Tony Tchani

Tony Tchani

Tchani playing for New York Red Bulls in 2010
Personal information
Full name Tony Ghislain Tchani[1]
Date of birth (1989-04-13) April 13, 1989
Place of birth Bafang, Cameroon
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Columbus Crew
Number 6
Youth career
2004–2008 Beach FC
2008–2009 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2008 Hampton Roads Piranhas 1 (0)
2010–2011 New York Red Bulls 29 (1)
2011 Toronto FC 13 (1)
2011– Columbus Crew 109 (7)
National team‡
2016 United States 1 (0)
2016– Cameroon 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 3, 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 26, 2016

Tony Tchani (/ˈtʃɑːni/; born April 13, 1989) is a Cameroonian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew SC in Major League Soccer.

Career

Amateur and college

Tchani moved to the United States from his native Cameroon in 2004, settling in Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Maury High School, and played club soccer for Beach FC before playing college soccer at the University of Virginia. He started 12 matches and scored 9 goals as a freshman, was the 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year, a second team all-ACC selection, was named to the first team All-South Atlantic Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), and was a Soccer America first team All-Freshmen. During the 2009 season, Tchani was named First-Team All America by College Soccer News, a member of the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team, First Team All-America by NSCAA, and a second team All-ACC member. In 2009, the UVa Men's Soccer team won the National Championship (a 3–2 penalty kick shootout against Akron), with Tchani scoring one of Virginia's penalty kicks.

During his college years he also played with the Hampton Roads Piranhas in the USL Premier Development League.[2]

Professional

Tchani was drafted in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls.[3] He made his professional debut on March 27, 2010, in New York's opening game of the 2010 MLS season against Chicago Fire.[4] On April 27, 2010 Tchani made his first start for New York helping the club to a 2–1 victory over Philadelphia Union in a 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification match.[5] On May 20, 2010 Tchani headed in his first career goal in a 3–1 loss to Columbus Crew.[6] During Tchani's initial campaign with New York he was gradually brought into the first unit by coach Hans Backe and eventually began to form a solid partnership in the heart of the Red Bulls' midfield with newly signed Rafael Marquez.[7] Tchani ended his first professional season appearing in 27 regular season matches for New York scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists in helping his side capture the regular season Eastern Conference title.[8]

Tchani was traded to Toronto FC on April 1, 2011 along with teammate Danleigh Borman and a 2012 SuperDraft 1st round pick for Dwayne De Rosario.[9] The following day Tchani made his debut for Toronto in a 1–1 home draw against Chivas USA.[10] Tchani scored his first goal for Toronto in a 1–1 home draw versus Columbus Crew on April 23, 2011, following his goal celebration he was shown his second yellow of the game leading to an ejection.[11] Tchani was forced to change his number in late June from 22 to 32 with Toronto's new designated player signing of Torsten Frings.[12]

On July 15, 2011, Tchani was traded to Columbus Crew in exchange for Andy Iro and Léandre Griffit.[13] Due to a left knee injury, Tchani was sidelined upon his arrival at the club, and underwent surgery in late August.[14] Finally, on October 27, 2011, he made his debut for the Black & Gold, playing 90 minutes in the midfield in a 1–0 away defeat at the hands of the Colorado Rapids in the Wild Card round of the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs.[15]

On December 7, 2012 Tchani signed a new deal with Columbus.[16] In 2013, Tchani remained a part-time player starting 13 matches for Columbus. However, in 2014 he became a mainstay and started 33 of 34 league matches.

International career

On November 4, 2015, Tchani received his first call up from Cameroon for their upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches against Niger.[17] However, after aggravating an injury during a match with Columbus, he withdrew from the squad.[18]

In January 2016, Tchani was called up by the United States for their friendlies against Iceland and Canada[19] He made his U.S. debut on January 31 against Iceland, coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute. However this friendly appearance did not cap tie Tchani.

In March 2016 he accepted a call up from Cameroon for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa. After playing in the game against South Africa, he was cap-tied to Cameroon. [20]

Personal

Tchani received U.S. citizenship in 2013.[21]

Career statistics

Club Season MLS Domestic cup1 MLS Playoffs CONCACAF Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls 2010 2714000—311
2011 20———20
Toronto FC 2011 13140——171
Columbus Crew 2011 000010—10
2012 22200——222
2013 220 ——220
2014 330 21—351
Total 11948031—1305

Last update: November 15, 2014
1Lamar Hunt US Open Cup/Nutrilite Canadian Cup

Honors

University of Virginia

Toronto FC

References

  1. ↑ Tony Tchani at Confederation of African Football website
  2. ↑ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/6757867.html
  3. ↑ 2010 MLS SuperDraft
  4. ↑ "Sports – CBC.ca".
  5. ↑ "USOC: Chinn's brace leads Red Bulls over Union 2–1". MLSsoccer.com.
  6. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/crew-defeat-red-bulls-move-atop-eastern-conference
  7. ↑ "Tchani raises his game, Red Bulls' expectations". New York Red Bulls.
  8. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/red-bulls-beat-revs-clinch-eastern-conference
  9. ↑ "News". MLSsoccer.com.
  10. ↑ "Gordon Goal Gifts Reds a Draw". Toronto FC. April 2, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ Girard, Daniel (April 23, 2011). "TFC battles to 1–1 tie with Crew". The Star (Toronto). Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Frings & Koevermans Join TFC". www.torontofc.ca. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Crew acquires rising star Tchani from TFC". Columbus Crew SC.
  14. ↑ http://www.thecrew.com/news/2011/10/tchanis-debut-gives-crew-brief-glimpse-2012 Tchani's debut gives Crew a brief glimpse into 2012
  15. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/28/recap-cummings-goal-lifts-colorado-past-columbus-1-0 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs Crew at Rapids Match Recap
  16. ↑ "Crew re-signs midfielder Tony Tchani". TheCrew.com. Crew Communications. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Columbus Crew SC midfielder Tony Tchani ecstatic to receive first call-up from Cameroon". MLSsoccer.com.
  18. ↑ "Columbus Crew SC's Tony Tchani would "have to discuss with my mom" on possible decision between USA and Cameroon". MLSsoccer.com.
  19. ↑ "MLS standouts, youth dominate Jurgen Klinsmann's call-ups to US national team's January camp". MLSsoccer.com.
  20. ↑ "Alex Song is recalled by new Cameroon coach Hugo Broos". BBC Sport.
  21. ↑ "Tchani Earns U.S. Citizenship". Columbus Crew SC.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.