Ansu Toure
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ansou Toure | ||
| Date of birth | 18 October 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Monrovia, Liberia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Persiba Balikpapan | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Genesis Football Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006 | St. Paul Twin Stars | 14 | (27) |
| 2006–2007 | Minnesota Thunder | 34 | (6) |
| 2007–2008 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 19 | (6) |
| 2008 | Miami FC | 8 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 37 | (2) |
| 2011 | FC Locarno | 21 | (5) |
| 2012–2013 | FC Vestsjælland | 11 | (0) |
| 2014– | Persiba Balikpapan | 19 | (9) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1994 | Liberia U-14 | 3 | (0) |
| 1995 | Liberia U-15 | 6 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Liberia U-20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011– | Liberia | 10 | (1) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 March 2014. | |||
Ansu Toure (born 18 October 1981) is a Liberian footaller who currently plays for Persiba Balikpapan in the Indonesia Super League.
Career
Youth and Amateur
Toure played five years of youth soccer with Genesis Football Club in his native Liberia, before moving with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1999. He graduated from Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, before taking courses in sport management at North Hennepin Community College in 2005 and 2006. The midfielder's elementary school in Liberia was known as 'Mission for Today'. Toure also netted 27 goals in 14 appearances for the St. Paul Twin Stars in the National Premier Soccer League in 2006.[1]
Professional
Toure first entered the United Soccer Leagues First Division with Minnesota Thunder in July 2006, and in two seasons with the Thunder,[2] Toure scored six goals and added one assist in 34 appearances. Prior to the start of his second season in Minnesota, Toure played in eight preseason matches during a two-month trial with New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. During his spell with the Red Bulls, Toure scored a goal against Houston Dynamo as well as the game-winner against D.C. United. Bruce Arena commented on Toure that he had a nice hard shot and was getting better every week. Despite Toure impressing Red Bulls coach Arena he was not offered a contract.
Toure transferred to the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2008, eventually scoring six goals and recording four assists in 19 matches. Two of Toure's six goals last season came in Atlanta's 3–2 loss to the Whitecaps on 10 August. Four days after the Whitecaps match, Toure was traded to Miami FC for midfielder Sean Cameron. As a member of the Blues, the winger assisted on one goal during his eight appearances.
On 21 January 2009 Toure joined Vancouver Whitecaps, signing a two-year contract.[3] He scored his first goal for the team on 9 June 2010 against the Carolina RailHawks.[4]
In February 2011, Toure signed a deal with Swiss Challenge League club FC Locarno.[5] After releasing from Locarno, he joined Danish 1st Division side FC Vestsjaelland on 2 July 2012.
International
Toure has played for the U-14, U-15 and U-20 Liberian national teams. Toure has also received a call-up to Liberia's senior side, but was unable to attend due to club commitments. In 2013, he represented Liberia in 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Senegal.[6]
Personal
Toure received his United States citizenship in 2007, but continues to hold Liberian sporting nationality due to his youth and senior call-ups.
References
- ↑ Archived 18 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ http://www.mnthunder.com/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=MD008&SRCN=biodetail&GnavID=5&SnavID=73&TnavID=&StaffBioID=105
- ↑ Archived 24 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ USSF Division-2 Pro League. Ussf.demosphere.com (9 June 2010). Retrieved on 3 August 2013.
- ↑ Ansu Toure Signs in Europe. Liberiansoccer.com (18 October 1981). Retrieved on 3 August 2013.
- ↑ FIFA. "FIFA Player Statistics: Ansu TOURE". Retrieved on 19 June 2013.