Alhassane Keita

Alhassane Keita Otchico (born 26 June 1983), known as Keita, is a Guinean footballer who plays as a striker for American club Jacksonville Armada FC.

Not to be confused with Alhassane Keita (footballer, born 1992).

Alhassane Keita
Personal information
Full name Alhassane Keita Otchico
Date of birth (1983-06-26) 26 June 1983
Place of birth Conakry, Guinea
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1999–2000 Horoya AC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Olympique Khouribga 15 (7)
2001–2006 Zürich 131 (58)
2006–2008 Ittihad 40 (19)
2008–2011 Mallorca 47 (8)
2010–2011 → Valladolid (loan) 6 (0)
2011 Al-Shabab 6 (5)
2011–2012 Emirates Club 6 (2)
2012–2013 Dubai Club 10 (1)
2013–2014 St. Gallen 20 (4)
2015–2016 Jacksonville Armada 43 (13)
2017 Al-Watani
2018 Jacksonville Armada 5 (2)
National team
2000–2009 Guinea 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2018

Club career

Keita was born in Conakry. After beginning his professional career in Morocco with Olympique Khouribga, he moved to Switzerland in 2001 joining FC Zürich; during his five-season stay he scored goals at an extraordinary rate, including 20 in 2005–06 as the club emerged champions and the player was crowned league top scorer.[1]

Keita started the 2006–07 campaign still in Zürich, netting four in as many games, but signed with Saudi Arabian side Ittihad FC, in Jeddah. In late June 2008 he joined Spain's RCD Mallorca on a five-year link,[2] being irregularly used in his first year – he did manage, however, to score twice as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 La Liga home win over Real Valladolid.[3]

In July 2009, Keita was initially banned for four months after it was found out he signed with Umm-Salal Sports Club in Qatar after he had already committed to Mallorca.[4] As the appeals begun,[5] though, he was able to start the new season with the team,[6] appearing in several matches from the bench; in late January 2010, the situation was resolved favorably to the Spaniards.

Keita was loaned to Valladolid in the second division, initially in a season-long move.[7] However, in late January 2011, he cancelled his loan agreement,[8] terminated his contract with Mallorca and joined Al-Shabab Riyadh from Saudi Arabia until 2013.[9]

In August 2011, Keita left Saudi Arabia for Emirates Club in the UAE Arabian Gulf League, following a short spell.[10] The same month in the following year, he moved to Dubai CSC.

In early January 2015, Keita moved clubs and countries again, signing with Jacksonville Armada FC from the North American Soccer League.[11] He left two years later, as their all-time leading scorer.[12]

In July 2017, Keita joined Prince Mohammad bin Salman League's Al-Watani.[13] On 28 March of the following year, he returned to the Armada.[14]

International career

Keita was part of the Guinean squad at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations as they reached the competition's quarter-finals, with an exit against Mali. He did not play in the tournament, however.[15]

Club statistics
As of 30 May 2009[16]
Season club championship
2000–01 Olympique Khouribga 15 games/7 goals
2001–02 Zürich 8/2
2002–03 Zürich 29/17
2003–04 Zürich 28/4
2004–05 Zürich 30/11
2005–06 Zürich 32/20
2006–07 Zürich 4/4
2006–07 Ittihad 22/12
2007–08 Ittihad 18/7
2008–09 Mallorca 24/5

References
  1. "Keita bleibt – Fans randalieren" [Keita stays – Fans on the rampage]. Blick (in German). 3 August 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. Guinean star Alhassane Keita signs for La Liga’s Mallorca; Click Afrique, 21 June 2008
  3. African goals in Europe: 25–26 April; BBC Sport, 27 April 2009
  4. "La FIFA sanciona a Keita con cuatro meses sin jugar" [FIFA hands four-month ban to Keita]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 July 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  5. "Alemany confirma que recurrirá la sanción a Keita" [Alemany confirms he will appeal Keita ban]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 13 July 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  6. "El TAS levanta la sanción a Keita en el caso de duplicidad de contrato" [CAS lifts ban on Keita in dual contract case]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 January 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. "Webó se queda y Keita se va cedido al Valladolid" [Webó stays and Keita goes to Valladolid on loan]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 September 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  8. "Keita terminates Valladolid contract". Real Mallorca. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  9. "Keita rescinde su contrato con el Mallorca" [Keita terminates his contract with Mallorca] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  10. "Foreign strikers to join team". Gulf News. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  11. "Armada FC makes splash with addition of former La Liga and Swiss Super League striker Alhassane Keita". Jacksonville Armada. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  12. "Armada signs midfielders J.C. Banks and Bryam Rebellón". Jacksonville Armada. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  13. Fast alles neu: So stark verändern sich die Kader von YB, FCB und Co. innert kurzer Zeit (Almost everything new: Squads of YB, FCB and Co. change so much in a short time); Watson, 23 August 2017 (in German)
  14. "Two players sign with the Armada FC for 2018". Jacksonville Armada. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  15. "African Nations Cup 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  16. "A. Keita". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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