Nana Attakora facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 27, 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | North York, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | 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) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004–2006 | Canada U17 | 7 | (1) |
| 2006–2009 | Canada U20 | 20 | (1) |
| 2012 | Canada U23 | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2017 | Canada | 9 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2021 | Oakland Roots (assistant) | ||
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Clement "Nana" Attakora-Gyan (born March 27, 1989), known as Nana Attakora, is a Canadian former soccer player. He played as a defender for many teams, including Toronto FC and the Canadian national team. After his playing career, he became an assistant coach and director of player personnel for Oakland Roots.
Contents
Playing Career
Early Years and Toronto FC
Clement Attakora was born in North York, Ontario, Canada. Before starting his professional career, he trained with Everton, a famous team in England's top soccer league, the Premier League.
In 2007, he signed with Toronto FC, a team in MLS, which is the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. He played in five games with their reserve team in his first season. He had to wait until August 9, 2008, to play his first game with the main team against Colorado Rapids.
Attakora scored his first goal for Toronto FC on September 12, 2009, also against the Colorado Rapids. He had a great year in 2009, becoming a regular starter. Fans even voted him as Toronto FC's player of the month for June. In 2010, he formed a strong defense partnership with fellow Canadian player Adrian Cann.
When his contract was ending in 2011, many people thought he might move to Europe. But he told fans he wanted to stay in Toronto and was waiting for the team's coaches to be more settled.
Moving to Other Clubs
In July 2011, Attakora moved to the San Jose Earthquakes as part of a trade with other players. After his contract ended with San Jose, he tried out for teams in Europe. He even received an offer from a German team, 1. FC Union Berlin. However, Attakora decided he wanted to keep playing in Major League Soccer.
On August 30, 2012, Attakora signed with Haka, a team in Finland's top soccer league, Veikkausliiga. After Haka's team moved down to a lower league at the end of the season, Attakora returned to Major League Soccer. He signed with the San Jose Earthquakes again on February 22, 2013. He played his first game back on March 23, helping his team win 1–0 against Seattle Sounders FC.
San Jose did not sign him again, so he was available for other teams to pick him up. D.C. United selected him in December 2013, and he signed with them in January 2014. He mostly played in cup matches and international club games, not regular league games.
Attakora then joined the NASL team San Antonio Scorpions on February 25, 2015. He played his first game for them on April 4. He later joined another NASL team, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, on December 29, 2015.
Return to Canada and Final Club
On January 10, 2018, Attakora returned to Canada to play for Ottawa Fury in the United Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Fury. After the 2019 season, the club stopped playing, and Attakora became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
In February 2020, Attakora signed with Oakland Roots SC in the National Independent Soccer Association. This was his last team as a player.
International Play
Attakora played for Canada at many youth levels, including the U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20, and U-23 teams. In December 2009, he won the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year award for the second year in a row.
He made his first appearance for the senior national team in a friendly game against Jamaica on January 31, 2010. He also played in a World Cup qualifying match against Saint Kitts and Nevis on November 15, 2011, helping Canada win 4–0.
In 2013, Attakora was chosen for Canada's team for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, he had to leave the team due to a head injury that prevented him from training.
He returned to play for Canada in a friendly game against Iceland on January 16, 2015. He played the entire game, which Canada lost 2–1.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player on November 17, 2020, Clement Attakora immediately became an assistant coach at Oakland Roots.
Honours
Toronto FC
- Canadian Championship (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
San Francisco Deltas
- NASL Championship: 2017
Individual
- Canadian U-20 Players of the Year: 2008, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Nana Attakora para niños
