Asamoah Gyan Hangs Boot And Jersey After 20 Years
The Black Stars’ former captain, Asamoah Gyan has announced his retirement from football after 20 years as a professional footballer.
He was speaking at the 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings at the Accra International Conference on Tuesday, June 20 when he broke the news about his retirement.
“It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football,” he said as he shed tears.
He disclosed he will invest his experience into the youth as his team recently did with the BabyJet U16 African Tournament.
He made his debut with Ghanaian Premier League club Liberty Professionals in 2003 and then played internationally for clubs including Udinese, Rennes, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Kayserispor and North East United.
The 37-year-old made his debut on Ghana’s senior national team in November 2003 at 17 years.
He represented Ghana at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
With 6 goals, he is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. Gyan has also represented Ghana at the 2004 Summer Olympics and in seven Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, helping them finish in third place in 2008 and runner-up in 2010 and 2015.
He is also Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 Goals and the country’s most-capped player – 109 Games.
Gyan will now focus on coaching, football business and scouting, he said in his remarks.
The football fraternity has paid tribute to him following his announcement on Tuesday.
Leading was CAF which described him as an absolute legend.
“An absolute legend of the game The Ghanaian footballing icon, Asamoah Gyan hung up his boots One of the best to ever do it,” it tweeted.
An absolute legend of the game 🔥
The Ghanaian footballing icon, Asamoah Gyan hanged up his boots 💫
One of the best to ever do it 🌟@GhanaBlackstars | @ASAMOAH_GYAN3 pic.twitter.com/NX2DRPgegL
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 20, 2023
Also calling him a “legend”, the Black Stars tweeted, “Thank you for all the Memories”.
👑 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗥𝗔 ! 👏🏾
Ghana’s All Time Top Scorer, Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2010 Asamoah Gyan has officially retired from professional football.
Thank you for all the Memories ❤️🇬🇭
Enjoy retirement, Legend! 3️⃣ ™️ https://t.co/wCgI6VWMht pic.twitter.com/QozRaKcUmo
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) June 20, 2023
Kofi Kinata in a Facebook post added, “Baby Jet.. Ghana is Proud of you! Asamoah Gyan Records no dey lie”.
