Gyan Asamoah

Asamoah Gyan (born November 22, 1985 in Accra) is a Ghanaian International Association player who plays as a striker for Stade Rennais F.C. in the French Ligue 1. Gyan Asamoah is the first Ghanaian Player ever to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Club career

Having signed for Udinese Calcio in 2003 from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals F.C., Gyan would spend two-years on loan at Serie B club Modena F.C. primarily to gain experience. Following some excellent displays during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Gyan Asamoah attracted interest from Russia. Gyan Asamoah would return to Udinese at the beginning of 2006, but on 17 February, 2007, Udinese pulled out of a deal to sell Gyan in the January transfer window. The then 21-year-old striker was on the verge of signing a three-year deal with Russian Club Lokomotiv Moscow for US$10.5m, the fourth largest in Russian football history. "The striker Udinese targeted to replace me did not sign for them," Gyan told BBC Sport. "I've been told I will now have to stay in Italy for the rest of the season."

On 10 August, along with Fabio Quagliarella, Asamoah signed an improved 5-year contract-extension which would keep Gyan Asamoah at Udinese until 30 June 2012 as a reward of Gyan Asamoah

Gyan Asamoah was linked with a move to Manchester United F.C., Arsenal F.C. and A.C. Milan by the Italian media on 29 July 2007 following Gyan Asamoah impressive Pre-season form, including a hattrick in a friendly against Serie B outfit Spezia Calcio 1906 on 25 July, before Udinese tied Gyan Asamoah to the long term deal. Gyan scored ten goals in 2006-07 to help the Stadio Friuli Club to finish in tenth place in Serie A.

Gyan Asamoah got injured during the 2007-08 Season and never played for Udinese again after January 2008. Gyan Asamoah played in 13 Serie A matches and scored 4 times that season. On July 11 2008, Asamoah was signed by French Ligue 1 Club Stade Rennais for 4 years on an €8 million transfer fee.

International career

Gyan scored the fastest goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup; a 68-seconds goal, which also happened to be Ghana's first ever goal in the world cup finals, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup - Group E Czech Republic vs Ghana against the Czech Republic national football team on 17 June 2006 at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, which set the Black Stars on their way to a thrilling 2-0 victory. Gyan Asamoah missed a penalty later in the game, and 2006 FIFA World Cup disciplinary record (ruling Gyan Asamoah out of the final group game) for trying to take the penalty too early. In Ghana's defeat to Brazil national football team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage Brazil vs Ghana, Gyan Asamoah was sent off in the 81st minute after collecting Gyan Asamoah second booking of the match (for Diving (football)).

Gyan Asamoah was part of the Men's Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics (team squads) Ghana, who exited Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's tournament, having finished in third place in Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men%27s tournament Group B after Ghana was tied on 4 points, 0 goal difference and 2-2 Head-to-Head with eventual gold medal winners Italy national football team. Ghana had scored 4 and conceded 4.

Gyan scored on Gyan Asamoah senior International debut for Ghana national football team against Somalia national football team on 19 November 2003 in the 90th minute, after coming on for Isaac Boakye in the 62nd minute in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier, 3 days before Gyan Asamoah turned 18 years; helping Ghana to win that game. Gyan Asamoah went on to score four times in seven matches during that successful World Cup qualifying campaign. Gyan Asamoah has scored 13 times in 27 appearances for Ghana.

On January 24 2008 during the 2008 African Cup of Nations Gyan and Gyan Asamoah brother Baffour decided to walk out on the Black Stars following criticism after their unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia national football team. The media learnt the brothers had packed their bags and were ready to leave the team hotel but were persuaded to stay by team-mates.

Personal life

Gyan Asamoah brother, Baffour Gyan, currently plays in Russia for Saturn Ramenskoye.