Alhassane Keita

Alhassane Keita

Personal information
Full name	Alhassane Keita Otchico
Date of birth	26 June 1983
Place of birth	Conakry, Guinea
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 6 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Jacksonville Armada
Number	10
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	Al-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–	Jacksonville Armada	19	(7)
National team
2000–2009	Guinea	12	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 9 November 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

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

Club career

After beginning professionally in Morocco with Olympique Khouribga, Keita moved in 2001 to Switzerland, with 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.

Keita started the 2006–07 campaign still in Zürich, netting four in as many games, but moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, in Jeddah. In late June 2008 he joined Spain's RCD Mallorca on a five-year link,^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] As the appeals begun, though, he was able to start the new season with the club, appearing in several matches from the bench; in late January 2010, the situation was resolved favorably to the Spaniards.

Keita was loaned to Real Valladolid in the second division, initially in a season-long move. However, in late January 2011, he cancelled his loan agreement,^[4] rescinded his contract with the Balearic Islands side and joined Al-Shabab Riyadh in Saudi Arabia until 2013.^[5]

In August 2011 Keita left Saudi Arabia for Emirates Club in the UAE Pro-League, following a short spell.^[6] 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.^[7]

International career

Keita was part of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations Guinean team as it reached the competition's quarterfinals, with an exit against Mali. He did not play in the tournament, however.

Club statistics

As of 30 May 2009^[8]

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	Al-Ittihad	22/12
2007–08	Al-Ittihad	18/7
2008–09	Mallorca	24/5

References

1. Guinean star Alhassane Keita signs for La Liga’s Mallorca; Click Afrique, 21 June 2008
2. African goals in Europe: 25–26 April; BBC Sport, 27 April 2009
3. Mallorca's Alhassane Keita banned for four months
4. "Keita terminates Valladolid contract". Real Mallorca. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
5. "Keita rescinde su contrato con el Mallorca" [Keita rescinds his contract with Mallorca] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
6. "Foreign strikers to join team". Gulf News. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
7. "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.
8. "A. Keita". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 January 2015.

External links

• Real Mallorca bio (Spanish)
• Alhassane Keita profile at BDFutbol
• Alhassane Keita at National-Football-Teams.com