Ansu Toure

Ansu Toure (born 18 March 1981) is a professional Liberian footballer that last played in the Indonesian league with Persiba Balikpapan, he is also a member of the Liberian national football team

Ansu Toure
Personal information
Full name Ansu Toure
Date of birth (1981-03-18) 18 March 1981
Place of birth Monrovia, Liberia
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Genesis Football Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Minnesota Twin Stars 24 (27)
2006–2007 Minnesota Thunder 34 (9)
2007–2008 Atlanta Silverbacks 19 (9)
2008–2009 Miami FC 9 (4)
2009–2010 Vancouver Whitecaps 37 (12)
2010–2012 FC Locarno 38 (17)
2012–2014 FC Vestsjælland 35 (14)
2014–2015 Persiba Balikpapan 22 (9)
National team‡
2004 Liberia U-14 17 (13)
2005 Liberia U-15 6 (0)
2006 Liberia U-20 5 (0)
2016 Liberia 19 (10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 March 2014
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2016

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 2009 and 2010. Toure also netted 27 goals in 14 appearances for the Minnesota 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 2007, 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 contract 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]

References
  1. Archived 18 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Archived 24 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. USSF Division-2 Pro League. Ussf.demosphere.com (9 June 2010). Retrieved on 3 August 2013.
  5. Ansu Toure Signs in Europe Archived 4 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Liberiansoccer.com (18 October 1991). Retrieved on 3 August 2013.
  6. FIFA. "FIFA Player Statistics: Ansu TOURE". Retrieved on 19 June 2016.
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