Austin FC Acquires Free Agent Forward and 2015 Amway Canadian Championship Winner Kekuta Manneh
January 22, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Austin FC News Release
Austin, Texasâ¯-â¯Austin FC, the 27th club in Major League Soccer (MLS), announced today the signing of Gambian-born forward Kekuta Manneh, a player who lived in Austin while playing for Lonestar Soccer Club in 2011 and Austin Aztex in 2012. Per League and Club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Manneh becomes Austin FC's 23rd addition to the Club's roster ahead of the inaugural season in 2021.
"We would like to welcome Kekuta to our growing roster," commented Austin FC Sporting Director, Claudio Reyna. "He is coming home to Austin. He brings with him strong MLS experience, adding depth and knowledge of our League to Austin FC, and we look forward to having him join his teammates and coaching staff very soon."
"I am really excited to be joining Austin FC and can't wait to give everything I have for the Club and for this city," commented Manneh. "This city gave me everything when I first arrived in this country and I want to be able to give back."
Playing 163 combined regular and postseason MLS matches (91 starts) since 2013, Manneh (pronounced "keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY") has scored 31 goals and added 19 assists for the New England Revolution, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew SC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. With Vancouver, he won the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship. Between 2017-19, Manneh played six (6) matches (one (1) start) with FC St. Gallen (Switzerland) and C.F. Pachuca (Mexico).
Prior to joining MLS, the native of Bakau, The Gambia, spent time playing with USL PDL side Austin Aztex in 2012. Internationally, Manneh was called up to the Gambian U-20 National Team in 2011 and 2014. After he was granted US citizenship in 2017, Manneh was called into a United States Men's National Team camp.
As of January 22, 2021, Austin FC's roster consists of:
Goalkeepers
Noah Lawrence (USA)
Brady Scott (USA)
Brad Stuver (USA)
Andrew Tarbell (USA)
Defenders
Matt Besler (USA)
Julio Cascante (Costa Rica)
Hector Jimenez (USA)
Freddy Kleeman (USA)
Nick Lima (USA)
Jhohan Romaña (Colombia)
Aedan Stanley (USA)
Ben Sweat (USA)
Midfielders
Diego Fagundez (USA)
Daniel Pereira (Venezuela)
Alex Ring (Finland)
Ulises Segura (Costa Rica)
Jared Stroud (USA)
Daniel Steedman (Scotland)
Forwards
Cecilio DomÃnguez (Paraguay)
Jon Gallagher (Ireland)
Danny Hoesen (Netherlands)
Kekuta Manneh (The Gambia)
Rodney Redes (Paraguay)
Transaction: Austin FC acquired free agent forward Kekuta Manneh on January 22, 2021.
Player Details Kekuta Mennah
Name:â¯Kekuta Manneh (Pronounced "keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY")
Position: Forward
Height: 5'9"
Born: December 30, 1994
Age:â¯26
Birthplace: Bakau, The Gambia
Nationality: United States
LEAGUE STATISTICS
CLUB YEAR MATCHES GOALS
New England Revolution 2020 6 1
FC Cincinnati 2019-20 29 4
Columbus Crew SC 2017 24 4
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2013-17 104 22
TOTAL 163 31
CUP AND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP YEAR MATCHES GOALS
FC Cincinnati 2019 2 1
TOTAL 2 1
SCHWEIZER POKAL (SWITZERLAND) YEAR MATCHES GOALS
FC St. Gallen 2018-19 1 0
TOTAL 1 0
COPA MX (MEXICO) YEAR MATCHES GOALS
C.F. Pachuca 2017-18 5 0
TOTAL 5 0
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE YEAR MATCHES GOALS
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2015-17 3 1
TOTAL 3 1
Statistics source: MLSsoccer.com / Soccerway
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