Olivier Occéan


Olivier Occéan, born October 23, 1981) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Mjøndalen in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

Club career

College soccer

Occéan played college soccer at Essex County College, Newark NJ in NJCAA Division 1 and at Southern Connecticut State University in the NCAA Division II, from 2001 to 2003. While at the college, Occéan 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, Occéan was selected 26th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars. Occéan 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, Occéan did surprise when, while the MetroStars were playing in the preseason La Manga Cup, Occéan 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, Occéan ended up with Odd.

Odds BK

Occéan quickly impressed in Norway, earning a starting spot and immediately scoring goals. In his first season with Odd, Occéan 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 December 10, 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. Occéan 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.

Kickers Offenbach

Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, Occean moved to Germany, joining 3. 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.

Greuther Fürth

It was announced in the German media on May 25, 2011 that Occéan had signed a three-year contract with SpVgg Greuther Fürth until June 2014. Occéan made his debut for his new team on July 15 in a 3–2 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. One week later, Occéan once again started for SpVgg Fürth and scored two goals leading the team to a 4–0 road victory over 1. FC Union Berlin. Occéan 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. On March 1, 2012 he was named the Canada Soccer Player of the Month for February based on his club team performances, and again for the month of March. Occéan helped lead Greuther Fürth to win the 2. Bundesliga championship. He was also awarded the league's top scorer with 17 goals in 30 appearances, Nick Proschwitz and Alexander Meier scored the same number of goals within the league, however Occéan tallied more assists.

Eintracht Frankfurt

On July 3, 2012, Occéan transferred to Eintracht Frankfurt for €1.3 million signing a three-year contract, where he would be joining fellow Canadian Rob Friend. Occéan made his top flight debut for Frankfurt on August 25 playing all 90 minutes in a 2–1 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen. On September 15, 2012, Occéan scored his first Bundesliga goal in his third appearance for the club. He scored the second goal in an eventual 3–2 victory against Hamburger SV.

Kaiserslautern

It was announced on July 1, 2013 that Occéan was loaned to 1. FC Kaiserslautern of the 2. Bundesliga on a 2-year loan with an option for the loan to be extended even further after the 2012/2013 season in which he scored only once for Frankfurt in 17 appearances.

Second spell at Odds BK

On January 6, 2015, Occéan signed a half-year loan deal with his former club Odd, who plays in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.
On July 8, 2015, Occéan signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Odd.

Urædd Fotball

In 2018, Occéan signed with Urædd Fotball of the 3. divisjon.

International career

He made his debut for Canada in a May 2004 friendly match against Wales and as of June 2012 he has earned a total of 25 caps, scoring six goals. He has represented Canada in seven FIFA World Cup qualification matches and at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored Canada's first and only goal from a header in a 1–0 win against Cuba in Havana, during the opening match of the semi-final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. On February 11, 2013 FIFA ruled that Occéan had committed an act of unsporting conduct, displayed several acts of unsporting behavior, and used offensive language towards match officials during a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Cuba on October 12, 2012. As part of the ruling, Occéan received a 6-match suspension. It was later determined that only Canada's official competitive matches, not friendlies, count toward the suspension meaning that the earliest that Occéan would be available for selection would be the final of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, if Canada were to advance that far in the tournament.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1February 9, 2005Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland1–01–0Friendly
2August 22, 2007Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland1–11–1Friendly
3October 7, 2011Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia3–07–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4October 7, 2011Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia5–07–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5November 15, 2011BMO Field, Toronto, Canada1–04–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
6June 8, 2012Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba1–01–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Norway

Lillestrøm SK
SpVgg Greuther Fürth