Mandjou Keita

{{infobox football biography

| name = Mandjou Keita

| image =

| image_size = 200

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|11|28}}

| birth_place = Nzérékoré, Guinea

| height = {{height|m=1.86}}

| position = Attacking midfielder, Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2004–2007

| clubs1 = Perak

| caps1 = 75

| goals1 = 50

| years2 = 2007–2008

| clubs2 = Brunei DPMM

| caps2 = 21

| goals2 = 11

| years3 = 2009–2010

| clubs3 = Portland Timbers

| caps3 = 39

| goals3 = 12

| years4 = 2009–2010

| clubs4 = → Salgaocar (loan)

| caps4 = 9

| goals4 = 8

| years5 = 2010–2012

| clubs5 = Pune FC

| caps5 = 17

| goals5 = 16

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = Kelantan

| caps6 = 11

| goals6 = 5

| totalcaps = 172

| totalgoals = 102

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2001

| nationalteam1 = Guinea U23

| nationalcaps1 = 16

| nationalgoals1 = 10

| nationalyears2 = 2001–2011

| nationalteam2 = Guinea

| nationalcaps2 = 36

| nationalgoals2 = 16

}}

Mandjou Keita (born 28 November 1979) is a Guinean international former footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward.

Career

=Club=

Keita began his professional career in Malaysia with Perak, making his debut on 12 September 2004 against PKNS FC. He impressed Perak FA's fans so much that he was carried off the pitch by two jubilant fans after the match {{Cite web|url=http://www.yob4ever.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1458&st=15|title=Perak e-Fans Forum 2014|website=www.yob4ever.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231218/http://www.yob4ever.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1458&st=15|url-status=dead}} He went on to play a key role in Perak FA's Malaysian FA Cup winning team, which led to his contract being renewed for the 2005 season.

Keita won the Golden Boot award for the 2006 season, scoring 17 goals. He was one of the three nominees for the Favourite Import Player award in the inaugural Malaysian football awards but he did not win.{{Cite web|url=http://www.yob4ever.com/v2/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=218|title=Yob4ever.COM : Perak Football e-Fans Homepage - Keen Contest To Be Favourite|website=www.yob4ever.com|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106173649/http://www.yob4ever.com/v2/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=218|archive-date=6 January 2017|url-status=dead}}

He was linked with a move away from the club to Indonesian team Persija Jakarta in 2007,[http://www.zonabola.com/detail.php?lokasi=indonesia&node=14180 Persija Buru Legiun Liga Hong Kong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928161327/http://www.zonabola.com/detail.php?lokasi=indonesia&node=14180 |date=2007-09-28 }} but did not let those rumours affect his on-pitch performance, and ended up Perak's top scorer once again for the 2006/2007 season.

Keita was released from his contract at the end of the 2007 season due to "family issues", and after attending trials with French side FC Lorient.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mercato365.com/la-une/article_194228_Lorient-Mandjou-%C3%A0-l-essai.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907232432/http://www.mercato365.com/la-une/article_194228_Lorient-Mandjou-%C3%A0-l-essai.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2012|title=Lorient : Mandjou à l'essai - Football 365|work=Football 365|access-date=2018-05-04|language=fr-FR}} signed with Bruneian side Brunei DPMM FC, and played one season for them in the Singaporean S. League.

In January 2009, Keita signed with Portland Timbers in the USL First Division.{{Cite web|url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123215522684487300|title=Pamplin Media Group - News|website=www.portlandtribune.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608041555/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123215522684487300|archive-date=8 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Keita's preferred playing position is as a striker, but he can also operate in midfield behind the front two.

Following the 2009 USL-1 season, Portland loaned Keita to Salgaocar S.C. of the Indian I-League.{{Cite news|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3927791|title=Timbers Loan Keita To Top Flight Club In India|date=2009-11-11|work=OurSports Central|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604150413/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3927791|url-status=live}} Keita returned to Portland in April, 2010.[http://www.portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=1614 Forward Mandjou Keita returns to Portland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503185910/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=1614 |date=2010-05-03 }}

After returning to the Timbers from loan, Keita failed to find his form in the 2010 season. Keita appeared in 10 league games and scored just one goal. On 1 September, Keita was transferred to Indian club Pune.{{cite press release | url=http://punefc.com/news-details.aspx?News_ID=191&type=recent | title=Breaking News: PFC sign Keita | publisher=Pune FC | date=1 September 2010 | accessdate=1 September 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715132308/http://punefc.com/news-details.aspx?News_ID=191&type=recent | archivedate=15 July 2011 }}

=Pune FC=

On 3 December 2010 Keita started his I-League journey with Pune FC first game of the season, a tie 1-1 against Mohun Bagan.[http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=2198 "Keita revives Pune FC campaign as host beat JCT 4–0"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716215219/http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=2198 |date=16 July 2011 }}. The-AIFF.com. 30 January 2011.[https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/football/pune-fc-season-awards-keita-mandjou-named-player-of-the-year Pune FC Season Awards: Keita Mandjou named 'Player of the Year] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512135813/https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/football/pune-fc-season-awards-keita-mandjou-named-player-of-the-year |date=12 May 2021 }} sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021 On 30 January 2011 Keita scored his first hat-trick for the club against JCT Mills in the I-League.

=Kelantan FA=

After two season with Pune FC, Keita returned to Malaysia to join Malaysian club Kelantan FA as the fourth import player for the 2012 AFC Cup competition.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/MandjougantiOnyekachi/Article/index_html |title=MyMetro | Mandjou ganti Onyekachi |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603124614/http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/MandjougantiOnyekachi/Article/index_html |archive-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} However, he was not eligible to play in the AFC Cup because of problems with regard to his International Transfer Certificates (ITC).

International career

Keita was a member and captain of the Guinea U-23 national team.

Honors

=Perak=

FA Cup Malaysia (1): 2004{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/malaycuphist.html|title=FA Cup|author1=Atsushi Fujioka|author2=Erik Garin|author3=Mikael Jönsson|author4=Hans Schöggl|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=11 January 2018|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010060528/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malaycuphist.html|url-status=live}}

=Portland Timbers=

USL First Division Commissioner's Cup (1): 2009

=Individual=

Super League Malaysia Golden Boot (2): 2005-06, 2006-07
USL First Division All-League First Team (1): 2009

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090403075908/http://portlandtimbers.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=49 Portland Timbers bio]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120405192041/http://www.liberiansoccer.com/the_profile_of_the_guinean_born_liberiankeita_mandjou2000091919191912344561711.htm Profile at www.liberiansoccer.com]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170210/http://www.yob4ever.com/v2/modules.php?name=League&file=index&op=player&id=7&lid=1&sid=1&tid=1 Perak FA bio]

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Guinean men's footballers

Category:Guinean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia

Category:Portland Timbers (2001–2010) players

Category:Salgaocar FC players

Category:USL First Division players

Category:USSF Division 2 Professional League players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brunei

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India