Nwankwo Kanu

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team Competition

Nwankwo Kanu (born 1 August 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu and nicknamed Papilo, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. His Igbo name, Nwankwo, means "Babyboy born on Nkwo market day".^[2] He is the most highly-decorated African footballer in footballing history, having won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three F.A. Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is the only current Premiership player to have won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premiership, FA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. He is also a UNICEF ambassador.^[3]

His younger brother, Christopher Kanu, is also a professional footballer.

Career

Early career

Kanu began his career, aged fifteen, at First Division club Federation Works before moving to Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1992. After a notable performance at the U-17 World Championships he was signed by Ajax Amsterdam in 1993 for €207,047. He made his Ajax debut in 1994 and went on to play 54 times for the Dutch side, scoring 25 goals; Kanu came on as a sub in Ajax's 1995 Champions League final win over AC Milan. In 1996, Ajax sold him to Serie A side Internazionale for around $4.7 million; that summer he captained the Nigerian team that won gold at the Olympics, famously scoring two late goals in the semi-finals against powerhouses Brazil to overturn a 2-3 scoreline into a 4-3 win in extra time. Kanu was also named African Footballer of the Year for that year.

However, soon after returning from the Olympics, Kanu underwent a medical examination at Inter, which revealed a serious heart defect; he underwent surgery in November 1996 to replace an aortic valve and did not return to his club until April 1997. In interviews, Kanu frequently cites his faith as a Christian,^[4] and has often mentioned this trying time of his career as an occasion when he prayed to God. Kanu's experience also led to his founding the Kanu Heart Foundation, an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer heart defects. Kanu is known throughout Africa for his philanthropic work.

Arsenal

In February 1999, after just twelve games and one goal for Inter, Kanu was signed by Arsenal for approximately £4.15 million. His debut for Arsenal, against Sheffield United in the FA Cup, was a highly unusual match. With the score 1-1 and ten minutes to go, the United goalkeeper kicked the ball out of touch so that treatment could be given to an injured player. When the ball was thrown back into play by Ray Parlour, although it was intended for the United 'keeper, Kanu was unaware of the circumstances. Thinking it to be an attacking move, he chased the throw-in down the right wing unchallenged, and centred the ball for Marc Overmars, who promptly scored to make the match 2-1. Immediately after the match Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger offered to right the error and replay the match; in the end, Arsenal won that match 2-1 as well.

Despite the events overshadowing his debut, Kanu's career was quickly revived at Arsenal, especially after the departure of Nicolas Anelka in the summer of 1999. This prompted a new chant amongst Arsenal supporters: "Chim chiminy, chim chiminy, chim-chim chiroo, who needs Anelka when we've got Kanu?" (to the tune of the song from Mary Poppins). Kanu became known for scoring extravagant goals; against Tottenham Hotspur, with his back to goal he lobbed the ball over Luke Young's head, before turning the young defender and scoring. Other memorable goals included a hat-trick against Chelsea to win a derby match 3-2 after being 2-0 down after 75 minutes^[5]. Following his amazing performance the headline pun after the game was "Kanu believe it". He was named African Footballer of the Year for the second time in 1999, and in 1999-00 he scored 17 times in 50 matches for the Gunners. He became very popular among the fans for his 2 fingered salute, which started in 2000 against Middlesbrough. The fans often chanted 'Kanuuuuuuuu' (extending the syllable 'nu') whenever he scored or announced during matches; some mistook that he was being 'booed' rather than being cheered.

However, Kanu's appearances for Arsenal gradually became less frequent, particularly after the emergence of Thierry Henry as Arsenal's first choice striker, when Kanu was mainly used as a substitute. Despite this, Kanu won the Double with Arsenal in 2002, an FA Cup in 2003 (as an unused sub) and the Premier League title in 2004. In all he played 197 games for Arsenal (nearly half of them as a substitute), scoring 44 goals. In the summer of 2004, after his contract with Arsenal ended, he moved to West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.

In 2008 Kanu was voted 13th in the "Gunners' Greatest 50 Players" poll. ^[6].

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom had just been promoted to the Premiership for the second time in the space of two years. Kanu started as a regular for the club, making his debut in a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn Rovers on 14 August, 2004. He scored his first goal for Albion on 18 September, 2004, an 88th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 home draw against Fulham. In a match against Middlesbrough on 14 November, 2004, Kanu was guilty of an incredible miss in injury time, with Albion 2-1 down. Kanu had sent a low cross over the bar from a yard away from the goal line. Manager Bryan Robson was seen in TV footage mouthing the words "How did he miss that?", and Kanu's howler was crowned 'Miss of the Season' by many television stations in the end-of-season reviews. Nevertheless, the 2004-05 season was ultimately a memorable one for West Brom, as they became the first club to avoid relegation from the Premiership after being bottom of the table at Christmas.

One of the most memorable games of the 2005-06 season for Kanu came with the visit of his former club Arsenal to The Hawthorns on 15 October 2005. Philippe Senderos put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute, but Kanu equalised shortly before half time. West Brom went on to win the match 2-1 with a spectacular strike from Darren Carter. It was their first home win over Arsenal since 1973,^[7] and the first time that they had come from behind to win a Premiership game.^[8] But such highlights were rare for Albion that season, and the club was relegated at the end of 2005-06. Kanu's contract had expired, and he chose not to renew it. In his two years at The Hawthorns he made a total of 58 appearances - 16 of them as a substitute - and scored nine goals.

