02/20/2026
Youth Soccer Coach Highlight: Kalif Alhassan (Oregon Surf SC)
Before he was leading the way as Elite Boys DOC for Portland’s MLS Next upstart, Oregon Surf SC, Kalif was a demon midfielder on the pitch, playing for the Portland Timbers in their 1st ever MLS match on March 19, 2011.
But did you know?
🎖️Kalif was the 1st Timber to ever be named MLS Player of the Week?
3️⃣ The speedy attacking midfielder was the 3rd player in Major League Soccer history to open his career with assists in each of his first 3 home games, all Timbers wins
🗽Kalif played for the same team as Brazilian Legend Pelé! Kalif signed with the New York Cosmos in 2017… more than 40 years after Pelé suited up for the club (1975).
⚽️ A career that spanned 15 seasons saw Kalif make his debut at the age of 16 with Ghanaian pro side Liberty Professionals FC.
🤗 No. 98 on the Timbers - seen hugging Kalif in this ESPN clip - wasn’t just his teammate, but also a close friend, roommate and future mate at Oregon Surf: current Lead MLS Next DOC Futty Danso
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