Claude Gnakpa

Claude Gnakpa
Personal information
Full name Johouri Claude Gnakpa
Date of birth (1983-06-09) 9 June 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Marseille, France
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Striker, Winger
Youth career
1998–2001 Montpellier
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Marignane
2002–2003 Beaucaire 20 (0)
2003–2005 Racing Santander B 35 (2)
2005–2006 Alavés B 20 (1)
2006 FC Vaduz 4 (0)
2007 Swindon Town 0 (0)
2007–2008 Peterborough United 29 (0)
2008–2011 Luton Town 107 (22)
2011–2012 Walsall 20 (1)
2012 Inverness CT 7 (0)
2012–2013 Al-Minaa 12 (6)
2013–2014 Salgaocar 8 (2)
Total 262 (34)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Claude Gnakpa Johouri (born 9 June 1983 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône) is a French footballer who played as a striker. Besides France, he played in Spain, Switzerland, Spain, Scotland, Iraq,[1] and India.

Beginning his career as a trainee at Montpellier HSC, Gnakpa then played for French lower league sides before moving to Spain in 2003 to play in the reserve teams of La Liga sides Racing de Santander and Alavés. In 2006, he moved to Switzerland for a short time to play for top-tier club FC Vaduz. He moved to England in 2007 to play for Swindon Town, though never made an appearance. He subsequently signed for Peterborough United, where he was used as a defender, then for Luton Town on a free transfer in 2008. At Luton, Gnakpa received notability for scoring the winning goal in the club's 2009 Football League Trophy Final victory, securing Luton's first success in the competition. Since the 2009–10 season, Gnakpa has been utilised almost solely in a wide position, using his combination of pace, power and crossing to contribute numerous goals and assists. After he received the March player of the month, Gnakpa was named in the Conference Premier team of the season for 2009–10. Gnakpa left Luton at the end of his contract in July 2011, signing for League One side Walsall.

  1. ^ Interview with Claude Gnakpa Archived 18 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine sofoot.com