Junior Agogo

Manuel "Junior" Agogo (1 August 1979 – 22 August 2019) was a Ghanaian professional footballer who played as a striker. He was born in Ghana but spent most of his childhood in the UK. He then moved back to Ghana during his years in secondary school. He began his youth career at Sheffield Wednesday in 1995, moving up to the senior squad in 1997. He played for fifteen different clubs over the next fifteen years, before retiring from professional football in 2012. He spent most of his playing career in England, with additional spells in the US, Egypt, Cyprus and Scotland. His longest spell was at Bristol Rovers (2003–2006), where he made 140 appearances before moving to Nottingham Forest.

Junior Agogo
Agogo playing for Ghana at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
Personal information
Full name Manuel Agogo[1]
Date of birth (1979-08-01)1 August 1979[1]
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Date of death 22 August 2019(2019-08-22) (aged 40)
Place of death London, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1995–1997 Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Sheffield Wednesday 2 (0)
1999 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 2 (0)
1999 → Chester City (loan) 10 (6)
1999 → Chesterfield (loan) 4 (0)
1999–2000 → Lincoln City (loan) 3 (1)
2000 Chicago Fire 1 (0)
2000–2001 Colorado Rapids 32 (11)
2001 San Jose Earthquakes 14 (4)
2002 Queens Park Rangers 2 (0)
2002–2003 Barnet 39 (19)
2003–2006 Bristol Rovers 126 (41)
2006–2008 Nottingham Forest 64 (20)
2008–2009 Zamalek SC 15 (4)
2009–2011 Apollon Limassol 24 (6)
2011–2012 Hibernian 12 (1)
Total 350 (113)
National team
2003 England National Game XI 3 (0)
2006–2009 Ghana 27 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Agogo played for the Ghana national team between 2006 and 2009. His three goals in the final stages of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations helped Ghana to a third-place finish, adding to the three club honours he earned during his career. Agogo scored a total of 143 goals during his professional football career. After retiring, he opened his own small group and personal fitness training business.[3]

Club career

Sheffield Wednesday

Born in Accra, Greater Accra,[1] Agogo began his career at Sheffield Wednesday in 1995, but only made two league appearances for the Premier League side. During the 1999–2000 season he had loan spells at Oldham Athletic, Chester City, Chesterfield, and Lincoln City. His goal for Chester against Cheltenham Town in October 1999, was voted the best goal ever scored at the Deva Stadium.[4]

United States

In 2000 Agogo left Sheffield Wednesday and moved to the United States to play for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. He was traded to the Colorado Rapids after playing just one match in Chicago, going on to score 11 goals in 32 appearances for the Rapids.

He was traded from Colorado to the San Jose Earthquakes in June 2001 for Chris Carrieri. He played for the Earthquakes for the rest of the 2001 season, culminating with their MLS Championship victory, but was waived early in the 2002 pre-season, and replaced on the San Jose roster by Devin Barclay.

Back in England

In 2002, Agogo returned to England, this time with Queens Park Rangers. He made his debut coming off the bench away against Swindon Town.[5] However, after only two appearances he moved to Football Conference side Barnet.[6]

Bristol Rovers

In the summer of 2003, Agogo joined Third Division side Bristol Rovers for £110.000 with Giuliano Grazioli going to Barnet in the opposite direction. He played the first thirteen games of the 2003–04 season before having to have an operation which kept him out for the next nine games. He finished the campaign with six goals in all competitions. In the 2004–05 season, Agogo scored 20 goals in 51 appearances; the following season he scored 18 goals from 44 appearances.

Nottingham Forest
Agogo with Nottingham Forest in 2007

In summer 2006 Rovers turned down initial bids from Agogo from Championship side Southend United and League One side Nottingham Forest[7][8] Agogo had a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to other clubs if an acceptable bid was made.[7] On 30 August 2006 the transfer to Forest was completed for an undisclosed fee, with Agogo signing a three-year contract.[9] In September 2006 he made his league debut for Forest as a sub in a home 4–0 win against Chesterfield. He scored seven league goals over the season, with his first on 30 September 2006 against Swansea City in a 3–1 win.

On 22 September 2007 Agogo scored his first goals of the 2007–08 season, a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Gillingham – the first of his career. He netted two long-range strikes that season with a 35-yard lob of the goalkeeper in Forest's 3–0 win at Yeovil Town and a 25-yard effort in Forest's 4–1 success against Southend United. However, Agogo scored only three goals after his return from the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, one of which was against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. He finished as Forest's top-scorer that season with thirteen goals, helping the club gain automatic promotion to the Championship. Agogo was sold during the summer for a fee of £565,000 to Zamalek SC.

