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Nana Attakora

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Nana Attakora
Personal information
Full name Nana Attakora-Gyan
Date of birth (1989-03-27) March 27, 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth North York, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Number 5
Youth career
2000–2003 Brampton East
2004–2006 NTC Ontario
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Toronto FC 56 (3)
2011 San Jose Earthquakes 6 (0)
2012 Haka 8 (0)
2013 San Jose Earthquakes 8 (0)
2014 D.C. United 0 (0)
2015 San Antonio Scorpions 21 (1)
2016– Fort Lauderdale Strikers 21 (1)
International career‡
2004–2006 Canada U17 7 (1)
2006–2009 Canada U20 20 (1)
2012 Canada U23 4 (0)
2010– Canada 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 29, 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 9, 2016

Nana Attakora-Gyan (born March 27, 1989) is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the NASL.

Career

Professional

Born in North York, Ontario, Attakora trained with Everton of the English Premier League during the summer of 2007, 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.[1][2] 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. As his contract approached expiry at the end of the 2011 season, it was heavily rumoured that he was looking to move to Europe with his newfound 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.[3]

In July 2011, Attakora was traded to San Jose Earthquakes in a multi-player deal.[4] At season's end, Attakora was out of contract and exploring options abroad, after trials with Hibernian and received a contract offer from 1. FC Union Berlin, Attakora decided he wanted to remain in Major League Soccer.[5][6][7]

On August 30, 2012, it was announced that Attakora had signed with Haka of Finland's Veikkausliiga.[8] After Haka was relegated at the end of the season, Attakora returned to Major League Soccer and signed with San Jose Earthquakes on February 22, 2013.[9] Attakora made his first return appearance on March 23 with a stand out 90 minute performance in a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC .[10]

Attakora was not re-signed by San Jose and entered the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft in December 2013. He was selected by D.C. United and signed with the club in January 2014.[11] He failed to make a regular season appearance and was mainly reduced to cup matches and CONCACAF Champions League appearances.

Attakora joined NASL club San Antonio Scorpions on February 25, 2015.[12] He made his debut for San Antonio on April 4 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Attakora joined NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers on December 29, 2015.[13]

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.[14] Nana made his senior national team debut in a friendly match against Jamaica on January 31, 2010.[15] 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.[16]

On June 27, 2013 Attakora was listed as a part of the confirmed 23-man squad for Colin Miller's Canada squad for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[17] The CSA announced July 6 that Kyle Porter would replace Attakora in the Gold Cup due to an ongoing concussion worry that prevented him from even attending the training camp.[18]

Attakora would return to the pitch for Canada in a friendly against Iceland on January 16, 2015. He played the full 90 in a 1-2 loss.[19]

Personal

Attakora is of Ghanaian heritage.[20] He received a U.S. green card in 2014 which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[21]

Honours

Toronto FC

Individual

International statistics

As of January 19, 2015
Canada national team
Year Apps Goals
2010 1 0
2011 1 0
2012 1 0
2013 3 0
2015 2 0
Total 8 0

References

  1. ^ "Toronto FC youngster seizes his chance". Cbc.ca. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  2. ^ "Nana voted TFC's Player of the Month". Tfc.american-soccer-news.com. July 18, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  3. ^ Molinaro, John F. (January 14, 2011). "Attakora hopes to stay with Toronto FC". Cbc.ca. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "Toronto FC trades Attakora, picks up Dunfield". CBC News. July 14, 2011.
  5. ^ "San Jose Earthquakes take UC Santa Barbara's Sam Garza with No. 6 pick in MLS draft - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "Neuer Union-Testspieler: Nana, was macht der Attakora da? | 1. FC Union - Berliner Kurier" (in German). Berliner-kurier.de. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/earthquakes_keeper_gets_extended_trial_at_hibs_1_2111682l
  8. ^ John Molinaro (August 30, 2012). "Ex-TFC defender Attakora signs with FC Haka". sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Signing: Attakora signs deal with San Jose". SJEarthquakes.com. February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Nana Attakora savors second shot San Jose Earthquakes". Major League Soccer. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  11. ^ http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/01/dc-united-signs-nana-attakora
  12. ^ "Canadian International Nana Attakora Signs With the Scorpions". February 25, 2015.
  13. ^ http://www.strikers.com/news/2015/12/29/strikers-ink-quartet-of-experienced-nasl-players
  14. ^ "Attakora claims Canadian U-20 award". Canadian Soccer. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  15. ^ "Jamaica beats Canada 1-0 in men's soccer friendly". Canadian Press. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  16. ^ "Canada Finishes With Authority". Toronto FC. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  17. ^ "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  18. ^ "Canada Set for Gold Cup opener against Martinique". Canada Soccer. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  19. ^ "Canada vs. Iceland - MLS MatchCenter". January 16, 2015.
  20. ^ http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=357457
  21. ^ Steven Goff (November 25, 2014). "D.C. United news and notes". Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2014.

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