 Addo withPSV Eindhoven in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Pappoe Addo | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-11-12)12 November 1978 (age 46) | ||
| Place of birth | Accra, Ghana | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[citation needed] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1996 | Noble Harrics | ||
| 1996–1999 | Club Brugge | 65 | (5) |
| 1999–2009 | PSV Eindhoven | 82 | (3) |
| 2003 | →Roda JC (loan) | 27 | (0) |
| 2009 | →Roda JC (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Roda JC | 25 | (0) |
| 2012 | FC Eindhoven | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 209 | (9) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998–2010 | Ghana | 45 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Eric Pappoe Addo (born 12 November 1978) is a Ghanaian former professionalfootballer who played as adefender. After retiring, Addo worked as a coach at PSV.[1]
Once heralded as a potential African great thanks to his combination of strength, pace and poise early on, Addo, a combativecentral defender who could also play as adefensive midfielder, had his budding career blighted by knee injuries.[2]
Born in the Ghanaian capitalAccra, Addo began his European career brightly atClub Brugge in 1996 and over three seasons at theJan Breydelstadion made 65 appearances, scoring five goals. At Brugges, he was viewed as a potential superstar on the European stage after bursting into the first team ranks and helping them to win theBelgian Championship. He was voted the 1997–98Young Belgian Footballer of the Year by Belgian journalists and Ghana Player of the Year the same season. He also won theBelgian Ebony Shoe award for being the best African player (or player with African roots) in the Belgian league. The jury was composed of the league clubs' coaches, theBelgium national team coach, sports journalists and an honorary jury.
Addo joinedPSV Eindhoven during summer 1999 on a five-year contract, although he spent most of his first three years injured or as a substitute.
He played just 24 times during this period, going out on loan[3] atRoda JC for two years – before finally becoming a regular, as PSV retained theirEredivisie title in 2006. "I'm hoping now to show at Roda what I can do," Addo told Dutch magazineVoetbal International. "When I moved to PSV there was a lot of pressure and obviously it got worst when I was injured. They paid a lot of money for me. I still need to show the supporters what I am capable of and the move to Roda is the solution for me."[3]
A 1–0 away loss atAnfield againstLiverpool F.C. in the quarterfinal second leg of the2006–07 UEFA Champions League[4] was his last game for PSV in the competition.[5] PSV lost 4–0 on aggregate to the2005 UEFA Champions League winners, after losing 3–0 at home.[6]
On 29 April 2007, Addo won his fifthEredivisie Championship with PSV in 2006–07, with a 5–1 win on the final day home againstVitesse Arnhem.[7][8][9] Pre-match, PSV,Ajax andAZ Alkmaar were tied on 72 points. PSV coachRonald Koeman startedAlex and Addo at the heart of defence in the decider.[10]
On 3 April 2007, Addo toldBBC Sport that "I will not extend my contract with PSV because things are not improving here for me. TheAfrican Cup of Nations is getting close and if I have to stay I should be guaranteed more playing time to be fit for the tournament in Ghana." He added, "The club understands my situation and they have agreed to allow me to leave at the end of the season."[11]
On 22 April 2007, Addo was linked with a move toGalatasaray S.K.[12] in the Dutch media. He was also linked withFC Twente, whose managerFred Rutten knows Addo from his time at PSV.[13] However, on 22 May 2007, Addo changed his mind and signed a new contract extension with PSV.[14]
On 26 October 2007, Addo was charged with 'committing an act of gross unsporting conduct' and received a four match ban fromUEFA for spitting atFenerbahçe playerSemih Şentürk during an ill-tempered Champions League match on 23 October. PSV later claimed that he was provoked by the striker who elbowed him moments before the incident occurred; this explanation was rejected by the association.[15]
Addo was given the chance to represent his adopted country,Belgium, in the1998 FIFA World Cup, but instead opted to play for his homeland. However, after playing in the1998 African Cup of Nations, he spent six years in the international wilderness.
He was a member of theGhanaian squad at the2006 FIFA World Cup finals, playing in all four of Ghana's games including the exit toBrazil in the second round. His last game for Ghana was againstMexico in an international friendly in London, UK on 26 March 2008.
After retiring and acquiring his UEFA Coaching license, Addo was appointed by PSV to serve as the assistant coach to their U-21 side.[16]
His brotherRansford is also a former professional footballer.
Eric Addo attended St Anthony's Preparatory School at South Odorkor in Ghana; even at this early developmental stage, he showed great ability when playing soccer with his peers and student in grades ahead of him.[citation needed]
PSV Eindhoven[17]
Ghana[17]
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