Jonathan Mensah
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Mensah is a Ghana
ian professional footballer, who currently plays as a defender
for Ligue 1
club Evian Thonon Gaillard F.C. in France
and the Ghana national team
.
To avoid confusion with the similarly named but unrelated John Mensah
, he typically plays with the name "Jonathan" on his shirt.
in the 2008 off-season and was signed from top Ghanaian side Ashanti Gold SC
. In July 2009, there was speculation about a possible move to Greek
club Panathinaikos
, but Mensah ultimately decided to stay at his South African club. In January 2010, after joining Udinese, he moved to Spanish club Granada CF
on loan. As Udinese lack of non-EU registration quota, he practically owned by the sister club Granada.
On 8 July 2011, Jonathan moved to newly promoted French Ligue 1
side Evian, signing a four-year contract for undisclosed fee.
in Kigali
and helped Ghana claim the prestigious cup. His performances during this competition earned him a call-up to the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa
where he was given the number 8 shirt usually worn by Michael Essien
. He established himself as a central defensive partner for John Mensah
in the absence, through injury, of first-choice centre back Isaac Vorsah
. He played in two out of the three group stage games for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
and also in the round of 16 win against United States
.
Ghana U-20
Ghana
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 professional footballer, who currently plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club Evian Thonon Gaillard F.C. in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Ghana national team
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...
.
To avoid confusion with the similarly named but unrelated John Mensah
John Mensah
John Mensah is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for French club Lyon in Ligue 1, although he spent the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons on loan at English club Sunderland in the Premier League...
, he typically plays with the name "Jonathan" on his shirt.
Career
Mensah joined Free State StarsFree State Stars
Free State Stars are a football club based in Bethlehem, Free State province .-History:Originally founded in 1979 and previously known as Qwa Qwa Stars, the club's franchise was sold to the Premier Soccer League in 2002....
in the 2008 off-season and was signed from top Ghanaian side Ashanti Gold SC
Ashanti Gold SC
Ashanti Gold Sporting Club is a football team based it the gold mining town of Obuasi, south of Kumasi, in the Ashanti region of Ghana.-Founding years:...
. In July 2009, there was speculation about a possible move to Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
club Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
, but Mensah ultimately decided to stay at his South African club. In January 2010, after joining Udinese, he moved to Spanish club Granada CF
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
on loan. As Udinese lack of non-EU registration quota, he practically owned by the sister club Granada.
On 8 July 2011, Jonathan moved to newly promoted French Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
side Evian, signing a four-year contract for undisclosed fee.
International career
In 2009 Mensah was in the Ghana team for the under 20 youth championship2009 African Youth Championship
The 2009 African Youth Championship is a football tournament for Under 20 players. It was held in Rwanda from the 18th of January until the 1st of February 2009....
in Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
and helped Ghana claim the prestigious cup. His performances during this competition earned him a call-up to the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he was given the number 8 shirt usually worn by Michael Essien
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
. He established himself as a central defensive partner for John Mensah
John Mensah
John Mensah is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for French club Lyon in Ligue 1, although he spent the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons on loan at English club Sunderland in the Premier League...
in the absence, through injury, of first-choice centre back Isaac Vorsah
Isaac Vorsah
Isaac Vorsah is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Fußball-Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany and the Ghana national football team.- Career :...
. He played in two out of the three group stage games for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and also in the round of 16 win against United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 8, 2011 | Antwerp | 4-1 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
Titles and Honours
YouthGhana U-20
Ghana national under-20 football team
Ghana national U-20 football team known as the Black Satellites, the current FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions and African Youth Champions, have been a three-time African Champion in 1995, 1999, 2009 and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993 and 2001...
- 2009 African Youth Championship2009 African Youth ChampionshipThe 2009 African Youth Championship is a football tournament for Under 20 players. It was held in Rwanda from the 18th of January until the 1st of February 2009....
- *FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
Gold Medal: 20092009 FIFA U-20 World CupThe 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
Ghana
- Africa Cup of Nations Silver Medal: 2010
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
Quarter Final: 20102010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...