Asamoah Gyan, born on 22 November 1985, is a former Ghanaian professional footballer known for his prolific career as a striker. He also served as the captain of the Ghana national team.
Gyan embarked on his professional journey in 2003 with Ghana Premier League’s Liberty Professionals, where he scored ten goals in sixteen matches.
He later spent three seasons with Serie A club Udinese, including two seasons on loan at Modena, where he netted fifteen times in 53 league matches.
His time at Udinese saw him score 11 goals in 39 league matches.
In 2008, Gyan made a move to Ligue 1 club Rennes, where he scored fourteen goals in forty-eight league matches over two seasons.
In 2010, he joined Premier League club Sunderland, breaking the club’s transfer record and netting ten goals in thirty-four Premier League matches across two seasons.
In 2011, Gyan made a significant impact in the UAE Pro League, first on loan to Al Ain, where he became the league’s top goalscorer with 22 goals in 18 matches.
He later permanently joined Al Ain and continued his impressive goal-scoring record, helping the team retain the Pro League title and finishing as the top goalscorer with 31 goals in 22 matches during the following season.
Gyan also secured the top scorer title in the 2013–14 league season, making it a record third time with 29 goals in 26 matches.
Gyan holds the record as the all-time leading goalscorer of the Ghana national team, with 51 goals.
He represented Ghana in multiple FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, and 2014) and made history as the top African goalscorer in World Cup history with six goals.
Additionally, Gyan participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics and seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, achieving notable finishes.
In the realm of literature, Gyan launched his memoir titled “LeGYANdry” at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
On 20 June 2023, Gyan officially announced his retirement from active football during the 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
On a personal note, Gyan is the youngest child of Baffour Gyan Mensah (Father) and the late Madam Cecilia Amoako (Mother).
His elder brother, Baffour Gyan, is also a former professional footballer. Gyan is married to Gifty Gyan, and they have three children named Rafael Gyan, Frederick Gyan, and Floyd Gyan.
PHOTO: BAFFOUR GYAN
Gyan’s journey began at Liberty Professionals in Accra, Ghana, where he played 16 league matches and scored 10 goals in the Ghana Premier League. He finished the season as the league’s third top goal scorer.
Afterward, Gyan joined Udinese in 2003 and spent two years on loan at Serie B club Modena to gain match experience.
Following his impressive displays during the 2006 World Cup, he attracted interest from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow but ultimately remained at Udinese.
Gyan’s time at Udinese was marked by an injury during the 2007–08 season, limiting his appearances to only 13 Serie A matches and three goals that season.
In 2008, Gyan signed with Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais for a four-year contract. He played 48 times for Rennes, scoring 14 goals, and became a notable goal-scorer during his tenure, particularly in the 2009–10 season when he scored 13 league goals.
On 31 August 2010, Gyan made a move to the Premier League, signing with Sunderland on a four-year deal for a club-record fee of £13 million.
He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut and continued to contribute to the team’s success with impressive performances and goals during his time at Sunderland.
In September 2011, Gyan embarked on a season-long loan to Al Ain FC in the UAE Pro League, where he emerged as the league’s top goalscorer with 22 goals.
He later signed a five-year contract with Al Ain in 2012, helping the team secure the league title and maintaining his position as the top goalscorer.
In 2015, Gyan made a move to the Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, where he earned recognition as one of the world’s highest-paid football players due to his significant weekly salary.
Subsequently, Gyan had stints with Turkish club Kayserispor and Indian Super League side NorthEast United.
He also returned to Ghana in 2020 to join Legon Cities on a loan deal.
Gyan announced his retirement from active football on 20 June 2023, marking the end of a remarkable career spanning two decades.
During his retirement announcement, he expressed gratitude to his country, family, colleagues, and supporters who contributed to his football journey.
Gyan intends to remain involved in the sport through coaching, football business, scouting, and nurturing young talents.
Gyan’s international career is also illustrious. He made his debut for the Ghana national team at the age of 17 and scored on his senior international debut against Somalia in 2003.
He played a significant role in Ghana’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and became the youngest player to score for Ghana.
Throughout his international career, Gyan participated in various Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Notably, he helped Ghana qualify for their first-ever World Cup and played a vital role in Ghana’s historic quarter-final appearance in the 2010 World Cup.
Gyan’s international journey was not without challenges, including missed penalty kicks in crucial moments.
However, he remained a prolific goal scorer for Ghana and holds the record as the country’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Beyond football, Gyan ventured into boxing promotion, aiming to support and promote young boxers in Ghana.
He also gained an Air Carrier License for Baby Jet Airlines and explored tennis as a means to stay fit during breaks due to injury.
In summary, Asamoah Gyan is a legendary Ghanaian footballer who made a significant impact in both domestic and international football.
His prolific goal-scoring ability, leadership on the field, and contributions to Ghana’s football history have left an indelible mark on the sport.
As he embarks on a new chapter in his retirement, Gyan’s passion for football and dedication to nurturing talent continue to shine.