Kekuta Manneh

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 (Columbus): Manneh made 19 appearances (nine starts) for Crew SC: two starts and seven substitute appearances at left midfield, two starts and two substitute appearances at right midfield, four starts as an attacking midfielder and one start as a left winger this season, and recorded four goals and three assists. He made his Crew SC debut coming on as a substitute against New York City FC (April 29). He made his first Crew SC start in a road contest against the Montreal Impact (May 13) and started in the following two matches on the road against the New England Revolution (May 21) and Toronto FC (May 26). Manneh came on as a substitute in a home match against Seattle Sounders FC (May 31). Manneh missed the match against Atlanta United FC (June 17) after being listed as questionable with a right foot sprain during that week. Manneh recorded his first goal, the game-winning strike for the Black & Gold, and assist against the Montreal Impact (June 24). Manneh scored his second goal of the season, the game-winner, in a road contest against Minnesota United FC (July 4). Manneh started in an international friendly match at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (July 14). He made two consecutive starting appearances for the club in a home contest against the Philadelphia Union (July 22) and in a road contest against the Philadelphia Union (July 26). Manneh made a substitute appearance in a road contest against Real Salt Lake (July 29). He returned to the starting lineup in a road match against the San Jose Earthquakes (August 5). Manneh started and scored his third goal of the 2017 regular-season in a home match against the Chicago Fire (August 12); the goal was also Manneh’s 25th career MLS goal. He missed the match against Orlando City SC (August 19) after being listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain. Manneh made a substitute appearance in the home match against the LA Galaxy (August 23) and registered an assist. He started in a road match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (September 16), recording his fourth goal and third assist of the 2017 MLS regular season en route to earning MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week honors and being nominated for MLSSoccer.com’s AT&T Goal of the Week. Manneh made a substitute appearance in Crew SC’s home matches against the New York Red Bulls (September 23) and D.C. United (September 30). Manneh made substitute appearances in road contests against Orlando City SC (October 15) and New York City FC (October 22). Manneh made five substitute appearances, three at left midfield and two at right midfield, in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. He made substitute appearances in a road contest against Atlanta United FC (October 26) in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round, in a home match against New York City FC (October 31) in the First Leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, in a road contest against New York City FC (November 5) in the Second Leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, in a home match against Toronto FC (November 21) in the First Leg of the Eastern Conference Championship and in a road contest against Toronto FC (November 29) in the Second Leg of the Eastern Conference Championship.

2017 (Vancouver): Manneh has made three appearance (two starts) this season for Vancouver. His season debut came as a starter in a 0-0 tie against the Philadelphia Union (March 5).

2016 (Vancouver): Manneh made 17 appearances (13 starts) for Vancouver in 2016, scoring five goals and notching two assists. He was honoured as the MLS Player of the Week after notching his first assist of the year in a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire (May 11). Manneh netted a first-half brace and an assist in Vancouver’s 4-3 win over Toronto FC (May 14). He scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3-2 win over Philadelphia Union, earning a spot on the MLS Team of the Week (June 25). Manneh suffered an injury during a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids which forced him to miss the remainder of 2016 (July 10). Despite the injury, Manneh tied for second-most goals for Vancouver and was named to the MLS 24 Under 24 for the third consecutive season, ranking fifth. Despite missing the second half of the year with a right foot injury suffered on July 9

2015 (Vancouver): Manneh made 32 appearances (28 starts) for Vancouver, tallying a career-best seven goals and six assists. He also completed 70 dribbles, the third-highest in the league. He ranked second in the MLS 24 under 24 list and earned two MLS Team of the Week selections - for his match-winning goal versus LA Galaxy (April 4). He scored a first-half brace in a road contest against Sporting Kansas City (August 15). He also was selected to the bench of the MLS Team of the Week for his Decision Day match-winner versus Houston (October 25). He started both legs of the MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinal against Portland.

2014 (Vancouver): Manneh made 29 appearances (13 starts) for Vancouver, scoring four goals and providing two assists. He made his season debut as a substitute in a 4-1 win against New York (March 8). In 2014 he was named to the MLS 24 under 24 list, ranking 12th among. Manneh scored the Cascadia Cup-clinching goal in a 1-0 win over Seattle (October 10).

2013 (Vancouver): Manneh made 20 appearances, scoring six goals and two assists. The Gambian made his club debut on Opening Match, playing the first 45 minutes against Toronto FC on (March 2). His first goal for the club came in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas, scoring the first goal before assisting on Camilo’s equalizer (April 27). His second goal came in a 3-1 win over Chicago (July 14). Manneh became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a  Seattle Sounders FC on October 9. At 18-years-old, Manneh became the youngest player in MLS history to record a hat-trick. The young striker went on to make a second consecutive start away at Colorado Rapids on October 19, scoring a sublime goal on 32 minutes.

2012: In Manneh made 12 regular season appearances (10 starts) and scored seven goals for Austin Aztex. This included a four-goal performance in a 7-0 win against the Texas Dutch Lions, after which he was named PDL Player of the Week. In the 2012 USL PDL postseason, Manneh appeared in 2 matches and registered three goals.

2009-10: Manneh made 12 appearances for Steve Biko FC of Gambia’s First Division, scoring 17 goals.

INTERNATIONAL

As of March 30, 2017

Manneh was a member of the Gambia Under-20 National Team. On January of 2017, after earning his U.S. citizenship, Manneh was called into the U.S. National Team camp in California by Head Coach Bruce Arena.

ACQUIRED

Columbus Crew SC acquired forward Kekuta Manneh from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for midfielder Tony Tchani, $225,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $75,000 in General Allocation Money on March 30, 2017. 

Name: Kekuta Manneh (pronounced: keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY)
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 140
Born: December 30, 1994 in Bakau, Gambia
Hometown: Bakau, Gambia
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Acquired by Crew SC from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for midfielder Tony Tchani, $225,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $75,000 in General Allocation Money on March 30, 2017. Additionally, in the event Crew SC signs Manneh, who is in the last year of his contract, to a new contract, then Vancouver will also receive Columbus’ natural first round MLS SuperDraft selection in the immediately following draft. Furthermore, Whitecaps FC will receive additional General Allocation Money if Manneh is traded by Columbus prior to December 31, 2018 and Vancouver will retain a percentage of any future transfer fee if the player is transferred outside of MLS.
Previous Experience: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2013-2017), Austin Aztex (2012), Steve Biko FC (2009-2010)

PERSONAL

Manneh has four siblings: two brothers, and two sisters. He is an avid player of the FIFA video game franchise. Coincidentally, he is also the fastest ranked MLS player in the latest edition of the series, FIFA 17. Outside of MLS, Manneh supports Premier League side Manchester United. Growing up, his favorite player was Manchester United and England National Team midfielder Paul Scholes. Manneh loves all kind of music and listens to a lot of reggae as well as country music. As a rookie, Manneh became the youngest player (18 years, 283 days) to score a hat trick in MLS, scoring three goals in the first 53 minutes of a 4-1 victory over Seattle (October 10, 2013). He speaks three languages: Mandinka, Wolof and English.