Yann Ekra

Yann Ekra
Ekra with Charlotte Independence in 2017
Personal information
Full name Yann Ekra
Date of birth (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker, second striker, winger
Team information
Current team
 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Number 7
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– Tampa Bay Rowdies 116 (3)
International career
France U15
France U16
France U17
France U18
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:46, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Yann Ekra (born 10 December 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship. Born in Ivory Coast, he is a former France youth international.

Club career

Lyon

Ekra began his youth career with Esperance Paris 19ème at the age of 11. He joined Lyon at the age of 12.[1] His roommate for several years was Karim Benzema.[2] Ekra played two games and scored one goal for Lyon's reserve team in the 2007–08 season.[3]

Hull City

Ekra signed with Hull City at the beginning of the 2008–09 season.[4] 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.[5][6][7] He played for the club's under-21 side. He did not play any first team games[8] although he made the gameday roster in a Super League Greece game in which Panionios beat Asteras Tripoli 4–3 on 26 April 2009.[9]

On 29 May 2010, Ekra was released by Hull.[10]

Châteauroux

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

Harrisburg City Islanders

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.[12] Following a strong performance in preseason scrimmages in which Ekra scored three goals in three games,[13] he signed with the team. He made his debut on 4 May 2012 in 2–1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles.[14] In his first start on 19 May 2012 against Dayton Dutch Lions, Ekra scored a hat trick on his first three shots.[12] 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.[15]

Harrisburg Heat (Indoor)

In 2012–13, Ekra played his first season of indoor soccer with the Harrisburg Heat of the Professional Arena Soccer League.[16] 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.[17] He finished the season playing 11 games, scoring 7 goals and assisting on 8 goals.[18]

Philadelphia Union

On 13 September 2013, Ekra signed with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.[19][20] In 2012, Ekra had been productive against Philadelphia – scoring a goal in a 12 June 2012 friendly in which Harrisburg City Islanders won,[21] getting 2 assists in a 26 June 2012 5–2 U.S. Open Cup loss to the Union[22] 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.[23] He did not appear for the club and was released at the end of the 2013 season.[citation needed]

Return to Harrisburg City Islanders

In March 2014, Ekra returned to Harrisburg City Islanders.[24]

Charlotte Independence

Ekra signed with the Charlotte Independence in December 2015.[25]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

On 7 December 2018, Ekra moved to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship ahead of their 2019 season.[26]

International career

Ekra played on national youth teams for France at the U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels.[27] He played on the U17 team that won the Disney Soccer Showcase in 2005.[28][29][30]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "City Islanders beginning to get plugged in as playoff date with Charlotte approaches". pennlive. 20 August 2013.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Hull's Ekra joins Panionios". Sky Sports. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ FIFA.com
  8. ^ "Google Translate". translate.google.gr.
  9. ^ "Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables – ESPN".
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Châteauroux B 2012". footballdatabase.eu.
  12. ^ a b "City Islanders' Yann Ekra, awarded his first start, needs less than an hour to post first hat trick". pennlive. 20 May 2012.
  13. ^ "City Islanders turn back Drexel, improve preseason record to 2-0-2". 5 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Charlotte Eagles at Harrisburg City Islanders 2:1". Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ Goff, Steven (10 September 2012). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ "Indoor soccer: Yann Ekra, Tom Mellor and Brian Ombiji, fresh from the outdoor Harrisburg City Islanders, trying indoor game". pennlive. 16 November 2012.
  17. ^ "WebPages | Pointstreak Sites". pasl_site.stats.pointstreak.com.
  18. ^ "WebPages | Pointstreak Sites". pasl_site.stats.pointstreak.com.
  19. ^ "News | Philadelphia Union".
  20. ^ "City Islanders' Yann Ekra has signed with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union". pennlive. 14 September 2013.
  21. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  22. ^ "Recap: Union down affiliate City Islanders 5–2 in USOC quarterfinals | Philadelphia Union".
  23. ^ Shatzer, Martin (13 October 2012). "D.C. United Reserve League Highlights: Trialist Yann Ekra Assists To Stephen King". Black And Red United.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (7 December 2018). "Rowdies Bring in Experienced Ekra, Felix". USL Championship.
  27. ^ 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)
  28. ^ "French U-17 team wins Disney's Soccer Showcase". ESPN FC.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "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.

External links