Asamoah Gyan: Target man of Ghana

Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan reacts at the end of the penalties shootout during the of 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at AFP Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the match to quqlify for the semi-finals. AFP
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan reacts at the end of the penalties shootout during the of 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at AFP Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the match to quqlify for the semi-finals. AFP

Target man Asamoah Gyan averages a goal every two games for Ghana but the journeyman doesn't do average, his career is a series of highs and lows.

From the glory days at Udinese in Italy to his current club Al Ain of the UAE he has passed by Rennes in France and Sunderland in England.

His former coach Claude Leroy said he was a mix of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o but now 28 Gyan is unfairly remembered as a penalty choker, having failed to bury a last-gasp spot-kick at the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay, shedding tears of anguish at his miss that would have put Ghana in the semis.

He converted Ghana's first penalty in the shoot-out defeat but since an African Nations Cup penalty fluff he has vowed to take no more.

Ghana's forward Asamoah Gyan (R) strikes in front of Burkina Faso's goalkeeper Daouda Diakite during the 2013 African Cup of Nations semi-final football match Burkina Faso vs Ghana, on February 6, 2013 at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit. AFP
Ghana's forward Asamoah Gyan (R) strikes in front of Burkina Faso's goalkeeper Daouda Diakite during the 2013 African Cup of Nations semi-final football match Burkina Faso vs Ghana, on February 6, 2013 at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit. AFP

Asamoah Gyan-Profile

Surname: Gyan

Firstname: Asamoah

Country: Ghana

Date of birth: 1985-11-22

Birthplace: Accra

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 80.0 kg

Playing Career

Position: Striker

Clubs

Liberty Professionals, Udinese (Ita/Jan.-June 2004), Modena (Ita/loan/2004-2006), Udinese (Ita/2006-2008), Rennes (Fra/2008-2010), Sunderland (Eng/2010-2011), Al Ain (UAE/since 2011)

International appearances: 78

International goals: 39

International debut: 19/11/2003, Ghana-Somalia (1-1)

Last international appearance: 05/03/2014, Montenegro-Ghana (1-0)

Playing Honours

International

World Cup: quarter-finalist (2010), second round (2006), 8 matches, 4 goals

African Nations Cup: finalist (2010), 3rd (2008, 4th (2013, 2012), 20 matches, 6 goals

Club

-Emirati Championships (2012, 2013)

-Emirati Supercup (2012)