 Boakye on 26 July 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1981-11-26)26 November 1981 (age 44) | ||
| Place of birth | Kumasi,Ashanti, Ghana | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999 | Ghapoha Readers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2002 | Goldfields Obuasi | – | (10) |
| 2002–2003 | Asante Kotoko | – | (–) |
| 2003–2006 | Arminia Bielefeld | 61 | (24) |
| 2006–2008 | VfL Wolfsburg | 26 | (4) |
| 2008 | →Mainz 05 (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 43 | (10) |
| 2011–2013 | Vålerenga | 7 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | Asante Kotoko | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 158+ | (50+) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2001–2007 | Ghana | 17 | (6) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 December 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 December 2006 | |||
Isaac Boakye (born 26 November 1981) is a former professionalfootballer who played asstriker for most of his career in Germany,Arminia Bielefeld,VfL Wolfsburg,1. FSV Mainz 05 and1. FC Nürnberg. In his native land, he featured forGoldfields Obuasi now Ashanti Gold andAsante Kotoko. He won theGhana Premier League twice playing for Asante Kotoko. He won it in his first season in 2003 and his last playing season in 2014, which came about as a result making a return to the club after 10 years of playing abroad.
Born inKumasi, Boakye started his career atGhapoha Readers, a club based in the Harbor City ofTema in Ghana. He later transferred toGoldfields Obuasi. In his first season with the Obuasi-based club, he scored 10 goals in the 2001–02 season. With that performance he attracted suitors from big clubs in both Ghana and overseas.[1] In December 2001, he went on trials at Swedish ClubNorrköping.[2] He is mostly named amongst the talented youngsters to have plied their trade with the Obuasi club.[3]
After the trials withNorrköping, he joined African ClubAsante Kotoko in early 2002,[1] then went on trials at Turkish ClubAnkaragücü.[4] He won the Ghana Premier League and theGHALCA Cup in 2003 during his one-year stay with the club.[5][6] During the GHALCA Cup final, he scored the first goal in the 4th minute to help Kotoko to a 2–0 victory over arch rivalsAccra Hearts of Oak to win the cup.Stephen Oduro scored the other goal.[5][6]
With many of his compatriots scattered throughout Europe's top leagues and clubs, the then 22-year-old elected to sign for unfashionableArminia Bielefeld in the2. Bundesliga[7][8] and kept his eyes squarely focused on Ghana's big prize – the2006 FIFA World Cup. In the meantime, his environs suited him just fine, particularly as his team sat atop the second division table and could well be in the top flight next season.
"My first year here in Germany has been nice," Boakye told[9] in April 2004. “I’m very happy to start my career here, and I hope to get the chance to play in theBundesliga soon. Bielefeld is doing well now, and the football is very competitive. That's good for me.”
Competitive perhaps but the bustlingKumasi native has been having little trouble finding the net in Germany. The 1.80 m tall forward has managed to score 14 times in his 26 clubs matches despite being the primary focus of opposition defences. His record for his country is slightly off that pace – five goals in his first 20 caps.[9]
In March 2005, Boakye extended his contract with German sideArminia Bielefeld until June 2008. Persistent knee injuries limited Boakye to just four appearances that season but that did not prevent the club from offering him a new deal.[10] Boakye scored 10 goals in his two seasons with Arminia Bielefeld in theBundesliga. In his three-year stay with the club, he scored played 61 league matches and scored 24 goals.[11]
In the summer of 2006,[12] Isaac Boakye joined the German first division clubWolfsburg. The striker signed a three-year contract. In January 2008 he was loaned to1. FSV Mainz 05, where he played 13 matches and scored 1 goal.[11] He returned at the end of the season to Wolfsburg, but only for a short time, and transferred in August 2008.[11]
Boakye secured a move to then2. Bundesliga club1. FC Nürnberg in August 2008.[13][11] In debut season with the club, he played 31 league matches and scored 10 goals to push them into the Bundesliga after winning theplay-offs round.[14] He scored a brace in a 3–0 victory overEnergie Cottbus in the first play-off game which aided their return to top flight.[15] After two and a half years with Nürnberg with 43 league matches, 10 goals and 7 assists, the contract was terminated at his request in December 2010.[16][17]
On 4 April 2011, Boakye completed a free transfer move to Norwegian first division clubVålerenga Fotball. He signed a one-year contract after being without a club for almost four months.[18] He was assigned the no. 18 jersey for the season.[19][18] He made his debut on 8 April 2018, after coming on in the 61st minute of a 1–0 loss toStabæk.[20][21] His only goal for the club on 17 April 2011, after coming from the bench in the 56th minute to score an equalizer in the 81st minute to help earn a draw againstLillestrøm.[22]
On 12 September 2013, Boakye signed forAsante Kotoko.[23] In December 2014, he was registered and added to the squad list for their2014 CAF Champions league campaign.[24][25] In January 2014, during the club's mid-season break period, he was hailed by then coach,Dramani Mas-Ud Didi for his commitment whilst calling him an exceptionally player with a good character.[26] He made his official debut on 3 February 2014, after starting in a 3–0 victory over lower-tier side First Klass FC in the MTN Ghana FA Cup. In the process, he scored his debut goal in the 63rd minute of the match.[27] The following year, he was released by the club after winning the2013–14 Ghanaian Premier League and theGhanaian FA Cup.[28][29]
WhenGhana gave Boakye his first cap on 3 June 2001, he sentZimbabwe into mourning by scoring an injury time winning goal[30] to knock "the Warriors" out of qualification for2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali.[31] That late goal sentZimbabwean sportscommentator Charles Mabika crying for a long spell during live commentary onBBC Fast Track programme. This later became a subject of international discussion.
