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Yann Ekra

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Yann Ekra
Ekra with Charlotte Independence in 2017
Personal information
Full name Yann Ekra
Date of birth (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Youth career
2000–2002 Esperance Paris 19ème
2002–2008 Lyon B
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Lyon B 2 (1)
2008–2010 Hull City 0 (0)
2009 → Panionios (loan) 0 (0)
2010–2012 Châteauroux 0 (0)
2012–2013 Harrisburg City Islanders 45 (10)
2012–2013 Harrisburg Heat (indoor) 11 (7)
2013 Philadelphia Union 0 (0)
2014–2015 Harrisburg City Islanders 54 (3)
2016–2018 Charlotte Independence 69 (3)
2019–2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies 112 (3)
Total 293 (27)
International career
France U15
France U16
France U17
France U18
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:41, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

Yann Ekra (born 10 December 1990) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Ivory Coast, represented France at youth international level.

A product of the Lyon academy, Ekra began his senior career in England with Hull City, before enjoying a loan spell at Greek club Panionios. He then signed for French club Châteauroux in 2010. In 2012, having not yet made a first-team league appearance in his career, Ekra moved to the United States and signed for the Harrisburg City Islanders. He established himself as a key player, and simultaneously competed for the Harrisburg Heat in indoor soccer competitions.

After a brief period at the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, Ekra returned to the Islanders for another two seasons. He then signed for the Charlotte Independence in December 2015, where he competed for the following three seasons. Ekra signed for the Tampa Bay Rowdies ahead of the 2019 season, eventually helping the club win two Eastern Conference titles in 2020 and 2021 before leaving in 2023.

Club career

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Lyon

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Ekra began his youth career with Esperance Paris 19ème at the age of 11. He joined Lyon at the age of 12.[2] His roommate for several years was Karim Benzema.[3] Ekra played two games and scored one goal for Lyon's reserve team in the 2007–08 season.[4]

Hull City

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Ekra signed with Hull City at the beginning of the 2008–09 season.[5] In the 2009–10 season, he played 7 games for the reserve team, but did not score.[citation needed]

To further his career, Ekra joined Greek side Panionios on loan in January 2009 until the end of the season.[6][7][8] He played for the club's under-21 side. He did not play any first team games[9] although he made the gameday roster in a Super League Greece game in which Panionios beat Asteras Tripoli 4–3 on 26 April 2009.[10]

On 29 May 2010, Ekra was released by Hull.[11]

Châteauroux

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For the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, Ekra played in France on the reserve team of Châteauroux.[12]

Harrisburg City Islanders

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While visiting his in-laws in Washington D.C. in the Spring of 2012, Ekra attended an open tryout with Harrisburg City Islanders of USL Pro.[13] Following a strong performance in preseason scrimmages in which Ekra scored three goals in three games,[14] he signed with the team. He made his debut on 4 May 2012 in 2–1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles.[15] In his first start on 19 May 2012 against Dayton Dutch Lions, Ekra scored a hat trick on his first three shots.[13] In the 2012 regular season, he played 21 regular season games – scoring 6 goals and assisting on 1 goal. He also played 3 U.S. Open Cup games – scoring 1 goal and assisting on 3 goals. He also played in one playoff game. In the 2013 regular season, he played 24 regular season games – scoring 4 goals and assisting on 3 goals. He also played in one playoff game and one U.S. Open Cup game.[citation needed]

After the 2012 season, Ekra trialed with D.C. United of Major League Soccer.[16]

Harrisburg Heat (Indoor)

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In 2012–13, Ekra played his first season of indoor soccer with the Harrisburg Heat of the Professional Arena Soccer League.[17] He made his debut on 3 November 2012 in a 6–2 loss to the Dallas Sidekicks. His most productive performance was a 2 goal, 3 assist performance in a 10–8 loss against the Chicago Mustangs.[18] He finished the season playing 11 games, scoring 7 goals and assisting on 8 goals.[19]

