Abédi Pelé
Encyclopedia
Abedi Ayew, known professionally as Abedi Pele (born 5 November 1964) is a former Ghana
International football player and captain. Having been given the nickname "Pelé" in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazil
ian great Pelé
, he found fame in France
's Ligue 1
with Lille OSC
and Olympique Marseille and was named African Footballer of the Year
in March 2004.
Two of his sons, Ibrahim
and André
also became Internationals for Ghana and were selected for the FIFA World Cup 2010.
.
, Germany
, Italy
and most famously France
where he was very instrumental in Marseille's prominence in the European Champions League during the early 1990s. Amongst his international accolades, he was often included in FIFA "All-star" selections and captained the African all-stars in their victory over their European counterparts in the Meridian Cup
of 1997.
He left Ghana for Qatar
after the 1982 African Cup of Nations
. After a short spell with F.C. Zürich
in Switzerland
he returned to Ghana but, after both Kotoko
and Hearts of Oak failed to sign him, joined AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
of Benin
. He would later return to Ghana and play for Real Tamale United
for a season. He started his European career in France with Chamois Niort, then Montpellier
and Lille
, before he moved to Olympique Marseille. He later joined Lyon
. He also played for Torino
of Italy, where he won the Best Foreign Player in Serie A
, before finishing his European sojourn with 1860 Munich.
Abedi Pele went on to sign a 2 year contract with Al Ain Club in the United Arab Emirates
and was nominated as one of the best foreign players to play in the UAE league.
He was the captain of Ghana's national football team for 6 years (1992–1998) and was one of the first African football players to finish highly in FIFA World Player of the Year
lists in 1991 and 1992. He is arguably Africa's most decorated and honored football player ever, winning the France Football
Magazine African player of the year award 3 times, the BBC sports person of the year, and the Confederation of African Football
version twice. He was also awarded the golden ball award for being the best player at the 1992 African Cup of Nations
, and was the "man of the match" in Marseille's
historic European Champions League final
win over Milan in 1993.
Abedi Pele played for Ghana
73 times and is considered the greatest football player in his country's history, and among the best in Africa
. He is the top goal scorer for Ghana's Black Stars in its 50 year footballing history with 33 goals. He was a fixture in the African Championships of the 1980s and 90s with his national team, and a member of Ghana's victorious team in the 1982 African Cup of Nations
, but he never had an opportunity to play in the FIFA World Cup
, as the Black Stars failed to qualify for the competition during his career. However, he was arguably the most dominant figure on the African football
scene for nearly a decade. His performance in the 1992 African Cup of Nations
is often cited as one of the most outstanding football displays by any player in a single tournament. His native Ghana reached the finals of the Cup that year, only to lose on penalties in the final to Ivory Coast after Abedi was suspended because of a Yellow card he received in the Semi-final match against Nigeria
. Prior to that, his 3 spectacular goals against Zambia
, Congo
and Nigeria
proved crucial in putting Ghana through to their 7th appearance in a CAN final - and their first final in 10 years. The performance earned him the added nickname of "The African Maradona
". His solo run goal against Congo in the quarter finals is often compared to Maradona's 2nd against England in the 1986 world cup. His backheader goal against Nigeria from the edge of the opponent's penalty box also heralded international acclaim.
Abedi holds the record for most appearances at the Nations Cup Finals, beating even the legendary Roger Milla
of Cameroon
to the record. He made his first appearance at the 13th Nations Cup Finals in Libya
in 1982 and for the next 16 years (ending at the 21st Finals
in Burkina Faso
) continued to grace the most prestigious football tournament on the continent, first as a member of Ghana's squad rising to become captain in 1991. Aside from his acclaimed exploits at the 1992 competition, Abedi also earned much acclaim for his 3 goals at the 1996 competition - where he led Ghana to the semi finals of the competition despite critics expecting him to be in the twilight of his career.
