Emmanuel Boakye
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Kwame "Ymmi" Agyeman Boakye (born March 25, 1985 in Ejura
, Ghana
) is a Ghana
ian footballer
who plays as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam
in the Dutch Eredivisie
.
) as a child and moved to FC Utrecht youth as a teenager. Ajax
scouts discovered him in 2000. The defender, who can play as a right fullback but also in the center of defense, joined the Ajax B1 youth team in 2000.
Boakye was first added to the Ajax-1 squad in the fall of 2005 by head-coach Danny Blind
, as many Ajax defenders were injured or suspended at the time. The youngster made his first team début on 24 September 2005 in the Eredivisie home game against Roda JC. In total, Emmanuel Boakye had six appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie
, plus another four in the post-season Eredivisie
play-offs and one in the Dutch Cup competition.
Ajax offered the player a contract renewal in April 2006, and the Ghana
ian started the new season with the first squad, but at the end of the pre-season campaign Ajax and the player agreed that a transfer on loan would be best for his development. Boakye was soon linked with two Eredivisie
outfits. When Sparta Rotterdam
lost interest the choice for Heracles Almelo
was easily made.
On 10 August 2006, Ajax defender Boakye was loaned out to Eredivisie
side Heracles Almelo
for the remainder of the 2006–2007 season, officially until 30 June 2007. Ajax and Heracles agreed a one year loan deal, effective immediately. The Ghanaian defender extended his Ajax contract until 2008 in April 2006, but would not have seen much action in Amsterdam this season, with defenders such as Jaap Stam
, Thomas Vermaelen, Johnny Heitinga and George Ogararu
above him in Henk ten Cate
's pecking order.
On 18 June 2007, Boakye made his loan move permanent, sealing a three-year deal with Heracles Almelo
from rivals Ajax Amsterdam
. He made 31 appearances whilst on loan at Heracles. "We are extremely happy that we could sign such a young and good defender for three years," Heracles Almelo director Nico Jan Hoogma said. "The competition for him was fierce but we nevertheless managed to do it." Boakye opted for Almelo despite offers from Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and SC Heerenveen.
In June 2009 Boakye signed for Sparta Rotterdam, but his first season with them was cut short through injury.
.
On Friday 19 January 2007, Boakye was called up by Ghana Olympic coach Jones Attuquayefio into the Ghana Olympic squad
for a 2-legged qualifying match against Burkina Faso's Olympic team
in the qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
Ejura
Ejura is the largest maize producing district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is in the far north of the region, near the Afram River. Ejura is connected by highways with the towns of Mampong, Yeji and Techiman. It is home to the Digya National Park / Kujani Game Reserve.It is also the location...
, 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...
) is a 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 footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
.
Club career
A strong, confident and aggressive attacking right wingback, with lots of speed and skill, Boakye moved to The Netherlands in 1993, and played for amateur side Zuidvogels (from the town of HuizenHuizen
Huizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The name "Huizen" is Dutch for "houses" and this usage has been linked to the belief that the first stone houses in the region appeared here.-History:...
) as a child and moved to FC Utrecht youth as a teenager. Ajax
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
scouts discovered him in 2000. The defender, who can play as a right fullback but also in the center of defense, joined the Ajax B1 youth team in 2000.
Boakye was first added to the Ajax-1 squad in the fall of 2005 by head-coach Danny Blind
Danny Blind
Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind is a football coach and former Dutch international player. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team.Blind was born in Oost-Souburg, Netherlands...
, as many Ajax defenders were injured or suspended at the time. The youngster made his first team début on 24 September 2005 in the Eredivisie home game against Roda JC. In total, Emmanuel Boakye had six appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, plus another four in the post-season Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
play-offs and one in the Dutch Cup competition.
Ajax offered the player a contract renewal in April 2006, and the 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 started the new season with the first squad, but at the end of the pre-season campaign Ajax and the player agreed that a transfer on loan would be best for his development. Boakye was soon linked with two Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
outfits. When Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
lost interest the choice for Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
was easily made.
On 10 August 2006, Ajax defender Boakye was loaned out to Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
side Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
for the remainder of the 2006–2007 season, officially until 30 June 2007. Ajax and Heracles agreed a one year loan deal, effective immediately. The Ghanaian defender extended his Ajax contract until 2008 in April 2006, but would not have seen much action in Amsterdam this season, with defenders such as Jaap Stam
Jaap Stam
Jakob "Jaap" Stam is a retired Dutch football player who was twice voted best defender in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League. He played for several European clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, S.S. Lazio, A.C. Milan and AFC Ajax before retiring in October 2007...
, Thomas Vermaelen, Johnny Heitinga and George Ogararu
George Ogararu
Gheorghe Ogăraru, , is a Romanian footballer currently playing for FC Sion. His position on the pitch is right defender.-Steaua Bucureşti:...
above him in Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate is a Dutch football manager and a former professional player.In the 2005–06 season, he was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title...
's pecking order.
On 18 June 2007, Boakye made his loan move permanent, sealing a three-year deal with Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
from rivals Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
. He made 31 appearances whilst on loan at Heracles. "We are extremely happy that we could sign such a young and good defender for three years," Heracles Almelo director Nico Jan Hoogma said. "The competition for him was fierce but we nevertheless managed to do it." Boakye opted for Almelo despite offers from Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and SC Heerenveen.
In June 2009 Boakye signed for Sparta Rotterdam, but his first season with them was cut short through injury.
International career
Boakye holds both Ghanaian and Dutch citizenship. He has opted to represent the national team of GhanaGhana 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...
.
On Friday 19 January 2007, Boakye was called up by Ghana Olympic coach Jones Attuquayefio into the Ghana Olympic squad
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...
for a 2-legged qualifying match against Burkina Faso's Olympic team
Burkina Faso national football team
The Burkina Faso national football team, nicknamed Les Etalons , is the national team of Burkina Faso and is controlled by the Fédération Burkinabé de Foot-Ball. They were known as the Upper Volta national football team until 1984, when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso...
in the qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
.
External links
- Official Ajax profile
- Heracles Profile
- Ghana Football Association – official website