Didier Konan Ya

Football player infobox| playername= Didier Konan Ya
fullname = Didier Konan Ya
nickname = Didi
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1984|2|25|df=y
cityofbirth = Abidjan
countryofbirth = Cote d'Ivoire
height = height|m=1.74
currentclub = flagicon|Norway Rosenborg BK
position = Attacking midfielder/winger/forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = ? - 2003
2003 - 2006
2006 -
clubs = flagicon|Ivory Coast Olympic Sport Abobo
flagicon|Ivory Coast ASEC Abidjan
flagicon|Norway Rosenborg B.K.
caps(goals) = ?
77 (18)
31 (15)
nationalyears = 2006 -
nationalteam = flagicon|Ivory Coast Cote d'Ivoire
nationalcaps(goals) = 3 (0)
pcupdate = 16 September 2007
ntupdate = 16 September 2007

Didier Konan Ya (born February 25, 1984 in Côte d'Ivoire) is a football midfielder who plays for Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway and the Côte d'Ivoire national team.

Regarded as a big talent in Ivorian football, he began his career at homeland club ASEC Abidjan, which has produced players such as Kolo Touré and Didier Zokora.

He was called up to the Ivory Coast National Team for the 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon on the 5th October 2006, along with fellow ASEC player Bakary Soro. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/5409586.stm - Ya Konan named in Ivory Coast squad] ]

Konan Ya was the joint top scorer in the African Champions League competition this season, with ASEC eventually falling in the semi finals, to Egyptian club Al Ahly.

Following ASECs Champions League defeat to Al Ahly, it was reported that the Egyptians, who eventually won the competition, had made an offer of US$500,000 for Konan Ya's services. The offer was, however, refused, as the club reportedly wanted to sell him to a European side. [ [http://www.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=7117 - ASEC reject Ahly bid] ]

In November 2006 it was reported that he, and fellow ASEC team mate Soro, had been granted trials with Premiership club Charlton Athletic. However, doubts have been cast over a move to England due to both players not having full caps for their country at this point. [ [http://www.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=6876 - Ya Konan and Soro having trials at Charlton] ]

In December 2006 he signed for Rosenborg B.K. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6216521.stm - Ya Konan joins Rosenborg] ] , for a 3-year contract in the Norwegian Premier League, after being linked with Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax [ [http://mail.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=34076 - Ajax linked with Ya Konan] ] , French side Nantes and Egyptian club Zamalek.

At Rosenborg, he plays alongside his compatriot and fellow midfielder Abdoulrazak Traoré.

In January 2007, Konan Ya was nominated for the Ivorian footballer of the Year award for 2006, which was eventually won by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. He was one of two homeland based players at the time to be nominated, the other being former ASEC team mate Bakary Soro. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6237495.stm - Ya Konan nominated for footballer of the year] ]

In March 2007 he was one of four players to receive a late call-up for the Ivorian's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in Antananarivo, due to injuries to other members of the squad.

In August 2007 Konan Ya got on the scoresheet in Rosenborg's 2-0 UEFA Champions League qualifying victory against Finnish outfit Tampere United to take them into the competitions group stages for the 2007/08 season. [ [http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=398861 - Ya Konan Scores In Rosenborg Win] ]

References

External links

* [http://championsleague.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=555 Profile on MTNfootball.com]
* [http://championsleague.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=6552 ASEC players linked with European clubs]
* [http://www.rosenborg.info/player/konan Profile on Rosenborg site]
* [http://www.rbk.no/info/article80849.ece Biography on Rosenborg site] "Norwegian"
* [http://www.zerozero.pt/uk/jogador.php?edicao_id=0&epoca_id=136&id=33044 Profile on zerozero.pt]
* [http://touchline.onthespot.co.uk/guardian/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=45&CPID=93&pStr=Player&PLID=201642&TEID=863 Profile on Guardian Unlimited]