Nana Attakora – Wikipedia

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Canadian soccer player and manager

Clement “Nana” Attakora-Gyan (born March 27, 1989[2]), known as Nana Attakora and later Clement Attakora, is a Canadian former soccer player and coach, formerly a player and later assistant manager and director of player personnel of Oakland Roots.

Professional[edit]

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.

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.[3][4] 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.[5]

In July 2011, Attakora was traded to San Jose Earthquakes in a multi-player deal.[6] 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.[7][8]

On August 30, 2012, it was announced that Attakora had signed with Haka of Finland’s Veikkausliiga.[9] 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.[10] 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 .[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Attakora made his return to Canada on 10 January 2018, signing with the Ottawa Fury of the United Soccer League.[15] After the 2018 season, the Fury would announce that Attakora would return to the Fury for the 2019 season.[16] After two seasons with the Fury, the club would cease operations for the 2020 season, making Attakora a free agent.[17]

In February 2020, Attakora signed with Oakland Roots SC of the National Independent Soccer Association.[18]

International[edit]

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.[19] Nana made his senior national team debut in a friendly match against Jamaica on January 31, 2010.[20] 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.[21]

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.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24]

Managerial career[edit]

When he retired on November 17, 2020 he immediately stepped up to the post of assistant manager at Oakland Roots.

Honours[edit]

Toronto FC[edit]

San Francisco Deltas[edit]

2017

Individual[edit]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of September 13, 2020[25][26]

International[edit]

As of January 22, 2017
Canada national team
Year Apps Goals
2010 1 0
2011 1 0
2012 1 0
2013 4 0
2015 2 0
2017 1 0
Total 10 0

References[edit]

  1. ^ “FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players” (PDF). FIFA. July 5, 2007. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2013.
  2. ^ “2020 Squad – Oakland Roots”. Oakland Roots SC. Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved October 3, 2020. #5 CLEMENT “NANA” ATTAKORA DEFENDER
  3. ^ “Toronto FC youngster seizes his chance”. Cbc.ca. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  4. ^ “Nana voted TFC’s Player of the Month”. Tfc.american-soccer-news.com. July 18, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  5. ^ Molinaro, John F. (January 14, 2011). “Attakora hopes to stay with Toronto FC”. Cbc.ca. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  6. ^ “Toronto FC trades Attakora, picks up Dunfield”. CBC News. July 14, 2011.
  7. ^ “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.
  8. ^ “Neuer Union-Testspieler: Nana, was macht der Attakora da? | 1. FC Union – Berliner Kurier” (in German). Berliner-kurier.de. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ “Signing: Attakora signs deal with San Jose”. SJEarthquakes.com. February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  11. ^ “Nana Attakora savors second shot San Jose Earthquakes”. Major League Soccer. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  12. ^ “D.C. United signs Nana Attakora”. MLS. January 8, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  13. ^ “Canadian International Nana Attakora Signs With the Scorpions”. February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ “Strikers Ink Quartet of Experienced NASL Players”. Fort Lauderdale Strikers. December 29, 2015. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  15. ^ “Fury FC sign pair of Canadian Internationals”. Ottawa Fury FC. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  16. ^ “Fury FC roster moves: five core players to return, 15 players released”. Ottawa Fury FC. October 23, 2018.
  17. ^ “Fury owners blame ‘politics’ for decision to suspend operations”. CBC Ottawa. November 8, 2019.
  18. ^ “Roots Sign Veteran Canadian Defender Nana Attakora”. Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  19. ^ “Attakora claims Canadian U-20 award”. Canadian Soccer. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  20. ^ “Jamaica beats Canada 1-0 in men’s soccer friendly”. Canadian Press. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  21. ^ “Canada Finishes With Authority”. Toronto FC. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  22. ^ “Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly”. Canada Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  23. ^ “Canada Set for Gold Cup opener against Martinique”. Canada Soccer. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  24. ^ “Canada vs. Iceland – MLS MatchCenter”. January 16, 2015.
  25. ^ “Nana Attakora profile”. Soccerway. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  26. ^ “Gyan Attakora Player Details”. NISA. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

External links[edit]