Jozy Altidore has Shown poor in the English Premier League with two different teams earning him the number one spot on Daily Mail’s “100 Worst Strikers In Premier League History.” This, however, does not accurately describe the 2006 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year who is known for Jozy Altidore’s speed, power, and goal-scoring ability that has made him a mainstay on the United States Men’s National Soccer Team with over 100 appearances to his name.
Jozy Altidore Biography, Age
Jozy was born Josmer Volmy Altidore on the 6th of November 1989 in Livingston, New Jersey. He is the youngest of four children to his Haitian immigrant parents; Giselle and Joseph Altidore. When Altidore was still very young, his family moved to Boca Raton, Florida where they settled down and raised their children.
Altidore fell in love with soccer as a young child. His parents were able to channel their son’s passion into a career by supporting him and enrolling him into the famous IMG Academy which has a reputation for nurturing exceptional athletic talents. He also went on to play for other soccer teams in the South Florida region such as Boca Raton Juniors Soccer Club, Schulz Academy, and Sunrise S.C. By the time the 2006 MLS SuperDraft came along, Jozy Altidore was selected with the seventeenth overall pick by a team that is today known as the New York Red Bulls.
Despite having signed a contract with the team, Altidore was away for the majority of his first professional season in order to complete the requirements for his high school diploma in Florida. He was, however, able to score his first professional goal during that time to become the youngest person to score in a Major League Soccer playoffs match.
In 2008, Jozy Altidore opted to head to Europe by joining Spanish La Liga outfit Villareal for a fee of about $10 million, a record fee at the time for an MLS player. During his three years-long spells with Villareal, Altidore only managed 22 appearances and 3 goals as he was sent out on loan to Xeres (2009), Hull City (2009-10), and then Buraspor (2011). In July 2011, Altidore moved to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar where he began to enjoy his football again, scoring 51 goals in a total of 93 appearances for the side. His performances caught the attention of a number of clubs, however, it was English side Sunderland that was able to sign him for a fee of about $13 million.
Despite all the hype that surrounded his arrival to the Premier League, Altidore struggled to reach the heights he had achieved in the Eredivisie. In two seasons with Sunderland, he managed just 3 goals in 52 appearances, prompting him to head back to the MLS, this time to Toronto FC with whom he has enjoyed a career resurgence, averaging a goal in about 2 games.
Jozy Altidore Family – Wife, Girlfriend, Son
Jozy Altidore’s parents are Haitians who fled their home country to America to get away from President Francois Duvalier’s oppressive dictatorship. He has three older siblings, however, their identities and professions are not known.
In regards to Altidore’s love life, he has never been married, therefore, there is no wife to report about. However, the United States national soccer team player is in a high profile relationship with another athlete, professional tennis player Sloane Stephens.
Altidore officially began dating the 2017 US Open champion in 2016 even though the pair had known each other since they were in fifth grade. They are said to have been childhood friends having grown up together in Florida but it was only till recently that they were able to connect on a romantic level. Since making their relationship known to the public, the couple has been tagged by the media as America’s sports power couple. Regardless of how they are viewed in public, the two look to be enjoying each other’s company and despite having very hectic and sometimes conflicting work schedules, they always make an effort to be by each other’s side when they are competing.
In addition to having a Grand Slam champion by his side, Altidore is also a proud father of a young son he had from a previous relationship. There is, however, no information about the boy or who his mother is.
Weight and Height
Thanks to his height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and weight of 174 pounds (79 kg), Jozy Altidore is a handful for defenders as he is known to bully them to score a goal.