Zamalek

On 2 July 2008, Junior Agogo joined Zamalek SC, He initially wore the number 19 jersey for El Zamalek but switched to number 9 following Amr Zaki's departure on loan to English side Wigan Athletic.[10][11]

Apollon Limassol

Agogo joined Apollon Limassol on 5 August 2009, signing a two-year contract with the Cypriots.[12]

Hibernian

Agogo signed a one-year contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, who were managed by his former Nottingham Forest manager, Colin Calderwood, in July 2011.[13][14] Agogo scored his first goal for Hibs on 24 September 2011, in a 3–3 draw against Dundee United.[15] He was released from his contract in January 2012, after making 14 appearances for the club.[16]

International career

In May 2006 Agogo was called up by Ghana for a friendly against French league side OGC Nice.[17] However, he was not included in the final Ghanaian World Cup squad. He was recalled to the Ghana squad for an East Asia tour in which he faced Japan and South Korea.

On 14 November 2006, Agogo scored his first goal for Ghana, the equaliser in a friendly against Australia; the game finished 1–1. He also scored the third goal in Ghana's 4–1 victory over Nigeria, played at Brentford's Griffin Park.

Agogo was called up to the Ghana squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He played in the first game of the cup against Guinea, hitting the post with a header in the 20th minute and helping Ghana to a 2–1 victory. He then scored in the following game against Namibia, tapping home Michael Essien's cross for the only goal of the game.

Agogo then netted another goal, the winner in the quarter final against Nigeria. Ghana missed out on the final, however, and had to settle for a third-place play-off against Ivory Coast, in which he scored again in a 4–2 victory. Alongside Sulley Muntari he was Ghana's top scorer in the competition, and the 5th highest scorer overall.

In total, Agogo scored 12 goals in 27 matches for the national team between 2006 and 2009.[18]

Personal life

Early life and education

Junior Agogo was born on 1 August 1979 in Accra, Ghana as one of 11 siblings. He attended the Ridge Church School in Accra, but before completing primary school, he moved with his family to the UK. He subsequently returned to Ghana for three years, attending St. Augustine's College, a secondary school in Cape Coast.[19] He didn't play on the football team at St Augustine's College, but instead represented the school in dancing competitions.[19]

Other hobbies

It was not until his family moved to the UK that he discovered his love and talent for football while playing with his siblings (there are 11 of them) and friends. Agogo's father, Mr Emmanuel Agogo, a businessman, encouraged him to study instead of play sports.[19]

During an interview in 2008, Agogo revealed that he planned to open his own restaurant after his football career.[19] However, Agogo instead started his own fitness training business.[3]

Later life and death

On 29 January 2015, Agogo was hospitalised after suffering a stroke.[20][21] He struggled with his speech after his stroke, and expressed anxiety at his language problems.[22][23] Agogo died in London on 22 August 2019, aged 40.[22][24][6] On 20 September 2019, Agogo's remains were cremated in London after a private funeral ceremony at St. Mark's Church.[25][26]

Honours

Apollon Limassol

Ghana

Nottingham Forest 2007-2008 league one runner up

Individual

  • Barnet Player of the Year: 2002–03

References
  1. "Junior Agogo". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. "Junior Agogo: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. "Agogo Fitness". agogofitness.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. "Deva Stadium Greatest Goal". chester-city.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  5. "Swindon Town v Queens Park Rangers, 06 April 2002". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. Flood, George (22 August 2019). "Junior Agogo death: Former Nottingham Forest and Ghana footballer dies aged 40 as tributes pour in". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  7. "Southend bid for Agogo rejected". BBC Sport. 24 July 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  8. "Rovers reject Forest Agogo offer". BBC Sport. 15 August 2006. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  9. "Forest complete signing of Agogo". BBC Sport. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  10. "Zamalek sign Ghana striker Agogo | Football | Reuters". Archived from the original on 11 December 2012.
  11. http://www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=7874%5B%5D
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Hardie, David (20 July 2011). "Baptism of fire for Junior Agogo". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  14. "Striker Joins Hibernian". Hibernian FC. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Hibs release Junior Agogo after Thornhill and Palsson exits". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  17. "Striker Agogo earns Ghana call-up". BBC. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  18. "Junior Agogo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  19. "Manuel Junior Agogo – Thee Funky Player". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  20. "Junior Agogo hospitalised following suspected stroke". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  21. "Fmr Ghanaian striker Junior Agogo suffers stroke". spyghana.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  22. "Junior Agogo: Ex-Ghana, Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers striker dies aged 40". BBC Sport. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  23. "BBC Four – Speechless, Star footballer Junior Agogo now struggles to speak". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  24. "Junior Agogo: Ex-Ghana, Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers striker dies aged 40". 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  25. "Junior Agogo cremated in London". Citi Sports Online. 20 September 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  26. "Junior Manuel Agogo Funeral In Pictures". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  27. "J. AGOGO profile". soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  28. "Confederation Africaine de Football". Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
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