Gilles Yapi Yapo

{{short description|Ivorian professional footballer (born 1982)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gilles Yapi Yapo

| image = Gilles Yapi Yapo 2007.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Yapi Yapo with the Ivory Coast in 2007

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|1|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Abidjan, Ivory Coast

| fullname = Gilles Donald Yapi Yapo{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players |publisher=FIFA |page=6 |date=21 March 2014 |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| height = 1.71 m

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = {{0|0000}}–2001

| years2 = 2001–2004

| years3 = 2004

| years4 = 2004–2006

| years5 = 2006

| years6 = 2006–2010

| years7 = 2010–2013

| years8 = 2013–2014

| years9 = 2014–2018

| years10 = 2017–2018

| years11 = 2018–2019

| clubs1 = ASEC Mimosas

| clubs2 = Beveren

| clubs3 = → Nantes (loan)

| clubs4 = Nantes

| clubs5 = → Young Boys (loan)

| clubs6 = Young Boys

| clubs7 = Basel

| clubs8 = Dubai

| clubs9 = Zürich

| clubs10 = → Aarau (loan)

| clubs11 = Basel II

| caps1 =

| caps2 = 67

| caps3 = 15

| caps4 = 45

| caps5 = 16

| caps6 = 115

| caps7 = 58

| caps8 = 12

| caps9 = 49

| caps10 = 19

| caps11 = 11

| goals1 =

| goals2 = 13

| goals3 = 1

| goals4 = 2

| goals5 = 2

| goals6 = 15

| goals7 = 3

| goals8 = 1

| goals9 = 2

| goals10 = 0

| goals11 = 0

| totalcaps =

| totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2000–2010

| nationalteam1 = Ivory Coast

| nationalcaps1 = 46

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| pcupdate = 17 October 2021

| ntupdate =

}}

Gilles Donald Yapi Yapo (born 30 January 1982) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Abidjan, Yapi Yapo started his career at ASEC Mimosas and then moved to Europe with Beveren. He joined Nantes on a loan contract in January 2004, and on 17 May, he signed a three-year contract,{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3619675.stm | work=BBC News | title=Nantes wants Ivorian duo | date=12 April 2004}} because his contract with Beveren was due to expire in the summer.{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11825_2287925,00.html | work=Sky Sports | title=Nantes sign Yapi Yapo}} At this stage of his career, he played as an attacking midfielder. He was on the fringe at Nantes in the 2005–06 season, prompting a loan move to Young Boys.{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11825_2367131,00.html | work=Sky Sports | title=Yapi Yapo on the move}} He then joined Young Boys on a permanent basis, where he played as a defensive midfielder and playmaker.{{cite web| url = http://www.insidefutbol.com/2010/05/28/switzerland-reflect-on-stars-of-200910/23120/| title = Switzerland Reflect on Stars of 2009/10 - Inside Futbol {{!}} Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & Articles » Football - » Features {{!}} Inside Futbol - Online World Football Magazine}}

On 15 February 2010 FC Basel announced that they had signed Yapi Yapo as from 1 July on a three-year contract.{{cite web | first = | last = FC Basel 1893 | author-link = | date = 15 February 2010 | url =http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID//10044/23626/16/7| archive-url =https://archive.today/20120801042335/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID//10044/23626/16/7| url-status =dead| archive-date =2012-08-01| title = Gilles Yapi ab Juli 2010 beim FCB | format = | work = Gilles Yapi from Juli 2010 by FCB | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}} He joined Basel's first team during their 2010–11 season under head coach Thorsten Fink. After playing in eight test games Yapi Yapo played his domestic league debut for his new club in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 20 July 2010 as Basel won 3–2 against FC Zürich.{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 20 July 2010 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=17625 | title = FC Basel - FC Zürich 3:2 (2:2) | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}} He scored his first goal for his new club in the home game on 1 August 2010 as Basel won 3–0 against FC St. Gallen.{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 1 August 2010 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=17631 | title = FC Basel - FC St. Gallen 3:0 (2:0) | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

Basel started in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round and advanced to the group stage, but ended the group in third position. Therefore they dropped to the 2010–11 Europa League knockout phase, but here they were eliminated by Spartak Moscow due to a last minute goal against them.{{cite web | first = Richard | last = van Poortvliet | author-link = | date = | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7d092b64ca-8f031a97421a-1000--spartak-shake-off-basel-revival/ | title = Spartak shake off Basel revival | format = | work = | publisher = UEFA | access-date = 2022-11-16}} Yapi Yapo played in 11 of the 12 European matches. With Basel, Yapi Yapo won the Swiss Championship at the end of the 2010–11 season topping the table just one point clear of rivals Zürich.{{cite web | first = Anthony | last = Zea | author-link = | year =2012 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit08.html | title = Switzerland 2010/2011 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

