Asamoah Gyan, a former captain of Ghana, has made his retirement from the game public at the age of 37.
Gyan has decided to put his playing days to an end after a phenomenal career spanning more than two decades.
Gyan, the all-time leading scorer for Ghana, stated on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, that he has ended his professional playing career after 18 years.
“…I want to take this great opportunity, a stage that is difficult in every footballer’s career, a moment all footballers do not wish, but when nature dawns, that thin voice will keep echoing into the ears…IT IS TIME…that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, IT IS TIME. IT IS TIME TO HANG THE JERSEY AND BOOTS IN GLORY as I retire officially from active football,” part of his statement reads.
Asamoah Gyan had a long and successful career, which began in 2003 at Liberty Professional and finished in 2021 at Legon Cities, where he last participated in competitive football.
He played for Liberty, Udinese, Modena F.C., Stade Rennais, Sunderland, Al Ain FC, Shanghai Port F.C., Shabab Al Ahli Club, Kayserispor, NorthEast United FC, and Legon Cities, to name just a few of the clubs he represented.
Gyan has 51 goals in 109 games for Ghana’s national team, which makes him the all-time leading scorer.
One of the most admired strikers in Africa, he set the record for most goals scored by an African player at a World Cup with six.
In 2006, he scored Ghana’s first-ever World Cup goal. In 2010, he scored the crucial goal that advanced Ghana to the quarterfinals, making it the third African country to do so before Morocco broke the mark in the 2022 World Cup.
He participated in seven Africa Cup of Nations competitions, two of which were finals. He unfortunately dropped both. With 8 goals, he is second among Ghana’s scorers at the AFCON.
Gyan hasn’t participated in a competitive match in almost three years, thus the news of his retirement marks an important turning point in his life. He has been hailed as one of Ghana’s most gifted and significant players during his career.
He has made a lasting impression on football in Ghana and beyond Africa with his impressive goal-scoring record and long list of honors.
Gyan’s choice to call it quits at the age of 37 is a testament to his long career and unwavering love of the game.
His talent and professionalism are evident in his ability to keep up a high level of performance and contribute to the success of his teams over the years.
With 51 goals in 109 games, Gyan ends his career as Ghana’s all-time leading scorer. At the club level, Gyan has scored over 170 goals while playing for teams like Rennes, Al Ain, Sunderland, and Udinese.
