Samuel Kuffour

Samuel Osei Kuffour (born 3 September 1976) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Samuel Kuffour
Kuffour in 2010
Personal information
Full name Samuel Osei Kuffour[1]
Date of birth (1976-09-03) 3 September 1976
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Fantomas Kumasi
1990–1991 King Faisal Babes
1991–1993 Torino
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–2005 Bayern Munich 175 (7)
1995–1996 → 1. FC Nürnberg (loan) 12 (1)
2005–2008 Roma 21 (0)
2006–2007 → Livorno (loan) 18 (0)
2008 → Ajax (loan) 2 (0)
2009 Asante Kotoko
Total 228 (8)
International career
1993–2006 Ghana 54 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Medal record
Men's association football
Representing  Ghana
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Team competition

Known for his physical power, Kuffour is best remembered for his time with Bayern Munich, whom he represented for over a decade, winning a total of 14 honours, and playing in nearly 250 official matches. Kuffour appeared with the Ghana national team in the 2006 World Cup, as well as in five Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

Bayern Munich

Born in Ghana, Kuffour was brought to Europe by Torino F.C. in 1991 aged just 15, after playing junior football for local teams in his native country. He joined FC Bayern Munich in 1993 from the Italian club. After a season-long loan spell with 1. FC Nürnberg in the second division, he made his breakthrough with the Bavarians.

Kuffour spent 11 seasons with Bayern, rising from the youth teams to be a prominent first-squad member who lifted the UEFA Champions League with the club. He was an integral part of the squad that won the 2000–01 Champions League, also scoring the winning goal in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup, being subsequently named man of the match.[2] Also in that year, he finished second in African Footballer of the Year's voting, repeating the feat accomplished in 1999.[3]

Kuffour was also part of the Bayern team which lost to Manchester United due to two late goals in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, famously beating the ground in frustration afterwards, a gesture that endeared him to Bayern supporters. He also became the youngest defender to ever score in the Champions League, at the age of 18 years and 61 days, during the match against FC Spartak Moscow on 2 November 1994, which ended in a 2–2 draw.[4] Kuffour made over 60 UEFA Champions League appearances, being one of the most decorated African players of all time.[5] After twelve seasons in Munich and 175 Bundesliga appearances,[6] Kuffour left Bayern in 2005.[7]

AS Roma

Kuffour left Bayern in the summer of 2005 and signed a three-year deal with A.S. Roma in a free transfer, thus returning to Italy.[7] He made 21 appearances in his debut season, having spent a period of the season away on international duty and, in his second year, was loaned to UEFA Cup competitor and fellow Serie A team A.S. Livorno Calcio.[8] He played his 89th and last match in European cup competitions for Livorno.[9]

After Roma

In August 2007, Kuffour had a trial with Premier League side Sunderland, with a view to a permanent move. However, manager Roy Keane confirmed he would not be joining the club, in a post match interview after Sunderland's defeat to Liverpool.[10]

On 28 January 2008, AFC Ajax received Kuffour on a six-month loan contract, with an option for two more seasons.[8] He was released following a lack of form, and was also deemed surplus to requirements by Roma boss Luciano Spalletti, thus becoming a free agent.

In August, it was thought that Kuffour had joined Russian Premier League side FC Khimki. However, it was announced on 10 September by his agent that he had retired from professional football with immediate effect.[11] Kuffour rejected the news and stated his desire to continue his career; in January 2009, he was linked to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire S.C. – the CEO of US-based Sports to Develop Destitute claimed he was helping the player finalise the deal.[12]

Asante Kotoko and retirement

In April 2009, Kuffour finally returned to Ghana after a 19-year absence, seeing his career out with a three-month deal with Asante Kotoko FC.[13] He however retired in late 2009 without playing an official match for the club.

International career

A Ghana international for 13 years, Kuffour won his first cap as a 17-year-old in a game against Sierra Leone on 28 November 1993. He had previously been part of every national team – junior, youth and Olympic level – and became the full squad's captain at the age of 23.

Kuffour had burst onto the international scene at age 13. At junior level, he was a member of the Ghana side that won the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Italy and the one that was runner-up to Nigeria in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan. At youth level, he appeared with the team that finished second to Brazil during the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia.

Kuffour became the youngest Olympic Football Champion of all time when he collected bronze at the 1992 Olympics just before his 16th birthday. He was also a member of the squad that reached the quarter-finals at the same level in 1996.

Kuffour also made one appearance for his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, against Italy. After a costly mistake in that first match, a 0–2 loss, he was dropped for the next three games as Ghana bowed out in the round-of-16 against Brazil.

On 12 January 2007, the Confederation of African Football voted Kuffour as a member of the Top 30 African Players of All Time.