To the beginning of their 2011–12 season Yapi Yapo was a member of the Basel team that won the 2011 Uhrencup, beating both Hertha Berlin 3–0 and West Ham United 2–1 to lead the table on goal difference above Young Boys.{{cite web | first = Erik | last = Garin | author-link = | year =2011 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uhren.html#11 | title = Coupe Horlogère - Uhren Cup (Switzerland) | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date = 2022-11-16}} During just the second league game of the 2011–12 Super League season, Yapi Yapo suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligament,{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | year = 2011 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/26247/26/7/7 | title = Gilles Yapi erlitt einen Kreuzbandriss | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 26 July 2011|language=de}} and this kept him out of the game for six months. He returned to the team for the away draw in the Stade de Suisse against Young Boys on 16 February 2012 as he was substituted in during the 65th minute.{{cite web | last = Meister | first = Remo | year = 2012 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/27389/26/7/7 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130101073805/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/27389/26/7/7 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 1 January 2013 | title = Der FC Basel holt bei den Young Boys in extremis ein gutes 2:2-Unentschieden | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 16 February 2012 | language = de }} At the end of the 2011–12 season he won the Double with his new club. They won the League Championship title with 20 points advantage.{{cite web | first = Karel | last = Stokkermans | author-link = | year = 2017 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit2012.html | title = Switzerland 2011/12 | work = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | language = fr | access-date = 2022-11-16}} The team won the Swiss Cup, winning the final 4–3 in a penalty shootout against Luzern.{{cite web | first = | last = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) | author-link = | date = 16 May 2012 | url = https://www.football.ch/sfv/schweizer-cups/schweizer-cup/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/oid-1/s-2012/cp-1693/cr-0/tg-1973921/ | title = FC Basel - FC Luzern 4:2 n.P. (1:1, 1:1, 0:0) | format = | work = | publisher = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

Basel had started in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League in the qualifying rounds. But were knocked out of the competition by CFR Cluj in the play-off round. They then continued in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage. Ending the group in second position, Basel continued in the knockout phase and advanced as far as the semi-finals, there being matched against the reigning UEFA Champions League holders Chelsea. Chelsea won both games advancing 5–2 on aggregate, eventually winning the competition.{{cite web | first = Trevor | last = Haylett | author-link = | date = 3 May 2013 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0ea90a67d417-9708b706b81d-1000--basel-take-heart-after-chelsea-defeat/ | title = Basel take heart after Chelsea defeat | format = | work = | publisher = UEFA | access-date = 2022-11-16}} In the early stages of the season Yapi Yapo came to regular playing time, but following an injury in August, his appearance time diminished. At the end of the Swiss Super League season 2012–13 he won the Championship title with the team.{{cite web | first = Karel | last = Stokkermans | author-link = | year = 2017 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit2013.html | title = Switzerland 2012/13 | work = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | language = fr | access-date = 2022-11-16}} In the 2012–13 Swiss Cup Basel reached the final, but were runners up behind Grasshopper Club, being defeated 4–3 on penalties, following a 1–1 draw after extra time.{{cite web | first = | last = ASF/SFV | author-link = | date = 20 May 2013 | url = https://www.football.ch/sfv/schweizer-cups/schweizer-cup/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/oid-1/s-2013/cp-1794/cr-0/tg-2132469/ | title = FC Basel - Grasshopper Club 3:4 n.P. (1:1, 1:1, 0:0) | format = | work = | publisher = ASF/SFV | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

Yapi Yapo appeared in just four games in the second half of the season. But because head coach Murat Yakin no longer considered Yapi Yapo within his plans, the contract between club and player was not prolonged and he departed as free agent. During his time with the club, Yapi Yapo played a total of 119 games for Basel scoring a total of nine goals. 58 of these games were in the Swiss Super League, seven in the Swiss Cup, 15 in the UEFA competitions (Champions League and Europa League) and 39 were friendly games. He scored three goals in the domestic league and the other nine were scored during the test games.{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | authorlink = | year = 2019 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=2008 | title = Gilles Yapi Yapo - FCB statistic | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | accessdate = 2022-11-16}}

In August 2013 Yapi Yapo signed for Dubai CSC.{{cite web | first = | last = (Keystone-SDA) | author-link = | year = | url = https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/alle-news-in-kuerze/gilles-yapi-wechselt-nach-dubai/36638942 | title = Gilles Yapi wechselt nach Dubai | format = | work = Gilles Yapi moves to Dubai | publisher = Swissinfo.ch | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