At the club level, he was a key figure in Olympique de Marseille's dominance of the French league - resulting in 4 league championships and 2 European Champions League finals appearances. An attacking midfielder
, Abedi became as famous for his sublime dribbling skills as well as a talent for scoring spectacular and often very important goals. Many such goals became regular "Goals of the Week" on ITN's weekly "European Football" program. At Marseille, he was a member of the team's "Magical Trio", along with Jean Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle
- spearheading perhaps Europe's strongest league side of the early 1990s. Abedi was the only remaining member of the trio still with the side when Marseille defeated Milan in the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final
in Munich
.
Ayew has the singular honour of participating in more FIFA organized charity matches than any other African player. He is very popular in many African countries, especially the French
-speaking countries because of his exploits in France. In countries such as Nigeria
and South Africa
, football fans still wear T-shirts bearing his name. He has become one of the continent’s most respected and important ambassadors. Abedi Pele is a member of FIFA
’s Football Committee, and of the player status committees of both FIFA and CAF. That explains why the South African FA made him a Spokesperson for their 2006 World Cup bid. Abedi is considered one of the best players in World History to not appear at the FIFA World Cup, and perhaps the greatest African football player ever.
In appreciation of Abedi's devout services to the country, the Ghanaian government awarded him the country's highest honour, the Order of the Volta (civil division). He thus becomes the first Ghanaian sportsman to be so honoured.
On 29 January 1997, the first UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match between Europe and Africa
was played in S.L. Benfica’s Estádio da Luz in Lisbon
Portugal
and was televised in 100 countries worldwide, including 30 in Africa, for a 60 million audience. Former Olympique de Marseille
midfielder Abedi Pele was on target with a stunning goal early in the first half and, after Vincent Guérin
had equalised for Europe just before half-time, it was the 1998 African Player of the Year, Mustapha Hadji
, who struck Africa’s 78th-minute winner in the 2-1 win.
In 2001, the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match format was changed slightly for the second All-Star Match to bring together great players aged between 35 and 45 who now revel in their ‘veteran’ status and play the game purely for pleasure. The squad sparked off memories of great footballing moments at club and international level
Football Ambassador
In June 2001 he was nominated by the present government of Ghana to serve as the next Chairman of the FA, an opportunity he later gave up for a more experienced former coach of Ghana for which in his own words said that this was to be an opportunity to learn from his superiors.
At present he owns a second division club, called Nania F.C.
, with the future hopes of nurturing the young talent to augment the fledging league of the country. He has also been involved with various Charity work across the Continent.
Controversy
He was recently embroiled in a serious alleged Second Division Promotion Play-off bribery scandal for which the Football Association found him and others guilty. The guilty verdict attracted fines and suspensions of Abedi and others, but these have been quashed by the Appeals Committee of the Football Association after determining that there were irregularities in the initial judgement of the Ghana Football Association
. The allegations stem from an astonishing 31-0 victory recorded by his club, Nania FC over a much respected Okwawu United
side. A similarly farcical 28-0 result was recorded in another second division match played between Great Mariners and Tudu Mighty Jets
on the same weekend. The clubs involved in that Second Division Promotion Play-off Zone III match were also investigated and subject to the prospect of stiff penalties and demotions. Despite his vehement denials, Abedi had been chastised by some members of the Ghanaian media
, who were demanding that strong punitive actions be taken against him, by Ghana's football governing body as well as the legal system. His wife Maha Ayew was on 3 November 2008 banned from football against this Manipulations Scandal.
He currently features in the EA Sports
FIFA 06
, FIFA 07
, FIFA 08
, FIFA 10
, FIFA 11
and FIFA 12
video game as a star of their Classic Eleven team.
Olympique de Marseille
UEFA Champions League
with Olympique de Marseille
Winner: 1993 http://files.filefront.com/7248585 European Cup
with Olympique de Marseille
Finalist medal: 1991 French Ligue 1
with Olympique de Marseille
Winner: 1990/1991, 1991/1992 , 1992/1993 (revoked)
Al-Sadd
Prince of Qatar Cup with Al-Sadd
Winner: 1983
Al Ain Club Emir's Cup with Al Ain Club 1998/99
Ghana
Individual
and Sola Ayew (ex-Hearts of Oak and Black Meteors). He is also the father of André
, Jordan
, Rahim
, Imani and is married with Maha. Two of his children Andre and Abdul represented Ghana in the FIFA 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
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...
International football player and captain. Having been given the nickname "Pelé" in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian great Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, he found fame in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
with Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
and Olympique Marseille and was named African Footballer of the Year
African Footballer of the Year
The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
in March 2004.
Two of his sons, Ibrahim
Abdul Rahim Ayew
Abdul Ibrahim Ayew also known as Rahim Ayew is a Ghanaian footballer, currently playing for Lierse SK.-Career:...
and André
André Ayew
André Morgan Rami Ayew is a Ghanaian football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker...
also became Internationals for Ghana and were selected for the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Early life
Abedi Ayew was born into a family in a small village called Kyebi near Dome at the northern outskirts of AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
.
Playing career
Abedi Pele was one of the pioneers of African football in Europe. One of the first great African players to make an impact on European club football, he played for teams in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and most famously France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he was very instrumental in Marseille's prominence in the European Champions League during the early 1990s. Amongst his international accolades, he was often included in FIFA "All-star" selections and captained the African all-stars in their victory over their European counterparts in the Meridian Cup
UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup
The UEFA/CAF Meridian Cup features Under-18 representative sides from Europe and Africa, and is part of the co-operation programme between UEFA and the CAF.-Meridian Project:...
of 1997.
He left Ghana for Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
after the 1982 African Cup of Nations
African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
. After a short spell with F.C. Zürich
Fussballclub Zürich
Fussballclub Zürich, commonly abbreviated to just FC Zürich, is a Swiss football club from the city of Zürich. The club was founded in 1896 and have won the Swiss Super League 12 times and the Swiss Cup 7 times. The club won the 2009 Swiss Super League and last won the Swiss Cup in 2005...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
he returned to Ghana but, after both Kotoko
Kotoko
Kotoko may refer to:* Kotoko , a Japanese singer* The Kotoko kingdom of West Africa* The Kotoko languages of West Africa* The Kotoko people of West Africa* Kotoko, a character from Chobits...
and Hearts of Oak failed to sign him, joined AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
The AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé are a football club of Benin, playing in the town of Porto-Novo. They play in the Beninese first division, the Benin Premier League.-Achievements:...
of Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. He would later return to Ghana and play for Real Tamale United
Real Tamale United
Real Tamale United, often abbreviated as RTU, is a football club based in Tamale, Ghana. They are a member of the Ghana Telecom Premier League. Their home stadium is Kaladan Park.-History:...
for a season. He started his European career in France with Chamois Niort, then Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
and Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
, before he moved to Olympique Marseille. He later joined Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. He also played for Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
of Italy, where he won the Best Foreign Player in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, before finishing his European sojourn with 1860 Munich.
Abedi Pele went on to sign a 2 year contract with Al Ain Club in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and was nominated as one of the best foreign players to play in the UAE league.
He was the captain of Ghana's national football team for 6 years (1992–1998) and was one of the first African football players to finish highly in FIFA World Player of the Year
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award given annually to the male and female player who were thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams...
lists in 1991 and 1992. He is arguably Africa's most decorated and honored football player ever, winning the France Football
France Football
France Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. It's one of the most reputable sports publications in Europe, mostly because of their photographic reports and accurate statistics of the big European Cup matches, and extensive coverage of the European...
Magazine African player of the year award 3 times, the BBC sports person of the year, and the Confederation of African Football
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
version twice. He was also awarded the golden ball award for being the best player at the 1992 African Cup of Nations
1992 African Cup of Nations
The 1992 African Cup of Nations was the 18th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Senegal. The field expanded to twelve teams, split into four groups of three; the top two teams in each group advanced to the quarterfinals...
, and was the "man of the match" in Marseille's
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
historic European Champions League final
1993 UEFA Champions League Final
The 1993 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match between French club Marseille and Italian club Milan, played on 26 May 1993 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany....
win over Milan in 1993.
Abedi Pele played for Ghana
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...
73 times and is considered the greatest football player in his country's history, and among the best in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He is the top goal scorer for Ghana's Black Stars in its 50 year footballing history with 33 goals. He was a fixture in the African Championships of the 1980s and 90s with his national team, and a member of Ghana's victorious team in the 1982 African Cup of Nations
1982 African Cup of Nations
The 1982 African Cup of Nations was the 13th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Libya. Just like in 1980, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
, but he never had an opportunity to play in the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, as the Black Stars failed to qualify for the competition during his career. However, he was arguably the most dominant figure on the African football
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
scene for nearly a decade. His performance in the 1992 African Cup of Nations
1992 African Cup of Nations
The 1992 African Cup of Nations was the 18th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Senegal. The field expanded to twelve teams, split into four groups of three; the top two teams in each group advanced to the quarterfinals...
is often cited as one of the most outstanding football displays by any player in a single tournament. His native Ghana reached the finals of the Cup that year, only to lose on penalties in the final to Ivory Coast after Abedi was suspended because of a Yellow card he received in the Semi-final match against Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
. Prior to that, his 3 spectacular goals against Zambia
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
, Congo
Congo national football team
The Congo national football team, nicknamed the Diables Rouges , is the national team of the Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but did win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972...
and Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
proved crucial in putting Ghana through to their 7th appearance in a CAN final - and their first final in 10 years. The performance earned him the added nickname of "The African Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
". His solo run goal against Congo in the quarter finals is often compared to Maradona's 2nd against England in the 1986 world cup. His backheader goal against Nigeria from the edge of the opponent's penalty box also heralded international acclaim.
Abedi holds the record for most appearances at the Nations Cup Finals, beating even the legendary Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
of Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
to the record. He made his first appearance at the 13th Nations Cup Finals in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1982 and for the next 16 years (ending at the 21st Finals
1998 African Cup of Nations
The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st edition of the African Cup of Nations , the national football championship of Africa, administered by the Confederation of African Football . Just like in 1996, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...
in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
) continued to grace the most prestigious football tournament on the continent, first as a member of Ghana's squad rising to become captain in 1991. Aside from his acclaimed exploits at the 1992 competition, Abedi also earned much acclaim for his 3 goals at the 1996 competition - where he led Ghana to the semi finals of the competition despite critics expecting him to be in the twilight of his career.
At the club level, he was a key figure in Olympique de Marseille's dominance of the French league - resulting in 4 league championships and 2 European Champions League finals appearances. An attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, Abedi became as famous for his sublime dribbling skills as well as a talent for scoring spectacular and often very important goals. Many such goals became regular "Goals of the Week" on ITN's weekly "European Football" program. At Marseille, he was a member of the team's "Magical Trio", along with Jean Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle is a former footballer from England. He played for a number of clubs in the 1980s and 90s, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France...
- spearheading perhaps Europe's strongest league side of the early 1990s. Abedi was the only remaining member of the trio still with the side when Marseille defeated Milan in the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final
1993 UEFA Champions League Final
The 1993 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match between French club Marseille and Italian club Milan, played on 26 May 1993 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Ayew has the singular honour of participating in more FIFA organized charity matches than any other African player. He is very popular in many African countries, especially the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking countries because of his exploits in France. In countries such as Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, football fans still wear T-shirts bearing his name. He has become one of the continent’s most respected and important ambassadors. Abedi Pele is a member of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
’s Football Committee, and of the player status committees of both FIFA and CAF. That explains why the South African FA made him a Spokesperson for their 2006 World Cup bid. Abedi is considered one of the best players in World History to not appear at the FIFA World Cup, and perhaps the greatest African football player ever.
