Olivier Occean

Olivier Occean

Personal information
Full name	Olivier Occean
Date of birth	23 October 1981 (1981-10-23)
Place of birth	Brossard, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	SpVgg Greuther Fürth
Number	25
Youth career
1998–2000	Longueuil Select Rive-Sud
2001	SCSU Fighting Owls
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2003	Vermont Voltage	30	(19)
2004–2005	Odd Grenland	46	(22)
2006–2010	Lillestrøm	91	(34)
2010–2011	Kickers Offenbach	30	(16)
2011–	Greuther Fürth	24	(12)
National team‡
2004–	Canada	23	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 March 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2011

Olivier Occean (born 23 October 1981 in Brossard, Quebec) is a Canadian footballer player who currently plays for SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga.

Club career

College soccer

Occean played college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University in the NCAA Division II, from 2001 to 2003. While at the college, Occean was twice named an NCAA All-American. He finished his career with 57 goals, including 21 as a senior, and 22 in 2001. During this time he also played for Vermont Voltage in the USL Premier Development League.

Upon graduating from college, Occean was selected 26th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars. Occean didn't surprise many after coming from a powerhouse Division II program, which had won six NCAA titles, and looked likely to make the team. However, Occean did surprise when, while the MetroStars were playing in the preseason La Manga Cup, Occean impressed the Metrostars' competitors Odd Grenland so much that the team immediately offered him a contract. With Major League Soccer not willing to compete financially with the Norwegian club, Occean ended up with Odd.

Odd Grenland

Occean immediately impressed in Norway, earning a starting spot and immediately scoring goals. In his first season with Odd Grenland, Occean led the team in goals with 14, although the team slumped to a mid-table finish.

Lillestrøm

He signed a five-year contract with Lillestrøm on 10 December 2005. The deal was worth approximately €885,000 plus about €126,000 in possible incentive pay. After a promising start however, his first season with the club was marred by a five month goal-drought broken only in the very last match of the season. Occean then faced the challenge of living up to the price tag and in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, the muscular striker bagged in 12 goals for the club.

Offenbach

Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, Occean moved to Germany, joining 3. Fußball-Liga side Kickers Offenbach on a free transfer. He got off to a perfect start, netting four goals in his first three league appearances, thus becoming an instant favorite with Kickers fans.

SpVgg Greuther Fürth

It was announced in the German media on 25 May 2011 that Olivier had signed a three-year contract with SpVgg Greuther Fürth until June 2014. Occean made his debut for his newly signed team on 15 July in a 3–2 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. One week later Occean once again started for SpVgg Fürth and scored two goals leading the team to a 4–0 road victory over 1. FC Union Berlin. Occean scored one of the most important goals of the season in the DFB-Pokal quarter finals, scoring the game winner in the 44th minute against Hoffenheim on February 8, 2012.

International career

He made his debut for Canada in a May 2004 friendly match against Wales and, by late February 2011, has earned a total of 19 caps, scoring two goals. He has represented Canada in seven FIFA World Cup qualification matches and at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	9 February 2005	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland	1–0	1–0	Friendly match
2	22 August 2007	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik, Iceland	Iceland	1–1	1–1	Friendly match
3	7 October 2011	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia	Saint Lucia	3–0	7–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	7 October 2011	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia	Saint Lucia	5–0	7–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	15 November 2011	BMO Field, Toronto, Canada	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1–0	4-0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Norway

Lillestrøm SK

• Norwegian Cup: 2007

External links

• Olivier Occean at National-Football-Teams.com
• Olivier Occean at fussballdaten.de (German)