Eric Akoto Explained

Eric Akoto
Fullname:Eric Akoto[1]
Birth Date:20 July 1980
Birth Place:Accra, Ghana
Height:1.92 m
Position:Centre-back
Years1:1998
Clubs1:Liberty Professionals
Years2:1998–2002
Clubs2:Grazer AK
Caps2:54
Goals2:2
Years3:2002–2004
Clubs3:Austria Wien
Caps3:40
Goals3:4
Years4:2004–2005
Clubs4:Rot-Weiß Erfurt
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:2005–2006
Caps5:17
Goals5:1
Years6:2006–2007
Clubs6:Grazer AK
Caps6:25
Goals6:0
Years7:2007–2008
Clubs7:Interblock
Caps7:30
Goals7:1
Years8:2008–2009
Clubs8:Kapfenberger SV
Caps8:15
Goals8:0
Years9:2009
Caps9:9
Goals9:0
Years10:2009–2010
Clubs10:OFI Crete
Caps10:3
Goals10:0
Years11:2010–2011
Clubs11:North Queensland Fury
Caps11:15
Goals11:0
Years12:2011–2012
Clubs12:Floriana FC
Caps12:15
Goals12:1
Years13:2012–2013
Caps13:18
Goals13:3
Nationalyears1:2000–2009
Nationalteam1:Togo
Nationalcaps1:56
Nationalgoals1:1

Eric Akoto (born 20 July 1980) is a naturalized Togolese former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Born in Ghana, he represented the Togo national team at international level.

Club career

Akoto was born in Accra, Ghana. He started his career in Ghana, at Liberty Professionals FC in 1998 before moving to Austria later that year to play for Grazer AK. In 2002, he moved to FK Austria Wien, before moving to Germany in 2004 to play for FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt. On 1 June 2005, he returned to Austria to play for VfB Admira Wacker Mödling. In 2006, he once again moved to Grazer AK.[2] In July 2007 he moved to Slovenia signing for Interblock Ljubljana.[3]

In the January 2008 transfer window, Akoto went on trial with Football League Championship club Blackpool in England.[4] He moved in July 2008 from Slovenian PrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije club, Interblock Ljubljana to Austrian Bundesliga club Kapfenberger SV.[5] In 2009, he moved to Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and later to OFI Crete.

In July 2010, he signed with Australian A-League club North Queensland Fury FC where he played as a central defender. In the Fury's round 3 match versus Melbourne Victory, Akoto was red carded after an incident involving Kevin Muscat, where the Victory defender would not let Akoto pick up his mouthguard and resulted in Akoto pushing Muscat to the ground.[6] Despite the incident being regarded as controversial by many media commentators, North Queensland opted against contesting the mandatory one-week suspension.[7]

In December 2011, he signed for Floriana FC.

International career

Born in the Ghanaian capital of Accra Akoto played for neighbouring Togo. He was part of the Togo national team's squad in the 2006 World Cup finals where Togo were knocked out of the competition in the group stages.[2] He was on the bus carrying the Togo team which was attacked by gunfire on 8 January 2010.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Togo . FIFA . 28 . 21 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. News: Akoto joins Grazer AK . . 6 July 2006 . 9 January 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080302092531/http://www.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=5068 . 2 March 2008 .
  3. News: Okrepitev iz Toga . sl . . 9 July 2007 . 10 July 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070716000008/http://www.nkinterblock.eu/default.asp?stran=preberi&id=109 . 16 July 2007.
  4. News: Grayson casts net worldwide for signings . . 8 January 2008 . 8 January 2008 .
  5. Web site: SV Kapfenberg holt Eric Akoto ins Boot: Togolese war bereits bei GAK, Austria tätig . de . news.at . 15 July 2008 . 14 September 2013.
  6. Web site: Eric Akoto red card forgotten as NQ Fury prepare to tackle Melbourne Victory minus Kevin Muscat. 15 September 2010. Courier Mail. 27 October 2010. 12 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612033153/http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/eric-akoto-red-card-forgotten-as-nq-fury-prepare-to-tackle-melbourne-victory-minus-kevin-muscat/story-e6frepmf-1225922866200. dead.
  7. Web site: NQ Fury opt against Kevin Muscat complaint after Eric Akoto red card. 27 October 2010. Courier Mail. 27 October 2010.
  8. Web site: Fury offers new life away from horrors . townsvillebulletin.com.au . 6 July 2010 . 14 September 2013 . Antony . Stewart.