Ibrahim Tanko
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Tanko is a former Ghana
ian footballer. He played mostly for Germany
's Borussia Dortmund
and SC Freiburg
, as a forward.
side BV Borussia Dortmund
from King Faisal Babes
at age 17, making him the third youngest player to appear professionally for the team, behind Nuri Şahin
and Lars Ricken
. He made his first team debut on September 24, 1994 in a 5–0 home win over VfB Stuttgart
, and finished his debut season with 14 games and one goal.
Injuries and loss of form led to an eventual release from the club (he did participate in three contests, all as a late substitute, in Borussia's 1996–97 Champions League victorious run) as he amassed no more than three league appearances in three different seasons, also being suspended and eventually released after testing positive for cannabis
.
In January 2001, Tanko joined fellow league side SC Freiburg
, scoring in his fourth game, a 3–1 win at VfL Bochum
, but also missing a great part of the following campaign due to a severe knee
injury, as the Black Forest
team dropped down a level
.
At Freiburg, Tanko's output improved slightly, and he played a career-high 27 matches (with two goals) in 2005–06's second level. However, he only appeared once the following season, and retired at 30.
On 1 July 2007, Tanko was named assistant coach for Freiburg's reserves, leaving after 18 months, together with Karsten Neitzel
, to J. League
's Urawa Red Diamonds
, in the same capacity, as he rejoined former Freiburg boss Volker Finke
.
for Ghana
, the last coming on October 10, 2004 - after an absence of eight years - in a 2006 World Cup qualifier
against the Democratic Republic of Congo
.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian footballer. He played mostly for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
and SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, as a forward.
Club career
Tanko joined German BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
side BV Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
from King Faisal Babes
King Faisal Babes
King Faisal Babes is a professional football club in Kumasi, Ghana, playing in the Ghana Telecom Premier League, and finished 3rd in 2005-06. They were represented at the FIFA World Cup 2006 by left-back Habib Mohamed, who was playing for Ghana. King Faisal Babes were relegated at the end of the...
at age 17, making him the third youngest player to appear professionally for the team, behind Nuri Şahin
Nuri Sahin
Nuri Kâzım Şahin is a German-born Turkish footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Turkish national team and Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga BBVA...
and Lars Ricken
Lars Ricken
Lars Ricken is a retired German footballer. The skilled midfielder represented Borussia Dortmund during his entire professional career, which spanned 15 years....
. He made his first team debut on September 24, 1994 in a 5–0 home win over VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, and finished his debut season with 14 games and one goal.
Injuries and loss of form led to an eventual release from the club (he did participate in three contests, all as a late substitute, in Borussia's 1996–97 Champions League victorious run) as he amassed no more than three league appearances in three different seasons, also being suspended and eventually released after testing positive for cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
.
In January 2001, Tanko joined fellow league side SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, scoring in his fourth game, a 3–1 win at VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
, but also missing a great part of the following campaign due to a severe knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury, as the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
team dropped down a level
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
.
At Freiburg, Tanko's output improved slightly, and he played a career-high 27 matches (with two goals) in 2005–06's second level. However, he only appeared once the following season, and retired at 30.
On 1 July 2007, Tanko was named assistant coach for Freiburg's reserves, leaving after 18 months, together with Karsten Neitzel
Karsten Neitzel
Karsten Neitzel is a German former footballer, who is now assistant manager of VfL Bochum.-External links:...
, to J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
's Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
, in the same capacity, as he rejoined former Freiburg boss Volker Finke
Volker Finke
Volker Finke is a German football manager and former player. He managed SC Freiburg from July 1991 to May 2007. This made him the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany...
.
International career
Tanko gained ten capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
, the last coming on October 10, 2004 - after an absence of eight years - in a 2006 World Cup qualifier
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Africa. 51 teams took part , competing for 5 World Cup places.The qualification was composed of two Rounds...
against the Democratic Republic of Congo
Congo DR national football team
The Congo DR national football team is the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association , and are nicknamed The Leopards.Congo have been ranked as high as 51 in the FIFA Rankings...
.