Nana Attakora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Clement Attakora

Personal information
Full name	Nana Attakora-Gyan
Date of birth	(1989-03-27) March 27, 1989 (age 37)
Place of birth	North York, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Defender
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)
2017	San Francisco Deltas	16	(0)
2018–2019	Ottawa Fury	34	(2)
2020	Oakland Roots	4	(0)
Total		174	(7)
International career‡
2004–2006	Canada U17	7	(1)
2006–2009	Canada U20	20	(1)
2012	Canada U23	4	(0)
2010–2017	Canada	9	(0)
Managerial career
2021	Oakland Roots (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 13, 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 22, 2017

Clement "Nana" Attakora-Gyan (born March 27, 1989) is a Canadian former soccer player and coach. He was known as Nana Attakora during his playing career. He played as a defender for many teams, including Toronto FC and the Canadian national team. After retiring from playing, he became an assistant coach.

Playing Career

Early Days and Toronto FC

Nana Attakora was born in North York, Ontario, Canada. He started playing soccer at a young age. In 2007, he trained with Everton, a famous team in England. Soon after, he signed with Toronto FC, a team in MLS.

He played his first game for Toronto FC on August 9, 2008. In 2009, he scored his first goal against the Colorado Rapids. Nana became a very important player for Toronto FC. Fans even voted him "Player of the Month" in June 2009. He formed a strong defense with fellow Canadian player Adrian Cann.

Moving to Other Teams

In July 2011, Nana Attakora moved to the San Jose Earthquakes as part of a player trade. After that season, he looked for new opportunities. He even tried out for teams in Europe.

In August 2012, he signed with Haka, a team in Finland. After one season there, he returned to the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS in February 2013. He played well in his return, helping the team win a game 1-0.

Later, in 2014, Nana joined D.C. United. He mostly played in cup games and international club matches. In 2015, he moved to the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL. He then played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2016.

Return to Canada and Final Years

On January 10, 2018, Nana Attakora returned to Canada to play for Ottawa Fury in the United Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Fury. In February 2020, he signed with Oakland Roots SC. He finished his playing career with Oakland Roots.

International Play

Nana Attakora played for Canada at many different age levels, including U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20, and U-23 teams. He was recognized as the "Canadian U-20 Player of the Year" twice, in 2008 and 2009.

He made his debut for the senior Canadian national team on January 31, 2010, in a friendly match against Jamaica. He continued to represent Canada in various matches, including World Cup Qualifiers. In 2013, he was selected for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad, but he had to withdraw due to a concussion. He returned to play for Canada in 2015.

Coaching Career

After a long playing career, Nana Attakora retired on November 17, 2020. He immediately started his coaching career as an assistant coach for Oakland Roots SC, the same team he played for last.

Achievements

Team Awards

• Canadian Championship (with Toronto FC):
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
• NASL Championship (with San Francisco Deltas):
  • 2017

Individual Awards

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

Career Statistics

Club Performance

International Games

See also

In Spanish: Nana Attakora para niños