Kwadwo Asamoah

Kwadwo Asamoah[3] (/kwəˈdʒoʊ æsəˈmoʊ.ɑː/, kwə-JOH ass-ə-MOH-ah; born 9 December 1988)[4] is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for the Ghana national team and for Italian Serie A club Cagliari.[5] Mainly a left midfielder or left-back, he has also occasionally been deployed as a central midfielder.[6][7]

Kwadwo Asamoah
Asamoah warming up with Juventus, August 2014
Personal information
Full name Kwadwo Asamoah
Date of birth (1988-12-09) 9 December 1988
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Left midfielder, Left-back,
Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Cagliari
Number 19
Youth career
2005–2006 Kaaseman
2006–2007 Liberty Professionals
2008 Bellinzona
2008 → Torino
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Udinese 114 (8)
2012–2018 Juventus 116 (4)
2018–2020 Inter Milan 40 (0)
2021– Cagliari 0 (0)
National team‡
2008– Ghana[2] 74 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 December 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:13, 15 July 2019 (UTC)

He began his professional career with Italian club Udinese in 2008; his consistent performances earned him a transfer to Juventus in 2012, where, with his energy, versatility, and technical skills, he played a key role in helping the club to six consecutive Serie A titles between 2013 and 2018, among other titles, although his appearances at the club were limited by injuries during his later seasons. He joined Inter in 2018. At international level, he has represented Ghana in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and two FIFA World Cups.

Asamoah was awarded CAF Most Promising African Player in 2010 and named Ghana Player of the Year twice consecutively for 2012 and 2013.[8][9] In 2013, Asamoah was ranked as the 27th best footballer in the world by Bloomberg.[10]

Club career

Early career

Asamoah was born in Accra, Ghana. He was scouted playing for a local based club, which belongs to Kamara and was recommended by the scout Mr. Charles Mensah Gapson to the late Alhaji Sly Tetteh, former CEO of Liberty Professionals. He joined Swiss club Bellinzona and was loaned to Italian side Torino in the winter of 2007–08.

Udinese
Asamoah playing for Udinese in the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League play-off versus Arsenal F.C.

In June 2008, Asamoah was signed by Serie A club Udinese where he established himself and became a linch pin for both club and country. After some good performances at the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, he became a target of top clubs in Europe.[11]

Juventus

Asamoah and Udinese teammate Mauricio Isla both joined Juventus in July 2012 on co-ownership agreements, with Juventus paying €9 million for 50% of Asamoah's contract.[12][13] He made his debut on 11 August 2012 against Napoli in the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana, scoring a goal as Juventus went on to win 4–2 after extra time.[14] Due to his impressive performance against Napoli, Antonio Conte, who was Juventus's coach at the time, decided to start him in the opening league match of the 2012–13 season, against Parma, on 25 August: he made an immediate impact, by setting up Stephan Lichtsteiner's goal in a 2–0 home win.[15] On 16 September, he scored his first goal with his new club in a 3–1 away league win over Genoa.[16] Juventus went on to win the Serie A title that season.[17] Asamoah was bought outright by Juventus in June 2013, signing a four-year deal with the club.[18]

On 9 March 2014, Asamoah scored a notable goal in a 1–0 home victory over Fiorentina,[19] as Juventus went on to defend the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana that season.[20][21]

During the 2014–15 season, Asamoah suffered a severe knee injury in the 10th league match of the season, on 1 November 2014, against Empoli, ruling him out for most of the season.[22] He was only first able to return to the team and resume training towards the end of the season, as Juventus won the Serie A title; he was therefore not able to appear in Juventus's Coppa Italia victory over Lazio in the final.[23] He returned to the pitch on 23 May 2015, in a 3–1 home win over Napoli.[24]

On 23 July 2016, Asamoah started for Juventus as captain on pitch in the opening game of 2016 International Champions Cup Australian version, as the club were drawn 1–1 with Melbourne Victory (Melbourne Victory won 4–3 on penalties), at Melbourne's Melbourne Cricket Ground.[25][26] On 25 September 2016, it was confirmed that Asamoah would be sidelined for six weeks after limping off the pitch a day before away to Palermo with a sprained right knee; tests at the J-Medical centre revealed he suffered the complete tear of the medial meniscus ligament.[27]

In January 2018, it was reported that Asamoah chose not to renew his contract with Juventus, which was set to expire in June later that year.[28] He made his 150th appearance for Juventus in a 0–0 away draw against S.P.A.L. in Serie A, on 17 March.[29]

Inter Milan

In July 2018, Lega Serie A's registration confirmed that Asamoah had agreed to become an Inter player in May 2018; the signing was confirmed officially on 2 July.[30] He made his Inter debut on 19 August, in a 1–0 away defeat to Sassuolo, the first match of the 2018–19 Serie A season.[31]

Cagliari

On 3 February 2021, Asamoah signed to Cagliari a contract until 30 June 2021.[32]

International career

On the international level, Asamoah was given his debut for the Ghana national team, Black Stars, in 2006, under French manager Claude Le Roy. He represented Ghana in 2008 and 2010 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, winning a bronze and a silver medal in the respective tournaments, and later in the 2012 and 2013 editions. He also appeared for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Style of play
Asamoah (no. 22) versus a Shakhtar Donetsk's opponent in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League group stage

