Charles Gbeke

Personal information
Full name	Charles Patrick Gbeke
Date of birth	March 13, 1978 (1978-03-13) (age 31)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2000	Troyes
2000	Comercial
2001	S. E. Matsubara
2001	Vancouver Whitecaps	03 0(0)
2002	Seattle Sounders	01 0(0)
2002–2004	Ottawa Wizards	18 (10)
2004	→ Toronto Lynx (loan)	16 0(6)
2004	→ Hamilton Thunder (loan)
2005	Herfølge	08 0(0)
2005	Toronto Lynx	06 0(2)
2005	Montreal Impact	09 0(2)
2006	Rochester Raging Rhinos	21 0(2)
2007–2008	Montreal Impact	40 (11)
2008–2009	Vancouver Whitecaps	42 (15)
National team
2008–	Canada	03 0(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 October, 2009. † Appearances (Goals).

Charles Gbeke (born March 13, 1978 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian-born Canadian soccer player, currently without a club.

[edit] Career

[edit] Club

Although Gbeke was born in the Ivory Coast, he grew up in Montreal and is a citizen of Canada. From 1999-2001, Gbeke played in France for Troyes AC and in Brazil with clubs Comercial and S. E. Matsubara. He played parts of three seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps^[1] and had a one-game stint with the Seattle Sounders. In 2002-2003, he played with the Ottawa Wizards of the CPSL where he scored 10 goals in 18 games. In 2004, Gbeke saw action for Toronto Lynx^[2] and Hamilton Thunder, while in 2005, he played in Denmark with Herfølge, but following the team’s relegation to the second division, and after a trial with Croatian Dinamo Zagreb, he returned to the Lynx for a second stint.

On August 1, 2005, Gbeke was acquired by the Montreal Impact along with David Diplacido before the trading deadline^[3]. With the Impact he scored the insurance goal and had an assist on the winner, in a 2-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks at home on August 7, in his first game with the Impact. During the playoffs he scored all three goals in the semifinals against the Seattle Sounders. The following season Gbeke sign a new deal with the Rochester Rhinos for the 2006 season, but he only managed to score 2 goals.

In 2007 Gbeke resigned from the Impact, where he was the top scorer in the United Soccer Leagues First Division, with 10 goals, tied with Seattle Sounders forward Sébastien Le Toux. He was named to the All-League second team^[4] for the first time in his career, and was proclaimed Player of the Week for week 19 and was named five times to the USL D1 Team of the Week^[5]. During the team’s annual awards banquet he was awarded the Impact's Offensive Player of the Year award^[6].

On June 30, 2008, Gbeke was traded back to Vancouver with cash and Tony Donatelli going to Montreal. Gbeke scored both goals Vancouver's 2-1 win in the USL First Division final against Puerto Rico^[7]. Gbeke won the 2008-2009 USL First Division Golden Boot award scoring 12 goals. Gbeke was released by the Whitecaps at the end of the 2009 season^[8] to pursue other footballing options.^[9]

[edit] International

On February 1, 2008 Gbeke made his debut for Canada against Martinique in 1-0 victory.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Vancouver Whitecaps

• USL First Division Championship (1): 2008

[edit] Individual

• USL First Division Top Scorer: 2007, 2009

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Montreal Impact profile

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