been honored with four team Humanitarian of the Year awards.
In October, Octagon announced that Pope and Senkowski would spearhead Octagon’s player representation business in North America. U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pope played in the MLS for 12 years and Senkowski served as Staff Counsel at the MLS Players Union where he was responsible for ensuring that the league adhered to terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The two worked a combined 13 years at the MLS Players Union before joining Octagon.
Octagon has a vast expertise across the global soccer landscape including the representation of Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge and NBC Sports Premier League soccer broadcasters Graeme Le Saux and Rebecca Lowe. Octagon’s corporate consulting division is the leader in global soccer marketing, leveraging the beautiful game for 25+ years. Octagon has created and executed award-winning programs on behalf of numerous global and national brands, engaging consumers across various soccer platforms including FIFA World Cup, CONCACAF, UEFA, National Teams from over 25 countries, and MLS.