In appreciation of Abedi's devout services to the country, the Ghanaian government awarded him the country's highest honour, the Order of the Volta (civil division). He thus becomes the first Ghanaian sportsman to be so honoured.
On 29 January 1997, the first UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match between Europe and Africa
Europe XI v Africa XI (1997)
Europe XI v Africa XI was a friendly football match that took place on January 29, 1997 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, between a European select side and an African select side. The match was jointly organized by UEFA and CAF as part of the European Year against Racism...
was played in S.L. Benfica’s Estádio da Luz in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and was televised in 100 countries worldwide, including 30 in Africa, for a 60 million audience. Former Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
midfielder Abedi Pele was on target with a stunning goal early in the first half and, after Vincent Guérin
Vincent Guérin
Vincent Guérin is a former footballer who played in a midfield role, currently the reserve coach at Paris Saint-Germain.-Career:...
had equalised for Europe just before half-time, it was the 1998 African Player of the Year, Mustapha Hadji
Mustapha Hadji
Mustapha Hadji in Ifrane, Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco is a former Moroccan footballer.-Early life:Hadji was born in Ifrane, Morocco. He immigrated with his family to France.-Club career:Mustapha Hadji began playing football there...
, who struck Africa’s 78th-minute winner in the 2-1 win.
After retirement
CAF-UEFA All StarIn 2001, the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match format was changed slightly for the second All-Star Match to bring together great players aged between 35 and 45 who now revel in their ‘veteran’ status and play the game purely for pleasure. The squad sparked off memories of great footballing moments at club and international level
Football Ambassador
In June 2001 he was nominated by the present government of Ghana to serve as the next Chairman of the FA, an opportunity he later gave up for a more experienced former coach of Ghana for which in his own words said that this was to be an opportunity to learn from his superiors.
At present he owns a second division club, called Nania F.C.
Nania F.C.
Nania F.C. is an Ghanaian football club based in Legon. They are a member who are in Division One Middle League.-Match fixing Scandal:...
, with the future hopes of nurturing the young talent to augment the fledging league of the country. He has also been involved with various Charity work across the Continent.
Controversy
He was recently embroiled in a serious alleged Second Division Promotion Play-off bribery scandal for which the Football Association found him and others guilty. The guilty verdict attracted fines and suspensions of Abedi and others, but these have been quashed by the Appeals Committee of the Football Association after determining that there were irregularities in the initial judgement of the Ghana Football Association
Ghana Football Association
The Ghana Football Association is the governing body of association football in Ghana, based in Accra.-Amateur Status:It is on record that the game of Football was introduced into the Gold Coast towards the close of the 19th century by Merchants from Europe, who had then invaded the coastal areas...
. The allegations stem from an astonishing 31-0 victory recorded by his club, Nania FC over a much respected Okwawu United
Okwawu United
Okwahu Stores United Nkawkaw is an Ghanaian football club based in Nkawkaw. They are a member of the Ghana Telecom Premier League. Their home stadium is Nkawkaw Park.-Match Fixing Scandal:...
side. A similarly farcical 28-0 result was recorded in another second division match played between Great Mariners and Tudu Mighty Jets
Tudu Mighty Jets
Tudu Mighty Jets are a Ghanian football Club, based in Accra, currently competing in the Ghana Premier League.-History:The club won on 11 May 2010 the playoffs against Nania F.C. in the Poly Tank Division One League Zone III playoffs and climbed in the Ghana Premier League.-Current Players:...
on the same weekend. The clubs involved in that Second Division Promotion Play-off Zone III match were also investigated and subject to the prospect of stiff penalties and demotions. Despite his vehement denials, Abedi had been chastised by some members of the Ghanaian media
Media of Ghana
The media of Ghana, now one of the most free in Africa, has previously undergone a series of government overthrows by military leaders and periods of severe restriction. Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of the press and independence of the media, while Chapter 2...
, who were demanding that strong punitive actions be taken against him, by Ghana's football governing body as well as the legal system. His wife Maha Ayew was on 3 November 2008 banned from football against this Manipulations Scandal.
He currently features in the EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
FIFA 06
FIFA 06
FIFA 06, also known as FIFA Soccer 06, is a video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts based around the game of football. It was released in the United States on 4 October 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, and...
, FIFA 07
FIFA 07
FIFA 07 is the 2007 edition of EA Sports' series of football simulator video games. Developed by EA Canada, it is published by Electronic Arts....
, FIFA 08
FIFA 08
FIFA 08 is the 2008 installment of EA Sports' series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it is published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was released on all popular gaming formats in September 2007 in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and in October 2007 in North...
, FIFA 10
FIFA 10
carlos leivaFIFA 10 is the 17th title in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it was published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was released on 2 October 2009 in Europe, 30 September in Australia and 20 October 2009 in North America...
, FIFA 11
FIFA 11
FIFA 11 is the 18th title in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it was published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label...
and FIFA 12
FIFA 12
FIFA 12 is the nineteenth game in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of association football video games. It was developed by EA Canada, and published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. David Rutter, the line producer for FIFA 12, promised "a revolutionary year for FIFA .....
video game as a star of their Classic Eleven team.
Club career (Domestic league)
| Club | Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | ||
| Real Tamale United Real Tamale United Real Tamale United, often abbreviated as RTU, is a football club based in Tamale, Ghana. They are a member of the Ghana Telecom Premier League. Their home stadium is Kaladan Park.-History:... |
1980 | 11 | 0 |
| 1981 | 12 | 7 | |
| 1982 | 23 | 14 | |
| Sadd Sports Club | 1982-83 | 8 | 7 |
| Zürich | 1983-84 | 18 | 9 |
| AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé The AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé are a football club of Benin, playing in the town of Porto-Novo. They play in the Beninese first division, the Benin Premier League.-Achievements:... |
1984 | 8 | 11 |
| Real Tamale United Real Tamale United Real Tamale United, often abbreviated as RTU, is a football club based in Tamale, Ghana. They are a member of the Ghana Telecom Premier League. Their home stadium is Kaladan Park.-History:... |
1985 | 19 | 7 |
| Chamois Niortais | 1986-87 | 32 | 14 |
| Mulhouse FC Mulhouse Football Club de Mulhouse is a French association football club based in Mulhouse. The club was founded in 1893 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football. Mulhouse plays its home matches at the Stade de l'Ill located within the city... |
1987-88 | 16 | 5 |
| Olympique Marseille Olympique de Marseille Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In... |
1987-88 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988-89 | 4 | 0 | |
| Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
1988-89 | 24 | 7 |
| 1989-90 | 37 | 9 | |
| Olympique Marseille Olympique de Marseille Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In... |
1990-91 | 32 | 5 |
| 1991-92 | 36 | 12 | |
| 1992-93 | 35 | 6 | |
| Olympique Lyonnais Olympique Lyonnais Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The... |
1993-94 | 29 | 3 |
| Torino Torino F.C. Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football.... |
1994-95 | 32 | 10 |
| 1995-96 | 17 | 1 | |
| 1860 München TSV 1860 München Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season... |
1996-97 | 25 | 1 |
| 1997-98 | 25 | 1 | |
| Al Ain | 1998-99 | 20 | 17 |
| 1999-00 | 11 | 11 | |
| Career Totals | 479 | 157 | |
Major Honors and awards
ClubOlympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
with Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
Winner: 1993 http://files.filefront.com/7248585 European Cup
European Cup 1990-91
The 1990–91 season of the European Cup football club tournament was won for the first time by Red Star Belgrade on penalties in the final against Marseille. This was only the second time that an Eastern European side had won the competition, after Steaua Bucureşti of Romania...
with Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
Finalist medal: 1991 French Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
with Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
Winner: 1990/1991, 1991/1992 , 1992/1993 (revoked)
Al-Sadd
Al-Sadd
Sadd Sports Club known as Al-Sadd Club is a Qatari sports club, best known for its football team of the Qatar National First Division, from the city of Doha. The club goes with the Nickname "Al-Zaeem", which translates to "The Boss", and was founded by four students on the October 21, 1969 in...
