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{{Short description|Central African Republic footballer (born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kelly Youga
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Kelly Alexandra Youga<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/2012/January+2012.ashx|title=The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team|first=The Football|last=Association|website=www.thefa.com}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bangui]], Central African Republic
| height =
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| years1 = 2004–2005
| clubs1 = [[Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy|Lyon B]]
| caps1 = 27
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2005–2011
| clubs2 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| caps2 = 62
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2005
| clubs3 = → [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] (loan)
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2007
| clubs4 = → [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (loan)
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2007–2008
| clubs5 = → [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] (loan)
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2012
| clubs6 = [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2012
| clubs7 = [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| caps7 = 0
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2013
| clubs8 = [[AFC Wimbledon]]
| caps8 = 3
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2014
| clubs9 = [[Qingdao Hainiu F.C.|Qingdao Hainiu]]
| caps9 = 24
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2015
| clubs10 = [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]]
| caps10 = 5
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2017
| clubs11 = [[Jura Sud Foot|Jura Sud]]
| caps11 = 9
| goals11 = 0
| totalcaps = 176
| totalgoals = 5
| club-update = 21 November 2017
| nationalyears1 = 2012–2016
| nationalteam1 = [[Central African Republic national football team|Central African Republic]]
| nationalcaps1 = 14
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalteam-update = 00:12, 15 May 2013 (UTC)
}}

'''Kelly Alexandra Youga''' (born 22 September 1985) is a [[Central African Republic|Central African]] retired [[association football|footballer]].

==Club career==

===Youth and Charlton Athletic===
Born in [[Bangui]], Youga began his career at French club [[Olympique Lyonnais]]. He transferred to [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] on a free transfer in July 2005 after finishing his school exams. Before playing a game for Charlton, in October 2005 he was loaned to [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]], where he played four times for the first team. In 2007, he was loaned to [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] until the end of the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] season,<ref>{{cite news
|first=Simon
|last=Parker
|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1179114.0.im_the_beckham_of_bangui.php
|title=I'm the Beckham of Bangui
|accessdate=5 January 2008
|date=8 February 2007
|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> playing 11 times for the club before his loan spell was cut short by injury,<ref>{{cite news
|first=Simon
|last=Parker
|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1349587.0.yougas_city_loan_cut_short_through_injury.php
|title=Youga's City loan cut short through injury
|accessdate=5 January 2008
|date=23 April 2007
|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> as they were relegated from [[EFL League One|League One]].<ref>{{cite news
|first=Simon
|last=Parker
|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1362773.0.woeful_city_relegated.php
|title=Woeful City relegated
|accessdate=5 January 2008
|date=28 April 2007
|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> In summer 2007 he turned down a second loan to the club.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6280016.stm
|title=Bantams fail in bid to land Youga
|accessdate=5 January 2008
|date=7 July 2007
|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He subsequently joined newly promoted [[EFL Championship|Championship]] side [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] on a six-month loan deal.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/6284080.stm
|title=Defender Youga joins Scunthorpe
|accessdate=5 January 2008
|date=9 July 2007
|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He returned to Charlton in January 2008 after making 19 appearances and scoring once for the Iron against Barnsley.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7163886.stm
|title=Scunthorpe 2–2 Barnsley
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=1 January 2008 |accessdate=26 October 2009}}</ref> He made his senior debut for Charlton on 5 January 2008 in the side's 1–1 [[FA Cup]] draw with [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], before making his league debut for the club a week later on 12 January 2008 against [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] in a 4–1 win. Furthermore, Kelly Youga cemented his place as the regular first choice LB at Charlton Athletic. He scored his first goal for Charlton Athletic in a 2–2 draw away at Plymouth Argyle with a header.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7698188.stm
|title=Plymouth 2–2 Charlton
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=8 November 2008 |accessdate=26 October 2009}}</ref>

2008–09 season was Youga's most successful spell with [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], playing 36 games and scoring once. Also 2009–10 season started promisingly, Youga occupying a full back spot in the [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] XI. However, Youga suffered a knee injury in November 2009 which limited his presence in competitive matches to 22 appearances in 2009–10.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=41526
|title=Kelly Youga Career Stats
|publisher=Soccer Base
|date=18 August 2011 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> After suffering another knee injury in October 2010<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6444301,00.html
|title=Youga blow for Addicks
|publisher=Sky Sports
|date=14 October 2010 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> Youga did not play any games for [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] that season except for one outing with the Addicks reserve side.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.southlondonpress.co.uk/sport.cfm?id=36278&headline=Injury%20casts%20doubt%20on%20Kelly%20Youga%27s%20Charlton%20future
|title = Injury casts doubt on Kelly Youga's Charlton future
|publisher = [[South London Press]]
|date = 15 October 2010
|accessdate = 18 August 2011
}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In May 2011 Youga's contract with Charlton expired leaving the left back without a club. Although Youga trained with [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in the pre-season of 2011, a new deal was not agreed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11719_6946939,00.html
|title=Youga to return to Addicks
|publisher=Sky Sports
|date=23 May 2011 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref>

===Yeovil Town===
On 19 January 2012, Youga signed for League One side [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] on a short-term contract until the end of the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10673~2582346,00.html |title=Kelly's rolling in at Huish Park |publisher=Yeovil Town FC |date=19 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123042916/http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10673~2582346%2C00.html |archivedate=23 January 2012 }}</ref> On 31 March 2012, Youga's contract was terminated by mutual consent having only made one 45-minute appearance for Yeovil Town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/2012/registrations-list-march-2012.ashx |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120428045705/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/2012/registrations-list-march-2012.ashx |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 April 2012 |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered between 01/03/12 and 31/03/12 |publisher=The Football Association |accessdate=13 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Ipswich Town===
On 13 November 2012, Youga signed for Championship side [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] on a short-term deal until January 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20313390 |title=Ipswich Town sign Kelly Youga on short-term deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 November 2012 |accessdate=13 November 2012 }}</ref> His contract ran out at the end of January 2013.

===AFC Wimbledon===
On 11 March 2013, as a free agent, Youga signed for [[EFL League Two|League Two]] club AFC Wimbledon. Dons manager [[Neil Ardley]] said of the signing that "Kelly can play anywhere across the back four", adding that he is "a player who was playing in the Championship at his peak so hopefully he can bring that experience for us."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/dons-sign-youga-707785.aspx |title=The Dons sign defender |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |accessdate=11 March 2013 }}</ref> Youga made three appearances for AFC Wimbledon before being released from the club with nine other players on 14 May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neal confirms released list|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/players-released-list-821499.aspx|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|accessdate=14 July 2013}}</ref>

===Qingdao Hainiu===
In January 2014, Youga transferred to [[China League One]] side [[Qingdao Hainiu F.C.|Qingdao Hainiu]] on a free transfer.

===Crawley Town===
On 26 March 2015 [[EFL League One|League One]] club [[Crawley Town]] announced they had made a short-term contract with Youga until the end of season 2014–2015 after a successful trial spell.

==International career==
On 2 June 2012, Youga made his international debut for the [[Central African Republic national football team|Central African Republic]] against [[Botswana national football team|Botswana]] in a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/06/02/africa/wc-qualifying-africa/central-african-republic/botswana/1225036/ |title=Central African Republic 2–0 Botswana |publisher=Soccerway.com |date=2 June 2012 |accessdate=20 June 2012 }}</ref> His second appearance for ''Les Fauves'' came in a 2–0 loss to [[South Africa national soccer team|South Africa]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2013/March/23/world-cup-qualifying-south-africa-2-central-african-republic-0/ |title=World Cup qualifying: South Africa 2 Central African Republic 0 |publisher=Soccerway.com |date=23 March 2013 |accessdate=23 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205702/http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/March/23/world-cup-qualifying-south-africa-2-central-african-republic-0/ |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Youga is the brother of the Central African international [[Amos Youga]], and the uncle of the French youth international footballer [[Willem Geubbels]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.footmercato.net/a8360601815496618048-qui-est-willem-geubbels-le-nouveau-phenomene-de-lol|title=Qui est Willem Geubbels, le nouveau phénomène de l'OL ?|first=Dahbia|last=Hattabi|date=3 October 2017|website=Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot Transfert}}</ref> He acquired [[French nationality law|French nationality]] on 3 November 1998, through the collective effect of his mother's [[naturalization]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=JORF n° 0256 du 4 novembre 1998 - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/1998/11/04/0256 |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{Soccerway|kelly-youga/2769}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Youga, Kelly}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bangui]]
[[Category:Central African Republic men's footballers]]
[[Category:French men's footballers]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]]
[[Category:Central African Republic men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Olympique Lyonnais players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bristol City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Qingdao F.C. players]]
[[Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:AFC Wimbledon players]]
[[Category:Crawley Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Jura Sud Foot players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:China League One players]]
[[Category:Central African Republic expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Central African Republic expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Central African Republic expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Central African Republic expatriate sportspeople in China]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China]]
[[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]]

Kelly Youga - Revision history

imported>Spicemix: /* AFC Wimbledon */ MOS:LQ