Kwame Ayew
Encyclopedia
Kwame Ayew is a retired Ghana
ian footballer who played as a striker.
During nearly 20 years, in played professionally in six countries, mainly in Portugal
, where he appeared for four teams in the 90's.
, playing a couple of first division
seasons with FC Metz
, then moved to the Saudi Arabia
with Al-Ahli, and played in another country in the following two years, Italy
, appearing and scoring sparingly for U.S. Lecce
(for instance, he netted four goals in 1993–94's Serie A
, as his club ranked last with only 28 goals, a competition-worst).
Ayew moved to Portugal
in 1995, and would remain there in the following five years. He started with União de Leiria and Vitória de Setúbal
, then impressed at Boavista FC, also in the top division, scoring 15 times in 27 games in his second season, earning his side a best-ever (at the time) runner-up place, behind neighbours F.C. Porto.
After nearly 50 official goals for the Checquereds, Ayew moved to country giants Sporting Clube de Portugal: even though he was never an automatic first-choice at the club (having to battle for a starting berth with Alberto Acosta
, Edmilson
and Mbo Mpenza
), he scored seven times (starting 13 matches), as the Lions ended a 18-year drought and conquered the national championship.
In the following years, Ayew would play in Turkey
(two seasons) and China
(five), rarely settling with a club. In January 2007, the 33-year old returned to former side Setúbal, contributing solidly as the Sadinos
avoided topflight relegation by one point. He retired from the game shortly after.
that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, scoring six goals in as many games. In total, he won 25 senior caps
.
and Sola also played football, the former spending a big part of his career with Olympique de Marseille
. His nephews, André
, Rahim
and Jordan
, also played the sport professionally.
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 who played as a striker.
During nearly 20 years, in played professionally in six countries, mainly in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where he appeared for four teams in the 90's.
Club career
Ayew started playing professionally at only 17, in FranceFrance
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...
, playing a couple of first division
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....
seasons with FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
, then moved to the Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
with Al-Ahli, and played in another country in the following two years, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, appearing and scoring sparingly for U.S. Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....
(for instance, he netted four goals in 1993–94's Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, as his club ranked last with only 28 goals, a competition-worst).
Ayew moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1995, and would remain there in the following five years. He started with União de Leiria and Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
, then impressed at Boavista FC, also in the top division, scoring 15 times in 27 games in his second season, earning his side a best-ever (at the time) runner-up place, behind neighbours F.C. Porto.
After nearly 50 official goals for the Checquereds, Ayew moved to country giants Sporting Clube de Portugal: even though he was never an automatic first-choice at the club (having to battle for a starting berth with Alberto Acosta
Alberto Acosta
Alberto Federico 'Beto' Acosta is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker.In a professional career which spanned 18 years , he played for San Lorenzo in four different spells...
, Edmilson
Edmilson Gonçalves Pimenta
Edmilson Gonçalves Pimenta , simply Edmilson, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played in various offensive positions.-Football career:...
and Mbo Mpenza
Mbo Mpenza
Mbo Jérôme Mpenza is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a striker. He was capped by Belgium at international level, scoring three goals in 56 appearances...
), he scored seven times (starting 13 matches), as the Lions ended a 18-year drought and conquered the national championship.
In the following years, Ayew would play in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(two seasons) and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(five), rarely settling with a club. In January 2007, the 33-year old returned to former side Setúbal, contributing solidly as the Sadinos
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
avoided topflight relegation by one point. He retired from the game shortly after.
International career
Ayew was a member of the Ghana national football teamGhana 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...
that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, scoring six goals in as many games. In total, he won 25 senior caps
Cap (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...
.
Club statistics
| Season | Club | Nation | Match | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90/91 | Metz FC Metz Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its... |
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... |
? | ? |
| 90/92 | Metz | France | ? | ? |
| 92/93 | Al Ahli | Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World... |
22 | 14 |
| 93/94 | Lecce U.S. Lecce Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11.... |
Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
18 | 3 |
| 94/95 | Lecce | Italy | 16 | 4 |
| 95/96 | União Leiria | Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
13 | 1 |
| 96/97 | Vitória Setúbal Vitória F.C. Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72... |
Portugal | 23 | 8 |
| 97/98 | Boavista | Portugal | 29 | 16 |
| 98/99 | Boavista | Portugal | 27 | 15 |
| 99/00 | Sporting | Portugal | 26 | 7 |
| 00/01 | Yozgatspor Yimpas Yozgatspor Yimpaş Yozgatspor is a sports club located in Yozgat, Turkey. The football club plays in the league B. They played in Turkcell Super League between 2000-2002 and relegated to Third League in 2008-2009 season.-Links:* * * *... |
Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
19 | 11 |
| 01/02 | Kocaelispor Kocaelispor Kocaelispor, is the football team of İzmit, Turkey. They were founded in 1966 and played in the Turkish football league between 1980–1988 and 1992–2003. The best result for them was the 4th position in 1992–93 season... |
Turkey | 28 | 10 |
| 2003 | Changsha Ginde | China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
28 | 14 |
| 2004 | Inter Shanghai | China | 20 | 17 |
| 2005 | Inter Shanghai | China | ? | ? |
| 2006 | Inter Xian | China | ? | ? |
| 2007 | Vitória Setúbal | Portugal | 12 | 3 |
Personal
Football runs in Ayew's family: his brothers AbediAbédi Pelé
Abedi Ayew, known professionally as Abedi Pele is a former Ghana International football player and captain. Having been given the nickname "Pelé" in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazilian great Pelé, he found fame in France's Ligue 1 with Lille OSC and Olympique...
and Sola also played football, the former spending a big part of his career with Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. His nephews, André
André Ayew
André Morgan Rami Ayew is a Ghanaian football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker...
, Rahim
Abdul Rahim Ayew
Abdul Ibrahim Ayew also known as Rahim Ayew is a Ghanaian footballer, currently playing for Lierse SK.-Career:...
and Jordan
Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew , is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille.-Career:...
, also played the sport professionally.