Shawn Nicklaw at HB Koge

Don't see it mentioned on the club site, but a page apparently belonging to this agent seems to confirm it (as a summer signing):

A 2-year contract has been agreed from 1 July 2012 after the Danish side saw Nicklaw in action with AX Soccer Tours Select Team during their 2012 Turkey European Showcase Tour.​

http://www.axsoccertours.com/news.html

He's an '89 from California.

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/nicklaw_shawn00.html

 

From the UConn site, it looks like he graduated in 2010. Any idea what he's been doing in the meantime?

 

Another UConn article indicates Nicklaw graduated in 2011so he may have been finishing school and earning his degree. "In other professional news, former UConn star Shawn Nicklaw ('11) has signed a two-year professional contract with Danish club HB Koge. HB Koge competes in the Danish Superliga, the top division in Denmark."

 

Im glad to see more yanks getting signed to professional clubs in Europe. Upon further research it looks as though this AX Soccer Tours looks to market American players in Europe and help them get signed through their agency. It is about time someone started doing this as it seems like there are very few opportunities for players to get seen by coaches from over seas.

Looks like they have a tryout coming up to look for more players.

http://www.axsoccertours.com/professional-soccer-tryouts-mens.html

I hope to see more and more of the better players coming out of College pursue opportunities in Europe. I hate to see the best players in the draft rot on the bench for 4 years in MLS and lose the best years of their career.

 

These "all-star trip" programs are no longer very unusual, but it seems like a big deal for an American player of Nicklaw's age to parlay one of these things into a contract at this level.

There's somewhat more precedent for the tours being successful for top youth players still in their teens, or post-college amateur types unwanted by/uninterested in American divisions seeking a foot in the door.

Koge seems to be something of a yo-yo club, and they're in last place right now. Still, it's a first-division team at a reasonably high level that has yielded MNT callups over the years.

 

I had never heard of these "all star trips" before, what other companies do them?

Yea seems like a great opportunity for players who were passed up by the MLS draft or were playing in the MLS Reserves, USL, or NASL and are looking to play in Europe.

In any case im glad that it was a success and an american player was able to land a deal with a European club. I think getting American players over to Europe is the best way for US soccer to develop and grow. I hope we start to see more and more players do what Billy Schuler did this year.

 

I can confirm the transfer. HB Køge was relegated from the Super League last season, but they are expected to be among the contenders to win the second tier (BetSafe League) and return to the Super League. I imagine that a couple of their games will be televised in the coming season. Also it is likely that scouts from the Super League will be present at most games, as especially Lee Rochester Sørensen at HB Køge is a talent on the radar of most Danish Clubs. So Nicklaw will get some exposure in terms of showing of his ability and possibly reaching a higher level.

HB Køge posted it on their website today.

 

Shawn Nicklaw and Brad Rusin started. In the process of stopping a dangerous counter-attack Nicklaw received a red card in the 81st minute of the 1-0 loss.
Match report (in Danish): http://www.hb.dk/Default.aspx?ID=47&Action=1&NewsId=3238&PID=150

 

Nicklaw went 90, Rusin did not play in a 9-0 Cup victory.

 

Shawn Nicklaw will be playing for the Guam Men's national team.

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20121115/SPORTS/211150328/Another-pro-joins-Matao

 

He's playing for Wilmingto Hammerheads now apparently.

 

Sure enough:

http://www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com/rosternew.html

 

Nicklaw is at Thór in Iceland this season.

 

Shawn Nicklaw has scored today as Thor and Stjarnan are tied 1-1 in the second half in Iceland.

— Over There (@socceroverthere) August 11, 2014

 

0:07-

 

Scored for Guam against Singapore:



guamfootball
Shawn Nicklaw scores for #Guam in the 38th min off a pass inside from Shane Malcolm! Guam leads Singapore 1-0 ... #TeamMatao