Nwankwo Kanu

Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu in a friendly in 2017
Personal information
Full name Nwankwo Kanu[1]
Date of birth (1976-08-01) 1 August 1976 (age 48)[2]
Place of birth Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward[2]
Youth career
0000–1992 Federation Works
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Iwuanyanwu Nationale 25 (15)
1993–1996 Ajax 54 (25)
1996–1999 Inter Milan 12 (1)
1999–2004 Arsenal 119 (30)
2004–2006 West Bromwich Albion 53 (7)
2006–2012 Portsmouth 143 (20)
Total 406 (98)
International career
1993 Nigeria U17 6 (5)
1996 Nigeria U23 6 (3)
1994–2011 Nigeria[4] 86 (12)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Nigeria
Olympic Games
Winner 1996 Atlanta
Africa Cup of Nations
Runner-up 2000
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Winner 1993
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nwankwo Kanu (listenⓘ) OON (born 1 August 1976) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was a member of the Nigeria national team, and played for Nigerian club Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.[5] He is widely considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time.[6] A member of the Arsenal 'Invincibles', he was named by the club as one of its greatest ever players.[7] He is one of the few Africans to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and an Olympic gold medal.

Kanu won a FIFA U-17 World Cup medal, a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, 3 Eredivisie titles, three FA Cup medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic gold medal.[8] He made the third-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times,[9] and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history.[10]

He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,[11] and African brand ambassador for digital TV operator StarTimes.[12] He is also the owner of Kanu Sports TV, an Internet sports television company.[13][14]

  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Whose Registrations have been Terminated by Either Party Between 01/07/2012 and 31/07/2012". The Football Association. p. 36. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Nwankwo Kanu". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Kanu: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  4. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Nwankwo Kanu - International Appearances". RSSSF.
  5. ^ "Nwankwo Kanu". Eurosport.com.
  6. ^ "SuperSport – Sports video, fixtures, results and news". SuperSport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Gunners Greatest 50 Players". www.arsenal.com. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Seoul 1988 – Men". FIFA. 3 August 1996. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007.
  9. ^ "All Time Player Records". Premiersoccerstats.com. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  10. ^ "The 50 Greatest African Players of All Time", Bleacher Report.com
  11. ^ "Kanu to tackle homeless problem". BBC Sport. 2 July 2008.
  12. ^ "StarTimes appoints Kanu Nwankwo as brand ambassador". Goal.com. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Kanu Nwankwo to launch first indigenous sports TV". AOI Football. 11 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Official website of Kanu Sports Television". kanusportstv.com. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.