Jonathan Osei-Kuffour
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Osei-Kuffour (born 17 November 1981 in Edmonton
, Greater London
), is an English
-born Ghana
ian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Gillingham
on loan from Bristol Rovers
.
, he joined Arsenal
as a trainee, winning the FA Youth Cup
in 2000. He failed to break into the first team at Highbury and was allowed to join Swindon Town
on loan in August 2001. His league debut came on 25 August as a substitute as Swindon lost 2–0 at home to Oldham Athletic
. He left Arsenal at the end of the 2001–02
season and joined Torquay United
, initially on non-contract terms, in October 2002, signing a contract in December 2002. His Torquay debut came as a substitute in the 4–1 home defeat to Hull City
. He quickly became a regular in Leroy Rosenior
's side, scoring ten times in the 2003–04
side that won automatic promotion to the third tier of English football. He remained with Torquay, until 16 June 2006 when he joined Brentford on a free transfer, linking up again with Leroy Rosenior, despite having agreed to sign a new contract with Torquay earlier that month.
Kuffour's club form was rewarded with a call-up to the Ghana
squad for the game against Nigeria
on 6 February 2006. He was one of the few shining lights in a disastrous 2006–07
season for Brentford, scoring 12 league goals despite the team finishing bottom of the table.
Kuffour signed for Bournemouth
on 19 June 2007 on a Bosman free transfer
, after rejecting a new contract offer from Brentford that would have made him the best paid player at the club. It was also revealed that he rejected a move to Huddersfield Town
, because it was too far north and that he would only move north if it was to a Championship
side.
On 29 August 2008, Bristol Rovers
announced they had signed Kuffour on a three-year deal. He has made a massive impact at Rovers, including a volley at Leicester City
and a last-minute equaliser against Leeds United
. He finished the 2009–10 season as top scorer with 14 goals.
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
), is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on loan from Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
.
Career
After secondary school at St. Ignatius College, EnfieldEnfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
, he joined Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
as a trainee, winning the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in 2000. He failed to break into the first team at Highbury and was allowed to join Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on loan in August 2001. His league debut came on 25 August as a substitute as Swindon lost 2–0 at home to Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. He left Arsenal at the end of the 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
season and joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, initially on non-contract terms, in October 2002, signing a contract in December 2002. His Torquay debut came as a substitute in the 4–1 home defeat to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. He quickly became a regular in Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior is a professional football coach and pundit. He is a former professional footballer whose clubs included Fulham, Queens Park Rangers , Bristol City and West Ham United.As one of the few black football managers in England, Rosenior has spoken openly about the racism...
's side, scoring ten times in the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
side that won automatic promotion to the third tier of English football. He remained with Torquay, until 16 June 2006 when he joined Brentford on a free transfer, linking up again with Leroy Rosenior, despite having agreed to sign a new contract with Torquay earlier that month.
Kuffour's club form was rewarded with a call-up to the 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...
squad for the game 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...
on 6 February 2006. He was one of the few shining lights in a disastrous 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season for Brentford, scoring 12 league goals despite the team finishing bottom of the table.
Kuffour signed for Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on 19 June 2007 on a Bosman free transfer
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, after rejecting a new contract offer from Brentford that would have made him the best paid player at the club. It was also revealed that he rejected a move to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, because it was too far north and that he would only move north if it was to a Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side.
On 29 August 2008, Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
announced they had signed Kuffour on a three-year deal. He has made a massive impact at Rovers, including a volley at Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and a last-minute equaliser against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. He finished the 2009–10 season as top scorer with 14 goals.
External links
- Jo Kuffour player profile at afcb.co.uk