ghanaian football player

Suleyman Ali “Sulley” Muntari ( have a bun in the oven 27 August 1984 ) is a ghanaian former professional football player who played as a central midfielder. During his fourth dimension with Internazionale, he helped the team win the Champions League in 2009–10 and the Serie A entitle in 2008–09 and 2009–10. He was besides separate of the Portsmouth team that won the FA Cup in 2007–08. After becoming a wide external in 2002, Muntari earned over 80 caps for the Ghanaian national team and was selected for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA World Cups.

He is the elder brother of Tambov actor Sulley Muniru. [ 4 ]

Club career [edit ]

early career [edit ]

Muntari ‘s abilities first came to light in young person tournaments, while he was playing for Liberty Professionals youth team. He became a regular member of Ghana under-20 team at the age of 16 as they finished runner-up at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, losing out to the hosts in the final. [ 5 ] Despite impressing during a trial with Manchester United after the tournament, [ 6 ] [ 7 ] he ended up joining italian club Udinese .

Udinese [edit ]

He joined Udinese in 2001, where his first season was spent in the reserves. He made his first-team debut on 6 November 2002, against Milan. In his second full season, he made 23 appearances, and increased his stand to 33 appearances the following season, [ 8 ] although indiscipline saw him sent off three times in 16 matches in the 2006–07 season. [ 9 ] He left Udinese for Portsmouth after five seasons in Italy .

portsmouth [edit ]

Muntari had already indicated a desire to move to the English Premier League, [ 10 ] when in early 2007 transfer bids were received from Portsmouth. He finally opted for Portsmouth [ 11 ] and transferred on 30 May 2007, for a newfangled club record fee, believed to be around £7.1 million, signing a five-year compress. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] He was a regular member of the first eleven throughout the 2007–08 season, playing 29 League matches and scoring four goals. He had his debut on 11 August 2007 against Derby County in an aside game. His performance of note was away at Aston Villa where he scored two dramatic long-range goals. [ 14 ] He besides played four FA Cup matches, scoring the winner from the punishment spot in a 1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Sixth rung of the FA Cup. He was in the start eleven that won the 2008 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium over Cardiff City. He left Fratton Park after one season to join Internazionale .

Internazionale [edit ]

Muntari with Inter On 2 March 2007, it was reported in the italian weight-lift that Internazionale were preparing a summer crack for the midfielder. Injuries to Esteban Cambiasso and Patrick Vieira underlined fair how unretentive of ball-winning midfielders the Nerazzurri were, and they would be looking to remedy the trouble in June 2007. Transfer consultants Marco Branca and Gabriele Oriali were looking around Europe for possible options and Muntari seemed to be their man at the insistence of coach Roberto Mancini, [ 15 ] although Muntari ultimately went to Portsmouth in the summer of 2007. On 21 July 2008, however, italian newspaper La Repubblica reported that with the probable failure of raw Inter coach José Mourinho to land his erstwhile Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, Muntari was now his top target cardinal midfield target. [ 16 ] The reports gathered tempo in the italian urge in the adjacent few days that Muntari had already agreed a four-year condense with Inter. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] But Portsmouth director Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports News, “ I do n’t want to sell him. He is one of my best players and is a fantastic young endowment ” when quizzed about Inter ‘s supposed pastime in Muntari. [ 19 ]
Muntari playing for Inter On 24 July 2008, the BBC [ 20 ] and Gazzetta dello Sport [ 21 ] reported that Muntari would complete a €14 million plus bonuses move to Inter. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] He finally completed his affect to Inter on 28 July 2008 and wore the act 20 new jersey, [ 24 ] previously worn by Álvaro Recoba for many years. On 22 November 2008, Muntari scored the winner, redirecting a contrary Zlatan Ibrahimović inject, in the Derby d’Italia against rivals Juventus. Two weeks by and by, Muntari scored a backheel goal against Napoli at the San Siro after a great crabbed from Maicon, a match that ended 2–1 for Inter. In the very last Serie A match of the season, on 31 May 2009 against Atalanta, he opened the marking for Inter after blasting in a Luís Figo crabbed from outside the penalty box. late, his stroke on goal was parried by the goalkeeper, but Esteban Cambiasso scored from the rally to make the score 3–3. Inter finally won 4–3 and Muntari won his first base Scudetto after his foremost temper with the club. On 15 January 2011, Inter Technical Director Marco Branca confirmed Muntari had handed in an official transfer request. A issue of Premier League clubs were speculated to be concerned in Muntari .

lend to Sunderland [edit ]

On 26 January 2011, Premier League baseball club Sunderland were given permission to hold talks with Muntari, [ 25 ] and on 29 January, he signed for Sunderland on loanword from Inter until the goal of the 2010–11 season. [ 26 ] On 7 May 2011, he was initially credited with his first and only goal in a 2–1 win over Bolton Wanderers, but this was subsequently recorded as a Zat Knight own goal. [ 27 ] On 13 May 2011, Sunderland opted not to sign Muntari on a permanent basis, and he returned to Inter. [ 28 ]

milan [edit ]