Prince of Qatar Cup with Al-Sadd
Al-Sadd
Sadd Sports Club known as Al-Sadd Club is a Qatari sports club, best known for its football team of the Qatar National First Division, from the city of Doha. The club goes with the Nickname "Al-Zaeem", which translates to "The Boss", and was founded by four students on the October 21, 1969 in...
Winner: 1983
Al Ain Club Emir's Cup with Al Ain Club 1998/99
International
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...
- African Cup of Nations1982 African Cup of NationsThe 1982 African Cup of Nations was the 13th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Libya. Just like in 1980, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
Winner 1982 - African Cup of Nations1992 African Cup of NationsThe 1992 African Cup of Nations was the 18th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Senegal. The field expanded to twelve teams, split into four groups of three; the top two teams in each group advanced to the quarterfinals...
Finalist Medal 1992 - West African Nations Cup - SCSA Zone IIIWest African Nations CupThe West African Nations Cup, also known as CSSA Nations Cup or "Zone 3" Championship, was a football championship held from 1982 to 1987 , but discontinued...
Winner 1982, 1983, 1984 - 1996 African Cup of Nations1996 African Cup of Nations-Group B:---------------------Group C:------------ withdrew, so their three matches were canceled.*vs. , January 16, 1996*vs. , January 19, 1996*vs...
4th Place
Individual
- FIFA 100FIFA 100The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
- "Order of the Volta" (Civil division) – Highest Ghana National award
- African Footballer of the YearAfrican Footballer of the YearThe African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
Winner: 1991, 1992, 1993 - FIFA World Player of the YearFIFA World Player of the YearThe FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award given annually to the male and female player who were thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams...
: 9th 1992, Nomination 1991 - African Player of the Century by IFFHS 3rd Best
- Top 30 African Footballers in the last 50 years(2007) 5th Place
- African Footballer of the YearAfrican Footballer of the YearThe African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
Nominations: 85,86,87,88,89,90 - Italian Serie ASerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
Best Foreign Player Winner: 1995/96 - Fifa All-Star Forward: 1992,1993,1996,1997,1999 http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html
- 1992 African Nations Cup Player of the Tournament: Golden BallGolden BallGolden Ball may refer to:In sport:*Ballon d'Or , award given to the best football player of the year by France Football magazine*Golden Ball Award, award given to the best player of the FIFA World Cup...
Winner - BBC African Player of the Year Winner: 3 Times
- African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of NationsThe Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
Appearances: 5 Times - 1982,1992, 1994,1996,1998 - Ghana SWAG Best Colts (Young) Player Winner: 1978
- Most Capped GhanaGhana national football teamThe 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...
Player of All-Time: 73 International Caps & 33 Goals - On March 26, 2004, he was appointed a "(WAFUNIF) Special Envoy 4 Peace and Development"
- Ghana Footballer of the Year – Number of wins unknown?
Personal
Abedi is the brother of KwameKwame Ayew
Kwame Ayew is a retired Ghanaian footballer who played as a striker.During nearly 20 years, in played professionally in six countries, mainly in Portugal, where he appeared for four teams in the 90's.-Club career:...
and Sola Ayew (ex-Hearts of Oak and Black Meteors). He is also the father of André
André Ayew
André Morgan Rami Ayew is a Ghanaian football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker...
, Jordan
Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew , is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille.-Career:...
, Rahim
Abdul Rahim Ayew
Abdul Ibrahim Ayew also known as Rahim Ayew is a Ghanaian footballer, currently playing for Lierse SK.-Career:...
, Imani and is married with Maha. Two of his children Andre and Abdul represented Ghana in the FIFA 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.