Nana Attakora

Nana Attakora

Personal information
Full name	Nana Attakora-Gyan
Date of birth	March 27, 1989 (1989-03-27)
Place of birth	North York, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
2000–2002	York Lions
2002–2003	Brampton East
2004–2006	NTC Ontario
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2011	Toronto FC	56	(3)
2011	San Jose Earthquakes	6	(0)
National team‡
2004–2006	Canada U-17	7	(1)
2006–2009	Canada U-20	20	(1)
2010–	Canada	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 11, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 29, 2012

Nana Attakora (born March 27, 1989 in North York, Ontario) is a Canadian soccer player who is currently out of contract.

Career

Professional

During the summer of 2007 Attakora trained with Everton of the English Premier League prior to signing for Toronto FC. He played in five MLS Reserve Division games in his debut season, but suffered from a groin injury for the last part of the season, preventing him from making his first team debut until August 9, 2008, when he played against Colorado Rapids. Attakora scored his first career goal vs. Colorado Rapids on September 12, 2009.

During his debut game, it was announced by the commentators that he had dropped the 'Gyan' from his name, and would like to be referred to as solely Nana Attakora.

Attakora went on to have a very successful campaign with Toronto FC in 2009, working his way into the starting eleven and being voted in by supporters as Toronto FC player of the month for June. With the addition of fellow Canadian International Adrian Cann in the 2010 season the defensive partnership has become one of the strongest in the league. Nana's contract is set to end at the end of the 2011 season, it was heavily rumoured that he was looking to move to Europe with his new found success after he turned down a contract that the Canadian club had offered in November. He later assured the fans that he had no plans on leaving Toronto and that he was waiting for increased stability with the coaching staff.

In July 2011, Attakora was traded to San Jose Earthquakes in a multi-player deal. At season's end, Attakora was out of contract and exploring options abroad, after trials with Hibernian and Reading and received a contract offer from 1. FC Union Berlin, Attkora decided to remain in Major League Soccer.

International

Attakora has represented Canada at U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels. In December 2009, Nana won the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Nana made his senior national team debut in a friendly match against Jamaica on January 31, 2010. Attakora received his first call-up to the national team in over a year for the final two matches against Saint Kitts and Nevis in the opening group stage of World Cup Qualifying. After failing to play in the first game Attakora came on as a sub for Nikolas Ledgerwood on November 15, 2011 in a 4-0 victory for Canada.

Honours

Toronto FC

• Canadian Championship (3): 2009, 2010, 2011

Individual

• Canadian U-20 Players of the Year: 2008, 2009

Career stats

Team	Season	League	Domestic League			Domestic Playoffs			Domestic Cup1			Concacaf Competition2			Total
			Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Toronto FC	2008	MLS	5	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	0	0
	2009	MLS	20	2	4	-	-	-	4	0	0	-	-	-	24	2	4
	2010	MLS	25	1	0	-	-	-	2	0	0	6	1	0	33	2	0
	2011	MLS	6	0	0	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	12	0	0
San Jose Earthquakes	2011	MLS	6	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	0
		Total	62	3	4	-	-	-	6	0	0	6	1	0	74	4	4

Last Update: July 23, 2011.

1) Nutrilite Canadian Championship

2) Concacaf Champions League/Cup

International Stats

Canada national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2010	1	0
2011	1	0
2012	1	0
Total	3	0

Statistics as of February 29, 2012

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile
• Nana Attakora's Profile at Canadian Soccer Association