Ibrahim Sekagya

Ibrahim Sekagya (born 19 December 1980) is a Ugandan former footballer who played as a centre back. He is currently the head coach for New York Red Bulls II of MLS Next Pro.

Ibrahim Sekagya

Sekagya in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth	(1980-12-19) 19 December 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth	Kampala, Uganda
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	New York Red Bulls (assistant)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2001	KCCA	10	(1)
2001–2002	Atlético de Rafaela	38	(2)
2002–2005	Ferro Carril Oeste	96	(4)
2005–2007	Arsenal de Sarandí	62	(2)
2007–2013	Red Bull Salzburg	165	(6)
2013–2014	New York Red Bulls	33	(2)
International career‡
1999–2011	Uganda	35	(3)
Managerial career
2015–2022	New York Red Bulls II (assistant)
2022	New York Red Bulls II (interim)
2023–	New York Red Bulls II
2024	New York Red Bulls (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:09, 2 July 2022 (EST) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2011

Club career

Born in Kawempe Kampala, as a boy, Sekagya started out his career playing on a bare surfaced pitch at Kawempe commonly known as 'kataka' before joining State House and later local giants Kampala City Council FC (KCC FC) Sekagya started his senior career with Kampala City Council in 1992, before moving to Argentina in 1998 to try to make a career in football. His first Argentine club was Atlético de Rafaela in the Primera B Nacional. In 2002, he moved to Ferro Carril Oeste in the Primera B Metropolitana, subsequently helping the team to win the league and secure promotion to the Primera B Nacional. In 2005, he was signed by Arsenal de Sarandí of the Argentine Primera División, where he spent two seasons. In June 2007, Sekagya signed a three-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg, the then current champions of the Austrian Bundesliga.^[1] He made his Bundesliga debut on 11 July 2007 in Salzburg's 4–1 win against SC Rheindorf Altach and scored his first league goal on 22 July 2007 to secure Salzburg a 2–2 away draw at FK Austria Wien. He quickly established himself as a regular with the club and finished his first season with 34 Bundesliga appearances to his name, scoring three goals in the league.^[2] In his six seasons at the club Sekagya appeared in 165 league matches and scored 6 goals. During this time he helped the club capture three Austrian Football Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup.

2011–12 Austrian Cup Final

On 11 July 2013, Sekagya joined MLS side New York Red Bulls on a free transfer, following his departure from sister club Red Bull Salzburg.^[3] On 4 August 2013 Sekagya made his debut for New York starting as a defensive midfielder in a 3–2 victory over Sporting Kansas City. On 27 October 2013, Sekagya scored the go ahead goal in the last game of the season against the Chicago Fire at Red Bull Arena to help his team to a 5–2 victory and become champions of the regular season. It was the club's first major trophy in their 17-year history.^[4][5] However, Sekagya's giveaway led to an equalizer in Houston's 2–1 victory that knocked New York out of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.^[6] During the 2014 season Sekagya became a regular starter for New York helping the club reach the MLS Cup playoffs. Sekagya retired from professional football in early 2015.

International career

Sekagya also played for the Ugandan national football team where he was the team's captain. He made 8 appearances and scored one goal in their qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as 3 appearances and a goal in the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.^[7]

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 June 2004	Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda	DR Congo	1 – 0	1–0	World Cup 2006 Qualifying
2	31 May 2008	Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda	Niger	1 – 0	1–0	World Cup 2010 Qualifying

Coaching

Following his retirement, Sekagya joined the coaching staff of the New York Red Bulls.^[8] On 2 July 2022, Sekagya was named interim head coach for the Red Bulls' USL Championship side, New York Red Bulls II.^[9]

Honours

Ferro

• Primera B Metropolitana (1):
  • 2002–03

RB Salzburg

• Austrian Football Bundesliga (3):
  • 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Austrian Cup (1):
  • 2012

NY Red Bulls

• MLS Supporters' Shield (1):
  • 2013

Club career

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Argentina			League		Copa Argentina		Copa de Liga		CONMEBOL		Total
2001–02	Atlético Rafaela	Primera B Nacional	38	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	38	2
2002–03	Ferro Carril Oeste	Primera B Metropolitana	30	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	30	2
2003–04			34	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	34	2
2004–05			32	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	32	0
2005–06	Arsenal	Primera División	29	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	29	1
2006–07			33	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	33	1
Austria			Austrian Bundesliga		ÖFB-Cup		Other		Europe		Total
2007–08	Red Bull Salzburg	Bundesliga	34	3	-	-	-	-	5	0	39	3
2008–09			34	1	2	1	-	-	6	1	42	3
2009–10			24	0	2	1	-	-	11	0	37	1
2010–11			30	0	1	0	-	-	12	0	43	0
2011–12			26	1	4	1	-	-	11	1	41	3
2012–13			17	1	3	1	-	-	1	0	21	2
United States			League		US Open Cup		MLS Cup Playoffs		North America		Total
2013	New York Red Bulls	Major League Soccer	8	2	-	-	2	0	-	-	10	2
2014			25	0	1	0	5	0	-	-	31	0
Country	Argentina		196	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	196	8
	Austria		165	6	12	4	-	-	46	2	223	12
	United States		33	2	1	0	7	0	-	-	41	2
Total			394	16	13	4	7	0	46	2	460	22

References

1. "Salzburg aiming high with Sekagya". UEFA. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
2. "Ibrahim Sekagya – Bundesliga 2007/2008". Weltfussball.de (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
3. "Red Bulls Sign Defender Ibrahim Sekagya". mlssoccer.com. MLS. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
4. Panizo, Franco. "New York Red Bulls 5, Chicago Fire 2 | MLS Match Recap". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
5. Lalas, Greg. "Curse broken! New York Red Bulls win the 2013 Supporters' Shield". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
6. "New York Red Bulls vs Houston Dynamo 11-07-2013 – Recap | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
7. "Ibrahim Sekagya – Länderspiele". Weltfussball.de (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
8. "New York Red Bulls hire recently retired defender Ibrahim Sekagya as assistant coach". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
9. "Ibrahim Sekagya Named Interim Head Coach of New York Red Bulls II". NewYorkRedBulls.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.

External links

• Ibrahim Sekagya – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Ibrahim Sekagya – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Ibrahim Sekagya at National-Football-Teams.com
• Ibrahim Sekagya at Football Lineups
• Ibrahim Sekagya at WorldFootball.net
• Guardian Football Stats Archived 2 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine