Reuben Ayarna (born 22 October 1985, in Accra) is a Ghanaian footballer who is currently a player-coach for Vermont Green FC. Before Vermont Green FC, he played defensive midfielder for Kuopion Palloseura.
Ayarna began his football career at the age of 12 years at Desisderoes Babies and later playing for Liberty Babies. He attended Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School where he also played in the school's football team. Ayarna played most of his career in the Scandinavian region, playing for GAIS, BK Häcken in Sweden and Ilves, SJK and KuPS in Finland.
In 2019, Ayarna won his first career league title with KuPS, helping them win the title after a 43-year wait.
In April 2022, Reuben joined Vermont Green FC as a player coach to assist head coach Adam Pfeifer.
Career
Growing up and early football career
Reuben Ayarna was born on 22 October 1985 in Accra the capital city of Ghana, where he lived for the first four years of his life. His mother was the principal of a school and his father worked as an official at a state oil company. In connection with Ayarna's father being transferred to Tamale , the regional capital of the country's northern region, and taking Ayarna with him, he discovered football. In the middle class to which the family belonged, football was seen as a sport for the poor street children, and Ayarna's parents disapproved of the son's new employment, as they wanted him to invest everything in his studies. However, Reuben continued to play football after school, even though it resulted in penalties from both parents and school staff. At the age of nine-years, Ayarna returned to Accra in 1994,
Ayarna began his career with the U-12 youth team Desisderoes Babies in Ghana later on he had the chance of playing organized football for the first time, when a youth coach at the then newly formed club Liberty Professionals offered him a place on the youth team Liberty Babies. His parents were still not in agreement but he still went on to play in the club without their knowledge. He became captain for the team and when on one occasion they won a national youth tournament,his parents got to see him lift the trophy on live TV. He had been exposed, but at the same time the mother and father became proud of their son and their attitude towards Ayarna's football playing softened.
Ayarna studied and played football at Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, where he was named the best football player in the 2003–04 and 2004–05 school seasons.
College football in the USA
During the final year in high school, Ayarna was divided; he had a hard time seeing how he could combine playing football with university studies. However, there would be a solution to the problem; Sellas Tetteh was the coach of Ghana's U23 national team and had heard from one of his contacts at Boston College in the USA that the school was interested in picking up a Ghanaian who was both a good football player and a student.
Tetteh tipped the school about Ayarna, and they sent over a scout who interviewed him and watched two matches. Ayarna was offered a scholarship to attend Boston College for three years and play on their soccer team and in 2005 he left his home country for the United States.
While playing for Boston College Ayarna helped the team to finish first in their conference as well as win the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Soccer Championship. After playing for both Boston College and Boston Olympiacos, Ayarna decided to forgo finishing his college education in business to play professional soccer in Europe.
GAIS
2008 season
After Nigerian defensive midfielder Prince Ikpe Ekong signed for Djurgårdens IF, GAIS needed a replacement, with the help of agent Patrick Mörk, Ayarna was discovered as a potential replacement and in July 2008 he signed a 4.5-year deal with GAIS which was due to expire after the 2012 season. He was given the number 6 jersey and he began a successful professional career as a fan favorite.
The debut in the Allsvenskan was delayed until the last round of the season, Ayarna made his debut on 8 November 2008 in a match against AIK when he was named on the starting line up. Among other things, he was close to scoring on a long shot, and was named the man of the match.