Ransford Osei

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ransford Osei


fullname = Ransford Osei
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|12|5
cityofbirth = Accra
countryofbirth = Ghana
height = height|m=1.70
currentclub = Maccabi Haifa
clubnumber = | position = Striker
youthyears = 2000-2002
2002-2005
youthclubs = S.C. Adelaide
Kessben F.C.
years = 2005 -2008
2008-
clubs = Kessben F.C.
Maccabi Haifa
caps(goals) = 30 (3)
nationalyears = 2006 - 2007-
nationalteam = Ghana U-17 Ghana
nationalcaps(goals) = 28 (17) 1 (0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate = 24 November 2007

Ransford Osei (born December 5, 1990 in Accra) is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays as a striker for Maccabi Haifa. He is part of Ghana national football team.

Career

Ransford Osei is in Israel to begin a loan spell with Maccabi Haifa that will last until December 2008.

A Striker described by FIFA.com as "an opportunistic goal machine"cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=587992.html |title=Osei keen to have the last word |accessdate=2007-09-17 |date=2007-09-17|author=FIFA |publisher=FIFA] with superb pace and movement [cite news | date=2007-09-17 | url=http://kr.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=412851 | title=African Under-17 Hottest Starlets | publisher=Goal.com| accessdate=2007-09-17] , young free-scoring sensation Osei was recognized by World Soccer Magazine as one of the "50 Most Exciting Teenagers on the Planet" in their November 2007 Issue.

When it comes to designing the perfect striker, he has one particular model in mind. "I'd love to have Patrick Kluivert's heading ability, the speed and ball control of Samuel Eto'o and the finishing skills of Thierry Henry. I've got a few videos of him that I watch very closely". "Whenever I miss chances I can't sleep at night," Osei, the adidas Silver Shoe winner at the 2007 U-17 World Cup, tells FIFA.com. "I go through them over and over again in my mind, replaying them until I find the exact movement I should have made out on the pitch. When I'm sure I've learned my lesson I relax a little bit, but even then I know I'm not going to sleep that well."cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=587992.html |title=Osei keen to have the last word |accessdate=2007-09-17 |date=2007-09-17|author=FIFA |publisher=FIFA] .

2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup

On August 20 he found the net twice in the 12 and 44th minute against Trinidad and Tobago in Ghana's 4-1 win during their first group game [cite news | date=2007-08-27 | url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=249415/match=58932/summary.html | title=Ghana shine against T&T | publisher=FIFA| accessdate=2007-08-27] . Osei went on to score two more goals against Germany and Colombia, to take Ghana into the last sixteen of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where they met and defeated favorites Brazil despite playing the entire second half with only ten men [cite news | date=2007-09-17 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6968882.stm | title=Ghana U-17 stun Brazil | publisher=BBC| accessdate=2007-09-17]

On September 1, Osei set up the first goal and scored the second as the Ghanaians beat Peru 2-0 to take them into the U-17 semi-final match against Spain [cite news | date=2007-09-17 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6974020.stm | title=Ghana through to semis | publisher=BBC| accessdate=2007-09-17] .

Osei finished the U-17 World Cup with the Adidas Silver Shoe as the competitions second highest goalscorer [cite news | date=2007-09-17 | url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=591322.html | title=Shining starlets pocket prizes | publisher=FIFA| accessdate=2007-09-17] , coming second by one goal to Macauley Chrisantus of Nigeria. He scored his sixth and final goal of the Tournament came in the third place play-off in the tournament as Ghana lost 2-1 to Germany.

Several European clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United are keen to sign this magnificent footballer, Ransford Osei.

On 28 February Ransford Osei was to join Polish club, Legia Warszawa. Only for half year loan, with option eventually buying, but unfortunately, FIFA blocked the transfer because of problems with work permit (aged under 18). Osei stayed in Kessben.

enior Internationals

On November 13 2007, three weeks before his 17th birthday, the young striking sensation received his first senior International call-up from Ghana Coach Claude Le Roy for a FIFA International friendly match against Togo at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana on November 18 2007cite web|url=http://www.ghanafa.org/news/read.asp?contentid=2306 |title=Starlets duo get senior's call |accessdate=2007-11-13 |date=2007-11-13|author=Ghana FA |publisher=Ghanafa.org] after bagging a superb hat-trick against Togo's U17 team [cite news | date=2007-11-12 | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/news/read.asp?contentid=2288 | title=Starlets re-open stadium with 4-1 win | publisher=GhanaFA| accessdate=2007-11-12] in a Junior International friendly at the same venue on Sunday November 11, 2007.

Honours

*2007 African U-17 Championship - Third place, Bronze
*2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot - Second place (Silver Boot)

References

External links

* [http://uk.news.yahoo.com/ap/20070820/img/psp-south-korea-soccer-u-17-75fc9d0282040.html Osei scores twice against T&T]
* [http://www.ghanafa.org/ Ghana Football Association] - official website
* [http://discussions.ghanaweb.com/viewforum.php?f=2/ Ghanaweb Football Forum] - Official Fan Forum
* [http://www.myzongo.com/Starlets-Qualify,3212.html Osei scores against Cote d'Ivoire]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT2j9icPyOI Osei scores against Peru] "Video"
* [http://www.kessbenfootballclub.com/ Kessben Football Club] - Kessben Football Club ( Kessben FC)
* [http://ransfordosei.net/ Ransford Osei] - Official Player Website