Personal life

In 2003, Kuffour revealed to the BBC, in an interview for the 'Heart and Soul' documentary, that he wanted to be a priest or a missionary when he retired from football. In the interview, he also spoke about the surprised reaction of some German players as he prayed before games, while also addressing the support he received from fellow Ghanaian Christians, especially those living in Munich. In the same interview, Kuffour also talked about the death of his daughter Godiva in a drowning accident in January that year. He explained that his Christian faith gave him the courage to face the future.[14]

He is the uncle of the American soccer player Matai Akinmboni.[15]

Life after football

Punditry

In 2010, after retiring from playing football, Kuffour entered into sports punditry working primarily with South Africa-based channel SuperSports, debuting with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[16][17] On 8 February 2015, he was shaved as he vowed on live TV within the SupersSports studios following the Black Stars failure to win the AFCON 2015 as he predicted.[18][19] In 2018, he took a break from football punditry for the 2018 FIFA World Cup upon the advice of his doctor due to excessive travelling.[16]

Football management

In August 2013, Kuffour was appointed as a board member of the Ghana-based football club Kumasi Asante Kotoko.[20][21] On 2 October 2014, whilst serving as a board member, he was announced as the new CEO for Kumasi Asante Kotoko after being appointed by the club owner Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II. By 15 October, it had become apparent that the early announcement had caused a renege on that decision by the Otumfuor.[22]

In February 2016, Kuffour was named as member of Black Starlets, the Ghana national under-17 football team, after playing for the team in the 1990s.[23] On 16 January 2020, he was appointed as a member of the management board of the Black Stars, the Ghana senior national team.[24][25]

Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCup1Continental2Other3TotalRef.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayern Munich1994–95Bundesliga900041—131[26]
1996–972202010250[26]
1997–981723050252[27]
1998–991503080260[28]
1999–200018231130343[29]
2000–012311013010381[26][30]
2001–022103014020400[26][31]
2002–03201405010301[26][32]
2003–04231207010331[26][33]
2004–0570204000130[26]
Totals1757231741502779—
Bayern Munich II1994–95Regionalliga Süd????30—30[26]
1995–96????1010[26]
2004–0510—10[26]
Totals1040——
Nürnberg (loan)1995–962. Bundesliga12100——121[26]
Roma2005–06Serie A2103071311[26]
Livorno (loan)2006–071800080260[26]
Ajax (loan)2007–08Eredivisie20000020[26]
Asante Kotoko2009Ghana Premier LeagueN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Career totals22983018925035311—
  • 1.^ Includes German Cup and Italian Cup.
  • 2.^ Includes Champions League and UEFA Cup.
  • 3.^ Includes German League Cup and Intercontinental Cup.

International
Ghana[34]
YearAppsGoals
199450
199530
199690
199751
199850
199920
200082
200120
200210
200320
200450
200510
200660
Total543

International goals

Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Kuffour goal.[35]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 July 1997Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Zimbabwe2–12–11998 African Cup of Nations qualification
28 April 2000Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium, Arusha, Tanzania Tanzania1–01–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
323 April 2000Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana Tanzania1–03–2

Honours

Club
Bayern Munich

International
Ghana Youth

Individual

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Ghana" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. "Kuffour gives Bayern World Club victory". BBC Sport. 27 November 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  3. "Kuffour cries foul". BBC Sport. 18 April 2002. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  4. "UEFA: Competition Facts". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007.
  5. "Which African stars have played the most UEFA games?". UEFA. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  6. Arnhold, Matthias (10 January 2020). "Samuel Osei Kuffour - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. "Roma capture Kuffour". UEFA.com. 8 June 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  8. Association, Ghana Football. "Kuffour completes Ajax move". ghanafa.org. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. Haisma, Marcel (10 January 2020). "Samuel Osei Kuffour - Matches in European Cups". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  10. Buckingham, Mark. "Black Cats snub Kuffour". Sporting Life. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  11. "Former Bayern star Kuffour retires from football". ESPN Soccernet. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  12. "Kuffour set to move to America?". Ghana Soccernet. 26 January 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009.
  13. "Sammy Kuffour finally joins Asante Kotoko". Ghana Web. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  14. "Ghanaian footballer Sammy Kuffour tells BBC he wants to be a priest". BBC. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  15. Appiah, Samuel (17 July 2021). "Legendary Sammy Kuffour's nephew Matai Akimboni set to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  16. "Sammy Kuffour breaks from SuperSport punditry". GhanaWeb. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. "Osei Kuffour on SuperSport World Cup panel - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. "Kuffour's hair shaved on live TV". allsports.com.gh. All Sports. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  19. Dovia, Selorm Yaw (8 February 2015). "Sammy Kuffour given clean shave on live tv". graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. "Ghana: Samuel Osei Kuffour now a Kotoko board member". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  21. Adams, Saddick (11 September 2013). "Ex-Bayern star Sammy Kuffour wants Kotoko CEO job". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  22. "Ex-Bayern Munich star Sammy Kuffour MISSES out on Kotoko job as Otumfuo tells Opoku Nti-led team to continue working". Ghana Soccernet. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  23. "Sammy Kuffour;part of U17 Management Team". GhanaWeb. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  24. Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (16 January 2020). "Sammy Kuffor Named Member of Black Stars Management Committee". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  25. Association, Ghana Football. "Ex-captain C.K Akonnor appointed as Black Stars Head Coach". ghanafa.org. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  26. "Samuel Kuffour » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  27. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  28. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  29. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  30. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  31. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  32. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  33. "Samuel Kuffour". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  34. "Samuel Kuffour". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  35. "Samuel Osei Kuffour". 11v11. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  36. "Kuffor VOTED 27th BEST AFRICAN PLAYER BY FANS IN A POLL ON CAFONLINE.COM". CAF Online. 12 January 2007. Archived from the original on 21 January 2007.
  37. "Samuel Kuffour". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  38. "Toyota Cup - Most Valuable Player of the Match Award". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  39. "Kuffour receives BBC award". BBC. 15 April 2002. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  40. "IFFHS". IFFHS. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
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