In the summer of 2006, Kanu played as a guest for Arsenal in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial game, the first match to be played in Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. The game was tied 1-1 when Kanu scored the winning goal, making him the third person to score in the stadium. At the end of the match, Kanu joined the rest of the Arsenal side in hoisting the retired Dutchman on their shoulders as fans gave him a standing ovation.

Portsmouth

Nwankwo Kanu playing for Portsmouth at Fulham in March 2007

Kanu was a free agent following his departure from West Brom, and he signed for Portsmouth F.C. on a one-year deal shortly before the start of the 2006-07 season.^[9] Pompey had undergone a revival in the second half of the previous campaign, following the return of Harry Redknapp as manager, avoiding relegation by four points after being in serious danger at the turn of the year. At the start of the 2006-07 season, they were undefeated in their first five games, during which they did not concede a single goal.

Kanu made his debut for Portsmouth as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers on 19 August 2006, the opening day of the 2006-07 Premiership season. He scored twice and missed a penalty, then bagged another brace in his third appearance, a 4-0 win against Middlesbrough; this included a 60-yard sprint followed by an exquisite finish. After scoring goals in the initial matches, Kanu had a goal drought for most of the season, but still finished as the top goalscorer for Pompey. He scored 12 goals that season.

In his second season at Portsmouth, Kanu scored goals in both the FA Cup 1-0 semi-final win against West Bromwich Albion and the 1-0 win in the final against Cardiff City, earning him a Man of The Match award and a third FA Cup winner's medal. These goals also meant he joined the exclusive list of players who have scored at both the old and new Wembley stadiums.

His first goal of the 2008-09 season came against A.C. Milan in the UEFA Cup, adding to his record of scoring in big matches.

International career

Kanu has been a member of the Nigerian national team since 1994, making his debut against Sweden in a friendly. He (as of March 2008) has 68 caps and has scored 13 goals for his country. As well as winning the Olympics gold in the football event at Atlanta (1996), Kanu participated in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Earlier on at the start of his career, Kanu was instrumental in Nigeria's overall success at the FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan (1993) and in their subsequent 2-1 victory over Ghana in the final.

He is the current captain of the Nigerian national team.

Career statistics

Honours

Country

• FIFA U-17 World Cup
  • 1993 Winner(Gold Medal)

• FIFA World Cup
  • Appearances: 1998(Second Round), 2002(First Round)

• African Cup of Nations
  • Appearances: 2000(Silver Medal), 2002(Bronze Medal), 2004(Bronze Medal), 2006(Bronze Medal), 2008(Quarter Finalist)

• Olympic Games
  • 1996 Olympic Games (Gold Medal)

Club

• Nigerian Premier League: 1
  • 1992-93, Iwuanyanwu Nationale F.C

• Eredivisie: 3
  • 1993-94, AFC Ajax
  • 1994-95, AFC Ajax
  • 1995-96, AFC Ajax

• UEFA Champions League: 1
  • 1994-95, AFC Ajax

• UEFA Cup: 1
  • 1997-98, F.C. Internazionale Milano

• English Premier League: 2
  • 2001-02, Arsenal F.C.
  • 2003-04, Arsenal F.C.

• FA Cup: 3
  • 2001-02, Arsenal F.C.
  • 2002-03, Arsenal F.C.
  • 2007-08, Portsmouth F.C.

• FA Community Shield: 1
  • 2004, Arsenal F.C.

Awards

• 1996, African Footballer of the Year
• 1999, African Footballer of the Year

References

External links

• Nwankwo Kanu career stats at Soccerbase
• Kanu Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Kanu to help African children with heart problems.
• FootballDatabase provides Nwankwo Kanu's profile and stats
• Link to FIFA Article on Kanu

Nigeria squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Oparaku • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Uche • 6 West • 7 Finidi • 8 Adepoju • 9 Yekini • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 W. Okpara • 13 Babangida • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Okafor • 17 Eguavoen • 18 Oruma • 19 Iroha • 20 Ikpeba • 21 G. Okpara • 22 Baruwa • Coach: Milutinović

Nigeria squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Shorunmu • 2 Yobo • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Okoronkwo • 6 West • 7 Ikedia • 8 Adepoju • 9 Ogbeche • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Udeze • 15 Justice • 16 Sodje • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Akwuegbu • 19 Ejiofor • 20 Obiorah • 21 Utaka • 22 Enyeama • 23 Opabunmi • Coach: Onigbinde

Nigeria squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Nwaneri • 6 Shittu • 7 Utaka • 8 Yakubu • 9 Martins • 10 Mikel • 11 Odemwingie • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Olofinjana • 15 Uche • 16 Etuhu • 17 Makinwa • 18 Obinna • 19 Emeghara • 20 Okonkwo • 21 Eromoigbe • 22 Apam • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Vogts

Awards and achievements
Preceded by George Weah	African Footballer of the Year 1996	Succeeded by Victor Ikpeba
Preceded by Mustapha Hadji	African Footballer of the Year 1999	Succeeded by Patrick Mboma