Idrissa Keita
Encyclopedia
Idrissa Keita is a retired Ivorian
footballer who played as a midfielder
.
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
, Keita, alongside countryman Félix Dja Ettien
, was bought by Spanish
side Levante UD
. The pair struggled mightily during their first months in the new reality, with Keita eventually failing to settle altogether and leaving in January 1999, for La Liga
team Real Oviedo
, being irregularly used during his stay, and starting in 37 of his 48 games in the top division (the Asturias
club would be relegated in his third season).
After five years with Oviedo (which included a loan in Portugal
), Keita continued his career in Spain, in its second
and third levels
, in a stint in the country which spanned over a decade.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
footballer who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Football career
After starring for Ivory CoastCôte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
, Keita, alongside countryman Félix Dja Ettien
Felix Dja Ettien
Félix Dja Ettien is a retired Ivorian professional footballer.A midfielder with great stamina and strength, he also holds a Spanish passport due the years spent in the country, all with Levante UD, where he played in more than 300 official matches - 81 of those in La Liga.-Club career:Ettien was...
, was bought by Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
side Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
. The pair struggled mightily during their first months in the new reality, with Keita eventually failing to settle altogether and leaving in January 1999, for La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
team Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, being irregularly used during his stay, and starting in 37 of his 48 games in the top division (the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
club would be relegated in his third season).
After five years with Oviedo (which included a loan in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
), Keita continued his career in Spain, in its second
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
and third levels
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, in a stint in the country which spanned over a decade.