Femi Hollinger-Janzen

Oluwafemi Moise "Femi" Hollinger-Janzen (born December 14, 1993 in Cotonou, Benin) was a forward for Birmingham Legion FC.

Hollinger-Janzen was born with a deformed leg at a church-based health care center in Benin. His mother abandoned him there and he was cared for by clinic workers Rod and Lynda Hollinger-Janzen. As he grew, his leg gradually healed itself. All attempts to reunite him with his mother had failed, and his father, who had another family, released him for adoption in 1999. The Hollinger-Janzens, who had two daughters already, formally adopted him and returned with him to Goshen, Indiana.

Hollinger-Janzen attended Bethany Christian Schools. He excelled in soccer and was named a Gatorade All-American, Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year and Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year in 2011. He was awarded a scholarship to play for Todd Yeagley's Indiana University Hoosiers, and was a member of the 2012 team which defeated Georgetown Bulldogs 1-0 in the finals of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament at Regions Park in Hoover. Hollinger-Janzen was named to the All-Tournament team. He continued to lead the team, which reached the tournament each year, and recorded a total of 22 goals and 8 assists in 88 appearances with the Hoosiers.

Hollinger-Janzen was selected by the New England Revolution with the 51st overall pick in the 3rd round of the Major League Soccer's 2016 SuperDraft. He made his professional debut that March and scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire on May 14. Minnesota United FC claimed the rights for Hollinger-Janzen with their 5th and final pick of the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft, and then negotiated to trade him back to New England for goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

Hollinger-Janzen spent part of the 2018 MLS season with the Tulsa Roughnecks of USL Championship. He was released at the end of the season and subsequently signed by Birmingham Legion FC on January 7, 2019. Following his release at the end of the 2019 season, Hollinger-Janzen announced his retirement.

References

• "From deformed leg to national championship­: Femi Hollinger-Janzen is a blessing of God to his family, his congregation and beyond." (January 1, 2014) The Mennonite
• "Legion FC signs forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen" (January 7, 2019) Birmingham Legion FC press release
• Wray, Cheryl (March 14, 2019) "From Benin to Birmingham: Birmingham Legion FC’s Femi Hollinger-Janzen shares powerful journey." The Birmingham News