2011–12 temper [edit ]

On 31 January 2012, Muntari joined Milan on loanword. On 19 February 2012, Muntari scored his first finish as a Milan player on his debut, in a Serie A away match against Cesena, which Milan won 3–1. On 25 February 2012, with Milan leading 1–0 against Juventus, Muntari appeared to have doubled Milan ‘s lead with a header from a cross by Urby Emanuelson, however the goal was not given by reviewer Paolo Tagliavento despite the ball crossing the line while being saved by Gianluigi Buffon ; the pit ended 1–1. [ 29 ] On 2 May 2012, Muntari scored a goal against Atalanta in a game that ended 2–0, bringing Milan one luff behind leaders Juventus. Juventus finally went on to win the Serie A deed that year, beating Milan to the Scudetto by four points. Massimiliano Allegri said to Milan Channel in May 2012 that Muntari would play with Milan for a far two years until June 2014. Muntari officially signed for Milan on a spare transmit after his Inter compress expired on 1 July 2012 .

2012–13 season [edit ]

While on holiday in the off-season, Muntari picked up a knee wound playing beach football that could keep him out for the stallion first half of the 2012–13 temper. On 20 February 2013, Muntari scored a goal to give Milan a two-goal lead against Barcelona ahead of the moment leg in the stopping point 16 tie in the UEFA Champions League. [ 30 ] however, it was not enough as Barcelona knocked Milan out in the return key leg at the Camp Nou, 4–0 and 4–2 on sum. On 8 May 2013, Muntari scored his first goal in 2012–13 season in a match against Pescara, which Milan won 4–0. [ 31 ] Later that calendar month, he was fined €10,000 and suspended for two matches after being sent off during a game against Roma for manhandling referee Gianluca Rocchi whilst protesting a call. [ 32 ] [ 33 ]

2013–14 season [edit ]

On 6 October, Muntari put on an impressive performance for Milan as he scored two goals against Juventus, though Juventus went on to win the game 3–2. [ 34 ] On 16 December Muntari scored a late goal against Roma to salvage a 2–2 puff. [ 35 ] He was then sent off the surveil match against former club bury when he hit Zdravko Kuzmanović, receiving a three-match ban. [ 36 ] On 18 May, Muntari helped Milan win the three points against Sassuolo when Muntari scored a goal and helped Milan win the match 2–1. [ 34 ]

2014–15 temper [edit ]

On 18 June 2014, Muntari signed a new biennial contract with Milan. [ 37 ] On 31 August 2014, Muntari scored in Milan ‘s opening game in the 2014–15 Serie A as Milan beat Lazio 3–1. On 4 October, Muntari contributed to Milan ‘s 2–0 win against Chievo by scoring the opening goal of the game. [ 34 ] He was released by common consent on 30 June 2015. [ 38 ]

Ittihad FC [edit ]

On 28 July 2015, Muntari joined Saudi league team Ittihad FC on a biennial cope. A narrow worth €6 million. [ 39 ]

Pescara [edit ]

In January 2017 he returned to Italy by signing a six-month compress with Pescara. On 30 April 2017, Muntari left a Serie A match at Cagliari after his complaints of racist maltreatment were met with a yellow card. [ 40 ]

Deportivo La Coruña [edit ]

On 22 February 2018, Muntari joined spanish baseball club Deportivo de La Coruña until the end of the 2017–18 season. [ 41 ]

Albacete [edit ]

On 31 January 2019, after six months of inactiveness Muntari signed with Albacete until the conclusion of the season. [ 42 ]

International career [edit ]

youth [edit ]

Muntari represented Black Starlets at the 2001 meridian Cup, including a 1–1 draw with Portugal [ 43 ] and fall back to Italy 0–1. [ 44 ] Muntari then was chosen for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship as Ghana took second home .

aged [edit ]

