After more than 20 years in the top tier of professional football, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan has declared his official retirement. The 38-year-old represented Ghana 109 times from 2003 to 2019. He was a former captain of Ghana's national team and most recently played as a striker for Legon Cities in the Ghana Premier League. Gyan's professional career brought him from his hometown club Liberty Professionals to Italian clubs Modena and Udinese, French club Rennes, and English Premier League team Sunderland.
Gyan then played for Shanghai SIPG of the Chinese Super League and Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. Gyan, 37, played for Sunderland from 2010 to 2012 and was well-liked while residing in England. Before joining Al Ain FC, where he scored ten goals in 34 games with the Black Cats.
In a statement posted to social media, he said: "I want to take this great opportunity, a stage that is difficult in every footballer’s career. A moment all footballers do not wish, but when nature dawns, that thin voice will keep echoing into the ears, it is time. That voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, it is time. It is time to hand the jersey and boots in glory as I officially retire from active football. That voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, it is time."
He also joined North East United, an Indian Super League team, on September 19, 2019. In the 84th minute of his team's 2-1 victory over Odisha FC on October 26, 2019, he scored his first goal for Northeast United FC. He sustained an injury in the middle of the season that prevented him from continuing, and on January 15, 2020, the club formally terminated him. With Northeast United, he scored four goals overall in eight games.
Gyan played 109 times for Ghana and scored 51 goals for his country, although he is best known for missing a penalty shoot against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal as a result of Luis Suarez's infamous handball. He recently made light of the possibility that he would have made a comeback for the national team in the 2022 World Cup, but nothing came of it.