On 22 June 2014 it was announced that Yapi Yapo had signed with Zürich on a one-year contract.{{cite web | first = | last = BaZ | author-link = | date = 22 June 2014 | url = https://www.bazonline.ch/gilles-yapi-wechselt-zum-fcz-267676858730 | title = Gilles Yapi wechselt zum FCZ | format = | work = Gilles Yapi moves to FCZ | publisher = Basler Zeitung | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

On 9 November 2014, Aarau player and former Basel teammate Sandro Wieser committed a knee-high challenge on Yapi Yapo in a league match, leaving the latter's career in serious doubt.{{cite news|last1=Chowdhury|first1=Saj|title=FC Zurich start legal action for tackle on Gilles Yapi-Yapo|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30025098|access-date=9 December 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 November 2014}} He suffered torn anterior and cruciate ligaments, a torn meniscus, a torn kneecap tendon, serious cartilage damage and deep bruising to his thigh.{{cite news|last1=De Menezes|first1=Jack|title=Video: FC Zurich launch legal proceedings against FC Aarau's Sandro Wieser after horror tackle threatens Gilles Yapi-Yapo's career|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/video-fc-zurich-launch-legal-proceedings-against-fc-aaraus-sandro-wieser-after-horror-tackle-threatens-gilles-yapiyapos-career-9854157.html|access-date=9 December 2014|work=The Independent|date=11 November 2014}} Wieser was shown a straight red card for the tackle, and was later suspended for six matches by the Swiss league.{{cite web|title=Zurich want assault case against Wieser for horror tackle on Yapi-Yapo|url=http://www.espnfc.com/swiss-super-league/story/2187962/zurich-file-assault-case-against-sandro-wieser-for-horror-tackle-on-gilles-yapi-yapo|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=9 December 2014|date=9 December 2014}} With Yapi Yapo highly unlikely to ever play again, Zürich president Ancillo Canepa launched legal proceedings against Wieser.{{cite news|title=FC Zurich begin legal action after horror tackle on Gilles Yapi-Yapo|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/11/fc-zurich-take-legal-action-gilles-yapi-yapo-sandro-wieser|access-date=9 December 2014|work=The Guardian|date=11 November 2014}}

Yapi Yapo did eventually return to action as a first-half substitute, in a 3–3 draw against FC Thun at the Letzigrund on 13 September 2015, scoring the third Zürich goal in the process.

On 26 August 2017 FC Aarau announced that they had signed Yapi Yapo on a loan period for one season.{{cite web | first = | last =FC Aarau | author-link = | year = | url = https://fcaarau.ch/news/gilles-yapi-wechselt-auf-leihbasis-zum-fc-aarau/ | title = Gilles Yapi wechselt auf Leihbasis zum FC Aarau | format = | work = Gilles Yapi is moving to FC Aarau on loan | publisher = FC Aarau | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}{{cite web | first = Sebastian Wendel | last = Ruedi Kuhn | author-link = | year = | url = https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/sport/aargau/die-ersehnte-leaderfigur-ist-da-gilles-yapi-kommt-zum-fc-aarau-ld.1447714 | title = Die ersehnte Leaderfigur ist da: Gilles Yapi kommt zum FC Aarau | format = | work = The long-awaited leader is here: Gilles Yapi is coming to FC Aarau | publisher = | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

On 20 July 2018 it was announced that Yapi Yapo would return to FC Basel. Preparing for a course as trainer, he was to help with the Basel U-21 team in the Promotion League, the third tier of Swiss football. In the announcement it was also suggested that he could help with the coaching team.{{cite web | first = | last = sda | author-link = | date = 20 July 2018 | url = https://telebasel.ch/2018/07/20/yapi-kehrt-zu-basel-zurueck/?channel=105110 | title = Yapi kehrt zu Basel zurück | format = | work = Yapi returns to Basel | publisher = Telebasel | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}

International career

Yapi Yapo was part of the Ivory Coast team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He was also selected in the preliminary Ivory Coast squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but was eventually dropped along with Bakari Koné and Emerse Faé, who played with him in the 2006 World Cup.{{cite web| url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/sven-goran-eriksson-settles-on-his-ivory-warriors/story-fn5c8hri-1225874238346| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120926185022/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/sven-goran-eriksson-settles-on-his-ivory-warriors/story-fn5c8hri-1225874238346| archive-date = 2012-09-26| title = Sven Goran-Eriksson settles on his Ivory warriors |work=thetelegraph.com.au}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20100604060941/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1222500/index.html FIFA.com] He retired from the Ivory Coast national team after this.