Serge Atakayi
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Serge Atakayi | ||
| Date of birth | 30 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | KTP | ||
| Number | 45 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2015 | Jaro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | Jaro | 29 | (3) |
| 2015 | → JBK | 10 | (2) |
| 2016–2019 | Rangers | 1 | (0) |
| 2019 | → SJK (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2020–2022 | SJK | 28 | (1) |
| 2021 | → TPS (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | St Patrick's Athletic | 23 | (4) |
| 2023 | → Waterford (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2024– | KTP | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014 | Finland U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | Finland U17 | ||
| 2016 | Finland U18 | 5 | (2) |
| 2016–2018 | Finland U19 | 11 | (0) |
| 2019 | DR Congo U23 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:22, 4 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:02, 26 October 2022 (UTC) | |||
Serge Atakayi (born 30 January 1999) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ykkösliiga club KTP. Originally from the DR Congo, he represented Finland up to the under-19 level before representing DR Congo at under-23 level.
Early life
[edit]Atakayi, originally from Democratic Republic of the Congo, applied for asylum in Finland alongside other members of his youth football team when visiting the country in 2010.[1][2][3][4]
Club career
[edit]FF Jaro
[edit]Atakayi joined the youth system at FF Jaro in 2013 and made his senior debut for the club in 2015.[5] He became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Finnish top flight when he scored against HIFK on 17 May 2015, aged 16 years and 107 days.[6][1]
Rangers
[edit]On 31 August 2016, after trial periods with Leicester City and Fulham, he joined Rangers on a three-year contract.[7] He signed a one-year contract extension to tie him to Rangers until 2020 in June 2018.[8] He made his debut against Motherwell in a 7–1 win during November 2018 but suffered a broken ankle in the game.[9][3]
SJK
[edit]Atakayi left Rangers on 30 December 2019 to join Finnish side SJK for a reported fee of £100,000.[10][11] Atakayi played in 19 games on the 2020 season and scored once. On 4 June 2021 it was told by SJK-head coach Jani Honkavaara that Atakayi had not been training with the team since February because of attitude problems. [12] Atakayi only played in one Finnish Cup game for SJK in the 2021 season. On 28 July 2021 he moved to TPS on loan.[13]
St Patrick's Athletic
[edit]On 15 July 2022 it was announced that Atakayi had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic on an 18 month contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] He made his debut on the same day, in a 1–1 draw with Dundalk at Richmond Park.[15] His first goal for the club came on 4 August 2022 when he scored an 87th minute winner away to CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa Conference League Third qualifying round.[16] On 14 August 2022, he scored the winning goal against Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park in what was his first league start for the club.[17] On 19 August 2022, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory away to UCD, his third goal in his last four games.[18] On 14 October 2022, he opened the scoring in a 3–1 win over Dublin rivals Bohemians.[19] He followed that up a week later by again opening the scoring in another Dublin derby, this time away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.[20] In December 2023, it was announced that Atakayi had been released by the club at the end of his contract, following his loan spell with Waterford.[21]
Waterford loan
[edit]On 1 July 2023, Atakayi signed for League of Ireland First Division side Waterford on loan until the end of the season.[22] He made 14 appearances in all competitions as his side earned promotion back to the League of Ireland Premier Division via the playoffs.[23]
KTP
[edit]On 25 August 2024, Atakayi signed with Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (KTP) in Finnish second-tier Ykkösliiga.[24] He made one appearance before the end of the season, as they won the 2024 Ykkösliiga to gain promotion to the Veikkausliiga.[25]
International career
[edit]Finland
[edit]Atakayi was born in DR Congo but obtained Finnish citizenship in 2016 and represented Finland at under-15 level.[5] In June 2016, Atakayi represented Finland at under-18 level in the Baltic Cup and scored in a 2–2 draw with Lithuania on 2 June 2016.[26][27] He made his debut for the Finland under-19 side on 4 September 2016, in a goalless draw with Romania.[28]
DR Congo
[edit]While living in Glasgow, Atakayi become close friends with compatriot Youssouf Mulumbu who was playing for Celtic at the time and was a senior international for DR Congo. Mulumbu spoke with Atakayi about changing his international allegiance to his birth country.[29] In March 2019, Atakayi was called up to the DR Congo U23 team for two 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification fixtures against Morocco U23.[30] The first leg at home in Kinshasa represented a first opportunity for Atakayi to return home to see his family since seeking asylum from the country in 2010.[4]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played on 28 September 2024[31]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FF Jaro | 2015 | Veikkausliiga | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2016 | Ykkönen | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| Total | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 3 | ||||
| JBK | 2015 | Kakkonen | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 2 | ||
| Rangers | 2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| SJK (loan) | 2019 | Veikkausliiga | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| SJK | 2020 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | |||
| 2021 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | Veikkausliiga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 51 | 2 | |||
| TPS (loan) | 2021 | Ykkönen | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 1 | — | 17 | 5 | ||
| 2023 | LOI Premier Division | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 0[e] | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 | |||
| Waterford (loan) | 2023 | LOI First Division | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| KTP | 2024 | Ykkösliiga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | – | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 127 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 155 | 16 | ||
- ^ Includes Finnish Cup, Scottish Cup, FAI Cup
- ^ Includes Finnish League Cup, Scottish League Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup for Rangers B
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup
Honours
[edit]KTP
References
[edit]- ^ a b Berry, Gavin (2 September 2016). "Rangers signing Serge Atakayi and his incredible story of tears, torment and seeking asylum". Daily Record.