A dynamic, hardworking, energetic, versatile and tactically intelligent player, Asamoah is primarily known for his pace, strength, stamina, and his outstanding technical characteristics, as well as his ability to read the game; although he primarily serves as a ball-winner, these attributes allow him to be effective both offensively and defensively, and enable him to play in several positions along the pitch in defence or midfield. A predominantly left-footed player, with Juventus, Asamoah has usually been deployed as a full back, wing-back, or wide-midfielder on the left flank, although he had previously also been used in the centre as a defensive, central, box-to-box, or offensive midfielder prior to joining the club, and even in the "mezzala" role. In addition to his physical and athletic attributes, he is a very agile footballer, with good vision and an ability to make attacking runs and get into good offensive positions from which he can create chances for teammates with throughballs or deliveries into the area from the wing; he is also a neat passer, a powerful striker of the ball from distance, and a skilful dribbler.[33][34][35][36][37][38] Despite his ability, Asamoah has often been sidelined through injury.[39]

Personal life

Asamoah is married to Abena who holds an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana.[40] They have a son Jason and a daughter named Jada.[40] In 2020, he presented a cheque for $20,000 to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi to support the fight against COVID-19.[41]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 6 December 2019[42][43]
Club League Season League Cup1 Europe2 Other Cups3 Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Udinese Serie A 2008–09 2022060—282
2009–10 25120——271
2010–11 38210——392
2011–12 3130090—403
Total 114850150—1348
Juventus Serie A 2012–13 272107011363
2013–14 3421011010472
2014–15 70003000100
2015–16 110200000130
2016–17 180303000240
2017–18 190403000260
Total 1164110270211565
Inter Milan Serie A 2018–19 3201090—420
2019–20 800030—110
Total 40010120—530
Career total 270121705402134313

1Includes Coppa Italia.

2Includes UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

3Includes Supercoppa Italiana.

International
As of 2 July 2019[2][42]
Ghana
YearAppsGoals
200961
2010180
2011100
2012110
2013143
2014100
201810
201940
Total744

International goals
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first.[2]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 June 2009Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali Mali1–02–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.20 January 2013Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa DR Congo2–02–22013 Africa Cup of Nations
3.9 February 2013Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Mali1–21–32013 Africa Cup of Nations
4.6 September 2013Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana Zambia2–02–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Juventus[42][44]

Inter Milan

Individual

References
  1. "Player Profile". Juventus FC. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  2. "Asamoah, Kwadwo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. "Kwadwo Kojo Asamoah". Schedecalciatori.it. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  4. "Udinese player profile – Asamoah, Kwadwo". udinese.it. Udinese Calcio. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  5. "Inter & Kwadwo Asamoah Have Terminated Contract, Gianluca Di Marzio Reports". onefootball.com. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. "Asamoah officially Inter's".
  7. "2019 AFCON: Kwadwo Asamoah reveals why he delayed his Ghana return". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  8. "Kwadwo Asamoah wins SWAG flagship award". ghanafa.org. Ghana Football Association (GFA). 30 June 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  9. "Asamoah wins Goal Ghana Player of the Year 2013 Award". goal.com. Goal.com. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  10. "Messi and Ronaldo joined by Ribery in top three of new list of Europe's top 50 stars". Sky Sports. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
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  12. "Asamoah and Isla move to Juventu". juventus.com. 2 July 2012.
  13. "Juventus confirm signing of Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah". BBC Sport. 2 July 2012.
  14. Riccardo Pratesi (11 August 2012). "La Supercoppa è della Juve 4–2 al Napoli dopo 120'" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  15. Riccardo Pratesi (25 August 2012). "Juve facile col Parma: 2–0" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  16. Riccardo Pratesi (16 September 2012). "Juve, rimonta griffata Vucinic Il Genoa spreca e si arrende" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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  18. "Juventus buy Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah outright from Udinese". BBC. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  19. Mirko Graziano (9 March 2014). "Juventus-Fiorentina 1–0, perla di Asamoah. Traversa di Matos nel finale" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  20. Susy Campanale. "Serie A Stats of the Season 2013–14". Football Italia. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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  24. Fabiana Della Valle (23 May 2015). "Juve-Napoli 3–1: Allegri onora la festa, Benitez dice quasi addio alla Champions" [Juve-Napoli 3–1: Allegri honours the celebration, Benitez almost says goodbye to the Champions League] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  25. "Melbourne Victory 1–1 Juventus (pens: 4–3): Bianconeri lose in ICC opener". Goal.com. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  26. "Asamoah plays down Juventus defeat". Goal.com. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  27. "Rugani and Asamoah out 45 days". Football Italia. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
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  29. "Spal-Juve: Talking points". Juventus.com. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  30. "Kwadwo Asamoah signs for the Nerazzurri". Inter Milan. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  31. "Sassuolo 1–0 Inter Milan". BBC Sport. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  32. "Benvenuto Asamoah!".
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  34. "New beginnings for Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus". Yahoo.com. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
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  40. "Kwadwo Asamoah's wife Abena graduates with MBA Entrepreneurial Management". GhanaSoccernet. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  41. "Kwadwo Asamoah donates $20,000 to fight COVID-19". Graphic Online. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
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