Philadelphia Union

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On 13 September 2013, Ekra signed with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.[20][21] In 2012, Ekra had been productive against Philadelphia – scoring a goal in a 12 June 2012 friendly in which Harrisburg City Islanders won,[22] getting 2 assists in a 26 June 2012 5–2 U.S. Open Cup loss to the Union[23] as well as playing as a guest player and assisting on the only goal in a D.C. United 1–0 reserve league win over the Union on 12 October 2012.[24] He did not appear for the club and was released at the end of the 2013 season.[citation needed]

Return to Harrisburg City Islanders

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In March 2014, Ekra returned to Harrisburg City Islanders.[25]

Charlotte Independence

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Ekra signed with the Charlotte Independence in December 2015.[26]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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On 7 December 2018, Ekra moved to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship ahead of their 2019 season.[27]

International career

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Ekra played on national youth teams for France at the U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels.[28] He played on the U17 team that won the Disney Soccer Showcase in 2005.[29][30][31]

References

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  1. ^ "Yann Ekra". USL Championship. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ^ Karouri, Khaled (1 December 2012). "Rencontre avec ces Français du bout du monde : Yann Ekra" [Meeting with these French people on the other side of the world: Yann Ekra]. Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ "City Islanders beginning to get plugged in as playoff date with Charlotte approaches". pennlive. 20 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Football Olympique Lyonnais Effectif CFA 2007/2008". stat2foot.com. Stat 2 Foot. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Player Profiles – Yann Ekra". The Tigers Official Website. Hull City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Hull's Ekra joins Panionios". Sky Sports. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Panionios lands Ekra from Hull City on loan". wsn.com. World Sports Network. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. ^ FIFA.com
  9. ^ "Google Translate". translate.google.gr.
  10. ^ "Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables – ESPN".
  11. ^ "Youngsters Offered Pro Deals". The Tigers Official Website. Hull City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Châteauroux B 2012". footballdatabase.eu.
  13. ^ a b "City Islanders' Yann Ekra, awarded his first start, needs less than an hour to post first hat trick". pennlive. 20 May 2012.
  14. ^ "City Islanders turn back Drexel, improve preseason record to 2-0-2". 5 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Charlotte Eagles at Harrisburg City Islanders 2:1". Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  16. ^ Goff, Steven (10 September 2012). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ "Indoor soccer: Yann Ekra, Tom Mellor and Brian Ombiji, fresh from the outdoor Harrisburg City Islanders, trying indoor game". pennlive. 16 November 2012.
  18. ^ "WebPages | Pointstreak Sites". pasl_site.stats.pointstreak.com.
  19. ^ "WebPages | Pointstreak Sites". pasl_site.stats.pointstreak.com.
  20. ^ "News | Philadelphia Union".
  21. ^ "City Islanders' Yann Ekra has signed with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union". pennlive. 14 September 2013.
  22. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  23. ^ "Recap: Union down affiliate City Islanders 5–2 in USOC quarterfinals | Philadelphia Union".
  24. ^ Shatzer, Martin (13 October 2012). "D.C. United Reserve League Highlights: Trialist Yann Ekra Assists To Stephen King". Black And Red United.
  25. ^ "Talented Forward, Yann Ekra Returns to the Islanders for 2014". cityislanders.com. Harrisburg City Islanders. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Midfielder Yann Ekra Signs With Independence For 2016 Season". charlotteindependence.com. Charlotte Independence. 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  27. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (7 December 2018). "Rowdies Bring in Experienced Ekra, Felix". USL Championship.
  28. ^ PennLive, Derek Meluzio | Special to (31 May 2012). "Upper 90 Q&A with City Islander Yann Ekra". pennlive.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "French U-17 team wins Disney's Soccer Showcase". ESPN FC.
  30. ^ "U.S. U-17 '90s Fall 2-0 to France". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Football Equipe de France Selection Juniors B2 2005/2006". stat2foot.com. Stat 2 Foot. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
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