- ^ "Saints' Serge Atakayi reflects on fleeing home and seeking asylum, aged just 10". independent.
- ^ a b "New St Pat's winger Serge Atakayi on leaving family behind in Congo, seeking asylum, and breaking an ankle on his Rangers debut". independent.
- ^ a b McCadden, Mark (18 July 2022). "St Pat's new signing on his "crazy" life so far". Irish Mirror.
- ^ a b "Huippulupaus sai Suomen kansalaisuuden - Pietarsaareen Kinshashan kaduilta [Top Promise Receives Finnish Citizenship]". Yle (in Finnish). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Veikkausliigan historiaa [Veikkausliiga History]". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Rangers Academy Transfer Roundup". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ Thomson, Nick (15 June 2018). "Hardie Signs New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
- ^ "Rangers 7-1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Serge Atakayi Joins SJK". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 30 December 2019.
- ^ "Serge Atakayi set for Rangers permanent exit as Finland return fee revealed". Daily Record. 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Serge Atakayin pelit SJK:ssa pelattu, Honkavaaran mukaan muutkin muutokset mahdollisia: "Aiomme olla aktiivisia siirtoikkunassa"". ilkkapohjalainen.fi. Ilkka-Pohjalainen. 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Atakayi lainasopimuksella Ykköseen". 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Serge Signs For The Saints". www.stpatsfc.com.
- ^ "Spoils shared but Dundalk boss Stephen O'Donnell sees red on Richmond return". independent.
- ^ "Atakayi's late goal gives St Pat's famous away victory in Sofia". The Irish Times.
- ^ Buttner, Paul (14 August 2022). "Ten man St Pat's beat Sligo as Atakayi scores first league goal". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Buttner, Paul (19 August 2022). "Clinical Atakayi earns Saints win over Students" – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ Geraghty, Darryl. "St Pat's keep up bid for Europe with win over Bohs at packed Richmond Park". The42.
- ^ Sneyd, David. "Shamrock Rovers on brink of Premier Division title after another perfect storm". The42.
- ^ Dempsey, Andrew. "Thijs Timmermans among trio to depart St Patrick's Athletic". extratime.com.
- ^ "Blues sign Serge". Waterford FC.
- ^ Barry, Stephen (10 November 2023). "Waterford win promotion in extra-time against Cork City" – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ VEIKKAUSLIIGAHISTORIAN NUORIN MAALINTEKIJÄ KTP:HEN - "SAMANTYYLINEN KUIN BANZA, KTP, 25 August 2024
- ^ KTP varmisti sarjanousun Veikkausliigaan, Yle, 6 October 2024
- ^ "U18 nimetty Baltic Cupiin [Named U18 Baltic Cup]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "U18-maajoukkue tasapeliin Liettuaa vastaan [U18-national team draw against Lithuania]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "U19 ja Romania maalittomaan [U19 and Romania with no goals]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ McCadden, Mark (7 October 2022). "St Pat's ace is eager for another chance to shine in Europe". Irish Mirror.
- ^ "CAN U23 : la liste de la RDC contre le Maroc avec O. Mandanda". Afrik-Foot. 8 March 2019.
- ^ "S. Atakayi". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ KTP varmisti sarjanousun Veikkausliigaan, Yle, 6 October 2024
External links
[edit]- Serge Atakayi at Soccerbase