Muntari dribbling the ball past opposition He won his first aged ceiling against Slovenia on 17 May 2002, and became a unconstipated repair in the team as The Black Stars opened their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He was selected for the Olympic side at Athens 2004, but was sent home for disciplinary reasons. [ 45 ] This started a dispute between Muntari and the Ghana Football Association ( GFA ), and he said that he would refuse to play for his nation again, setting the “ record ” for the youngest international retirement. [ 46 ] He retracted, making a public apology to the Association, [ 47 ] and was selected for the 2006 World Cup team. He played in the first two matches, a 2–0 frustration by Italy and a 2–0 acquire over the Czech Republic, in which he scored, but having received a yellow cards in each crippled. He was suspended for the game against the United States, but returned for the second round off match against Brazil, in which Ghana was eliminated .
He remained a regular extremity of the team, and appeared in the 2008 African Cup of Nations slope, scoring the achiever in the first group match against Guinea and the second goal in the last group match against Morocco. He scored his one-third finish of the tournament when he scored a free-kick against Ivory Coast in the third-place play-off. His goal against Guinea, a 25-metre left-footed pile-driver in the 89th minute, was voted one of the Best Goals of the Tournament. [ 48 ] He was voted as an All-Star Player during the 2008 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Ghana. The team of the Tournament was decided by the Technical Study Group ( TSG ) after careful observations of all the tournament ‘s matches. [ 49 ]
Muntari in action for Ghana Although expected to play for Ghana in the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, Muntari was excluded from the home team due to disciplinary problems. After purposefully missing an international friendly against Angola, he besides snubbed a meet with coach Milovan Rajevac. [ 50 ] Muntari later issued a full apology to his country and coach. [ 51 ] Muntari was selected for Ghana ‘s 2010 World Cup team. After not being included in the starting line-up for the team ‘s first two matches, Muntari was reportedly expelled from the team for insulting Rajevac and his teammates. [ 52 ] however, after an intervention by erstwhile captain Stephen Appiah, he was reinstated [ 53 ] and went on to make two far stand-in appearances against Germany and the United States before starting the quarter-final against Uruguay in locate of the suspend André Ayew. During the match, Muntari scored a long-range effort in first gear half stop time, putting Ghana ahead 1–0 at half-time. [ 54 ] On 2 June 2014, Muntari was named in Ghana ‘s squad for the 2014 World Cup. [ 55 ] In the team ‘s opening match, he was in the starting line-up for the Black Stars against the United States in a 2–1 defeat. [ 56 ] Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were sent home from the Black Stars camp in Brazil and suspended from the Ghana squad on 26 June 2014 for disciplinary reasons, only hours before the concluding Group peer against Portugal. Muntari reportedly assaulted Moses Armah, a member of former coach James Kwesi Appiah ‘s coaching staff. [ 57 ] [ 58 ]

style of play [edit ]

A former left-back, [ 59 ] Muntari late developed into a brawny, experienced, hard-working, and retentive midfielder ; although he is primarily known for his physical lastingness and battleful play dash, he was besides able to make celebrated improvements to his technical foul skills throughout his career. [ 60 ] He besides possesses a good left-foot, a brawny inject from outside the area, and is a solid passerby of the ball. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] He chiefly excels as a ball-winner, due to his energy, tactical news, and ability to break down the enemy ‘s act ; a versatile football player, although he is normally deployed as a defensive, central, or box-to-box midfielder, he is besides capable of playing as a left winger or even as an attacking midfielder. [ 61 ] [ 63 ] [ 64 ] due to his aggressive and hard-tackling style of bring, however, he has besides been criticised for his inclination to pick up cards. [ 63 ] [ 65 ]

personal liveliness [edit ]

In December 2010, Muntari married ghanaian businesswoman Menaye Donkor. [ 66 ] [ 67 ] 20 June 2015 it was reported Muntari ‘s wife has delivered a baby and the conserve was indeed stimulate about it. [ 68 ] His young brother is Sulley Muniru, who plays in the russian Liga I. [ 4 ] On 16 September 2020, Menaye Donkor confirmed the arrival of their second child, in an interview on GhOne television receiver. [ 69 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played on 30 April 2017[70]
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Udinese 2002–03 Serie A 12 0 2 0 — — 14 0
2003–04 Serie A 23 0 4 0 1[a] 0 — 28 0
2004–05 Serie A 33 2 6 0 2[b] 0 — 41 2
2005–06 Serie A 29 3 0 0 11[c] 0 — 40 3
2006–07 Serie A 28 3 2 1 — — 30 4
Total 125 8 14 1 14 0 — 153 9
Portsmouth 2007–08 Premier League 29 4 4 1 — — 33 5
Internazionale 2008–09 Serie A 27 4 3 0 7[a] 1 1[d] 1 38 5
2009–10 Serie A 27 2 5 0 9[a] 0 1[d] 0 42 2
2010–11 Serie A 8 1 1 0 3[a] 0 1[e] 0 13 1
2011–12 Serie A 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
Total 66 7 9 0 19 0 3 1 97 8
Sunderland (loan) 2010–11 Premier League 9 1 0 0 — — 9 1
Milan (loan) 2011–12 Serie A 13 3 1 0 0 0 — 14 3
Milan 2012–13 Serie A 15 1 1 0 2[a] 1 — 18 2
2013–14 Serie A 26 5 0 0 8[a] 1 — 34 6
2014–15 Serie A 16 2 1 0 — — 17 2
Total 70 11 3 0 10 2 — 83 13
Al-Ittihad 2015–16 Saudi Professional League 18 2 3 0 5 1 3 0 29 3
Pescara 2016–17 Serie A 9 1 0 0 — — 9 1
Career total 325 33 33 2 48 3 6 1 413 40

International [edit ]

Updated 21 June 2014

Ghana
Year Apps Goals
2002 2 2
2003 1 0
2004 5 1
2005 6 2
2006 11 3
2007 8 2
2008 12 4
2009 6 2
2010 6 2
2011 10 1
2012 8 1
2013 5 2
2014 4 0
Total 84 20
Score and Result lists Ghana’s goals first

Honours [edit ]

Portsmouth [ 73 ]
Inter [ 73 ]

International

  • 2008 Africa Cup of Nations: Team of the Tournament

References [edit ]