Zimbabweans had barely finished weeping when Boakye putGeorge Weah temporarily into retirement after he scored the winner againstLiberia inMonrovia. Boakye's goal in Monrovia gave the Black Stars a 2–1 win to dent Liberia's hopes of reaching the2002 FIFA World Cup.[32] Stones were thrown at Weah and his teammates after the match and theLiberia star, incensed by the behaviour of the fans, announced his retirement – a decision he rescinded a few days later.
He was part of theGhanaian2002 African Nations Cup team, who exited in the quarter-finals after losing toNigeria, having finished second in Group B. Coming on as a substitute, he will be remembered for bringing his side back from the dead. Boakye came on as a second-half substitute to win the game with two goals in the last 60 seconds of the2002 African Cup of Nations game againstBurkina Faso.[33][34]
A delighted Boakye, who wears shirt no.13, scored in the 89th and 90th minutes of the match to put Ghana into the quarter-finals. After the game, he declared: "I am happy too much and God has shown his mark today."[35]
Boakye did his part to right Ghana's ship with two brilliant goals in the 5–0 demolition of Somalia in the first round of2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Africa. The "Black Stars" won the tie easily 7–0 in Accra. Both matches were played in Ghana because of the security situation in Somalia.[36]
Ghana'sWorld Cup preparations was in danger of falling apart as the countdown to tournament continued, after striker Isaac Boakye re-injured his troublesome right knee. Boakye sat out Arminia Bielefeld's final three games of the German season and as the injury was confirmed as a meniscus tear, he need surgery just before the Ghana World Cup team was announced.[37]
Boakye was named in Ghana's2004 Olympic Team[38] but got injured in the Pre-Tournament training Camp in Faro, Portugal.[39] That started a long costly battle with knee troubles that has seen him spend more time under the knife and on the sidelines than on the pitch. He has played only one International game[40] for Ghana in the past three years.
Boakye missed all the major tournaments that Ghana played during that time including the2004 Olympic Games,2006 African Cup of Nations and the2006 FIFA World Cup.
He was down on his luck when he recently joined the Wolves from Bundesliga rivalsArminia Bielefeld during the summer break. First of all, he contracted a virus while on holiday, and then he sustained a knee injury, which meant that he could only partially train at the training camp inSaalfelden, Austria. Boakye is happy at the way he has been welcomed to his new club, and he cannot wait to get started after he regains full fitness. Added Boakye who then said: “The most important thing is that I become healthy and fit, then my chance will come.”[41]
On 28 February 2007, Ghana coachClaude Le Roy announced that Boakye will no longer play for the "Black Stars" for persistently turning down call-ups to the national team. Boakye has not featured in the Black Stars squad since September 2005 after falling out with previous coach Ratomir Dujkovic.[42]
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cup1 | Continental2 | Other3 | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Assists | |||
| Goldfields Obuasi | 2001–2003 | Ghana Premier League | – | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | – |
| Asante Kotoko | 2002–2003 | Ghana Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Arminia Bielefeld | 2003–04 | 2. Bundesliga | 26 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 14 | 3 |
| 2004–05 | Bundesliga | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | 3 | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2006–07 | Bundesliga | 24 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | 4 |
| 2007–08 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mainz 05 (loan) | 2007–08 | 2. Bundesliga | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 1. FC Nürnberg | 2008–09 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 10 | 7 |
| 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Vålerenga | 2011–12 | Tippeligaen | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Asante Kotoko | 2013–14 | Ghana Premier League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1[27] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 158 | 50 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 167 | 56 | 19 | ||
1Includes theGhanaian FA Cup,Ghana Super Cup,Norwegian Football Cup, and theDFB-Pokal.
2African competitions include theCAF Champions League,CAF Confederations Cup and theCAF Super Cup.
European competitions include theUEFA Champions League,UEFA Europa League and theUEFA Super Cup.
3Other tournaments include theFIFA Club World Cup.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana | 2001 | 7 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 6 | |
Source:[44]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3 June 2001 | National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe | 1 | Zimbabwe | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2002 African Cup of Nations - Group 6 qualifiers | [30] |
| 2. | 1 July 2001 | SKD Stadium,Paynesville,Liberia | 3 | Liberia | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2002 World Cup qualifiers - Group B | [32] |
| 3. | 30 January 2002 | Stade Barema Bocoum,Mopti, Mali | 9 | Burkina Faso | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2002 African Cup of Nations | [33] |
| 4. | 1–2 | |||||||
| 5. | 16 November 2003 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | 14 | Somalia | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2006 World Cup qualifiers - Preliminary Round | [36] |
| 6. | 5–0 |
Ghapoha Readers
Asante Kotoko
 | ||