Anthony Annan

Football player infobox


playername = Tony Annan
fullname = Anthony Annan
height = height|meter=1.75
nickname = Pablo Aimar
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|07|21
cityofbirth = Accra
countryofbirth = Ghana
currentclub = Rosenborg BK
clubnumber = 4
position = Central midfielder
youthyears = 2002
2003
youthclubs = S.C. Adelaide
Eleven Wise
years = 2003–2005
2005–2007
2007–2008
2008–2008
2008→
clubs = Sekondi Hasaacas FC
Accra Hearts of Oak
I.K. Start
Stabæk (loan)
Rosenborg BK
caps(goals) = 0- 0(-)
0- 0(-)
11 0(0)
017 0(0)
03 0(0)
nationalyears =2007–
nationalteam = Ghana
nationalnumber =
nationalcaps(goals) = 0016 0(0)
pcupdate = 28 May 2008
ntupdate = 28 June, 2008

Anthony Annan (born July 21, 1986 in Accra) is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Norwegian club Rosenborg BK from 31st of August 2008. Rosenborg bough him from IK Start. He also played for Stabæk in 2008 on loan from IK Start. He is an all-action central midfielder who is very comfortable playing defensively.

Club career

Playing in Ghana

Anthony Annan began playing his football with a local colts Super Rainbow stars in cape-coast,Ghana.He also played for Cape-coast venomous Vipers in the Ghanaian Division one league before joined Sekondi Hasaacas in 2003 and later moved to Accra Hearts of oak in 2005. At Accra Hearts of Oak, Annan was regarded as the best young midfielder in Ghana. He combined midfield artistry with some goal scoring skills, and endeared himself to many football fans in Ghana. Anthony Annan joined Accra Hearts of Oak from Sekondi Hasaacas FC in the 2005/2006 league season.

Transfer to Norway

He signed for the Norwegian club I.K. Start in January 2007 , after a very promising career in Ghana with local club Accra Hearts of Oak. He quickly established himself as a first team regular during I.K. Start's preseason games, and showed skills both off and on the ball. Unfortunately he was plagued by injury and illness during the first part of the 2007 season, and did not gain trust from then headcoach Benny Lennartson in the important final games to avoid relegation.

After Start got relegated during the 2007 season, he joined Stabæk on loan until August 2008. He has been playing well in the heart of midfield as Stabæk has yet to loose in an impressive opening half of the season. Stabæk has hinted that they want to buy him from Start, but Start have stated that they would have to pay a "European transfer-fee". Instead, Annan has claimed that several "big" clubs have approached his agent and that he will leave Norway during the summer.

On August 1st, 2008 it was revealed that Annan would be travelling to England for a trial with Blackburn Rovers. After impressing Paul Ince and the Blackburn coaching staff immensely, while on trial, he was sent back to his club to play in one more competitive game where the Blackburn Rovers scouts were to watch and report back on whether or not to complete the signing. It is also rumoured that Arsenal and Everton wanted to have Annan for a trial, but his first-team responsibilities with Stabæk prevented it from happening.

On August 31st he was presented for the audience on Lerkendal as Rosenborg-player before the match against Vålerenga. Rosenborg paid £1,2 million to get him from Start. (Rosenborg won the game against Vålerenga 2-1) He made his league debut for Rosenborg on 14 September, 2008 against Fredrikstad, a game ending 1-1.

National team

A Junior and Olympic International for Ghana, Annan received his first senior call up for the national team on 20 March 2007 as a direct injury replacement for Essien for Ghana's FIFA International friendlies against Austria and Brazil in 2007. [cite news | date=2007-03-21 | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/news/read.asp?contentid=1837 | title=Fresh call-ups for Ghana | work = Official Website | publisher=Ghana Football Association | accessdate=2007-03-21] His first cap came against Brazil on March 27, 2007 at the Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden when Ghana lost 0-1. [cite news |title= Stars fall to Love strike |url= http://www.ghanafa.org/news/read.asp?contentid=1851 |work= Official Website |publisher= Ghana Football Association |date= 2007-03-27 |accessdate= 2007-03-29 |quote= Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy had the opportunity to try out four uncapped players as he handed Anthony Annan a place in the starting line up in his debut game for the Black Stars.]

Annan was in fantastic form at the 2008 african cup of nations and is being scouted by numerous top flight European clubs, including Chelsea, Caen, and Borussia Dortmund. [cite news |title= Annan pleased with interest | url= http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,13962_3117062,00.html |publisher=SkySports |date=2008-02-15] . He is rated as one of the most exciting young talents in the World [cite news |title= The 10 most exciting young talents in world football | url= http://www.sportingo.com/football/a6989_most-exciting-young-talents |publisher=Sportingo |date=2008-02-15] . As per reports, Manchester United and Arsenal are heading the chase to sign him along with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander. [cite news |title= Big guns join Annan hunt | url= http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3970546,00.html |publisher=SkySports |date=2008-08-12] .

Playing style

Nicknamed Pablo Aimar in comparison to the Argentine national midfield superstar, Annan combines immense skill with a physical presence that complements his average height. Similar in style to Ghanaian midfield Superstar Michael Essien of Chelsea, Annan is touted as the next big thing to come out of Africa into Europe.

References

External links

* [http://www.anthonyannan.com/ AnthonyAnnan.com]
* [http://ikstart.no/ArticleLMWide.aspx?m=222&amid=400713 Anthony Annan player profile at ikstart.no]
* [http://www.ghanafa.org/ Ghana Football Association] - Ghana Football official website
* [http://fotball.fvn.no/tv/article72926.ece Video 1] , [http://fotball.fvn.no/tv/article73339.ece Video 2]
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3vzgv_sany0117_sport Annan Interview]