- Claude Gnakpa
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Claude Gnakpa Personal information Full name Claude Gnakpa Johouri Date of birth 9 June 1983 Place of birth Marseille, France Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Playing position Defender, winger Club information Current club Walsall Number 18 Youth career 1998–2001 Montpellier Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2001–2002 Marignane ? (?) 2002–2003 Beaucaire 19 (0) 2003–2005 Racing Santander B 35 (2) 2005–2006 Alavés B 20 (1) 2006 FC Vaduz 4 (0) 2007 Swindon Town 0 (0) 2007–2008 Peterborough United 29 (0) 2008–2011 Luton Town 107 (22) 2011– Walsall 5 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:58, 27 August 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).Claude Gnakpa Johouri (born 9 June 1983 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône) is a French footballer of Ivorian descent who plays for Walsall. He usually plays as a winger, but began his career primarily as a central defender and right-back.
Beginning his career as a trainee at Montpellier HSC, Gnakpa then played for French lower league sides before moving to Spain in 2003 to play in the reserve teams of La Liga sides Racing de Santander and Deportivo Alavés. In 2006, he moved to Switzerland for a short time to play for top-tier club FC Vaduz. He moved to England in 2007 to play for Swindon Town, though never made an appearance. He subsequently signed for Peterborough United, where he was used as a defender, then for Luton Town on a free transfer in 2008. At Luton, Gnakpa received notability for scoring the winning goal in the club's 2009 Football League Trophy Final victory, securing Luton's first success in the competition. Since the 2009–10 season, Gnakpa has been utilised almost solely in a wide position, using his combination of pace, power and crossing to contribute numerous goals and assists. Gnakpa was named in the Conference National team of the season for 2009–10. Gnakpa left Luton at the end of his contract in July 2011, signing for League One side Walsall.
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Career
Gnakpa began as a youth player for Montpellier HSC, then appeared for local sides Marignane and Beaucaire, before moving abroad to play for Racing de Santander B, Deportivo Alavés B and FC Vaduz. In March 2007, Gnakpa was signed on transfer deadline day by Swindon Town boss Paul Sturrock on a short-term contract.[1] Gnakpa failed to play for Swindon's first team, appearing only as an unused substitute in one match, before he was released at the end of the season.
In July 2007, Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson took Gnakpa on trial.[2] He was eventually signed by the club. The "Flying Frenchman" was quickly made a regular at London Road and with his notoriously strong tackle and terrifying pace he cemented his place in the team.[3]
In May 2008, it was reported that Gnakpa had rejected Peterborough's offer of an improved contract following the side's promotion to League One, and would instead search for another club. Reportedly, Gnakpa harboured interested from Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, League Two outfit Luton Town, and Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen.[4]
However, after impressing Luton manager Mick Harford during a trial period at Kenilworth Road, he joined the Hatters prior to the start of the 2008–09 campaign, with the club starting League Two on an unprecedented −30 points.[5] Gnakpa scored his first goal for the Hatters in a 2–1 home defeat to Darlington on 11 October 2008. He scored the only goal of the game in Luton's Football League Trophy area semi-final victory over Colchester United on 16 December 2008.[6]
On 5 April 2009, Gnakpa scored an extra-time winner as Luton defeated Scunthorpe United 3–2 to win the Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.[7] In that game he was used as a winger, a position where he then played regularly during the 2009–10 season under Harford's successor, Richard Money.
On 20 March 2010, Gnakpa scored a hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Ebbsfleet United, then continued his scoring streak with three goals in the next two games.[6] His good form saw him awarded the Conference National Player of the Month award for March.[8] In June 2010, Gnakpa was named in the Conference National team of the season.[9]
Gnakpa continued his form into the next season, scoring 15 goals as Luton finished third in table, securing a play-off place.
On 1 July 2011 Gnakpa's contract with Luton ended, and he subsequently signed a one-year deal with League One side Walsall.[10]
Honours
Luton Town
- Football League Trophy winner: 2008–09
Notes
- ^ "Robins swoop to sign four players". BBC Sport. 2007-03-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/6483607.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ "Peterborough give trial to Gnakpa". BBC Sport. 2007-07-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/6270368.stm. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ "Peterborough sign defender Gnakpa". BBC Sport. 2007-07-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/6290900.stm. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- ^ "Gnakpa D-Day on new Posh deal offer". Peterborough Today. 2008-04-30. http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/Gnakpa-Pay-me-the-most.4034167.jp. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ "After the wait, here's the first eight!". Luton Town F.C. 2008-08-07. http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10372~1360794,00.html. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ a b "Claude Gnakpa career statistics". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46397. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ "Luton 3–2 Scunthorpe (aet)". BBC Sport. 2009-04-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7975143.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ "Gnakpa scoops player of the month". Football Conference. 2010-04-06. http://www.bluesqfootball.com/story/0,20970,13040_6078676,00.html. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
- ^ "Duo named in team of the season". Luton Town F.C.. 2010-06-14. http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10372~2070705,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Walsall add former Luton winger Claude Gnakpa to squad". BBC Sport. 2011-07-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13997538.stm. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
External links
- Profile at official Luton Town F.C. website
- Claude Gnakpa career stats at Soccerbase
2009–10 Conference National Team of the Year GK: Ryan Clarke · RB: Ronnie Henry · CB: Jamie Stuart · CB: Mark Roberts · LB: Scott Laird · RM: Claude Gnakpa · CM: Michael Bostwick · LM: Lee Tomlin · ST: Richard Brodie · ST: James Constable · ST: Tom CraddockWalsall F.C. – current squad Categories:- 1983 births
- People from Marseille
- French people of Ivorian descent
- Living people
- French footballers
- Association football defenders
- Montpellier HSC players
- Racing de Santander footballers
- Deportivo Alavés footballers
- Swindon Town F.C. players
- Peterborough United F.C. players
- Luton Town F.C. players
- Walsall F.C. players
- The Football League players
- Conference National players
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