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.jpg) Kanu in a friendly in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nwankwo Kanu[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1976[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| –1992 | Federation Works | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | 25 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1996 | Ajax | 54 | (25) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Inter Milan | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2004 | Arsenal | 119 | (30) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | West Bromwich Albion | 53 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2012 | Portsmouth | 143 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 406 | (98) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Nigeria U17 | 6 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Nigeria U23 | 6 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2011 | Nigeria[4] | 86 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nwankwo Kanu () OON (born 1 August 1976) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was a member of the Nigeria national team, and played for Nigerian clubIwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.[5] He is widely considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time.[6] A member of the Arsenal 'Invincibles', he was named by the club as one of its greatest ever players.[7] He is one of the few Africans to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and an Olympic gold medal.
Kanu won a FIFA U-17 World Cup medal, a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, 3 Eredivisie titles, three FA Cup medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic gold medal.[8] He made the third-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times,[9] and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history.[10]
He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,[11] and African brand ambassador for digital TV operator StarTimes.[12] He is also the owner of Kanu Sports TV, an Internet sports television company.[13][14]
- ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Whose Registrations have been Terminated by Either Party Between 01/07/2012 and 31/07/2012". The Football Association. p. 36. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Nwankwo Kanu". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Kanu: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Nwankwo Kanu - International Appearances". RSSSF.
- ^ "Nwankwo Kanu". Eurosport.com.
- ^ "SuperSport – Sports video, fixtures, results and news". SuperSport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Gunners Greatest 50 Players". www.arsenal.com. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Seoul 1988 – Men". FIFA. 3 August 1996. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007.
- ^ "All Time Player Records". Premiersoccerstats.com. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ "The 50 Greatest African Players of All Time", Bleacher Report.com
- ^ "Kanu to tackle homeless problem". BBC Sport. 2 July 2008.
- ^ "StarTimes appoints Kanu Nwankwo as brand ambassador". Goal.com. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "Kanu Nwankwo to launch first indigenous sports TV". AOI Football. 11 June 2018.
- ^ "Official website of Kanu Sports Television". kanusportstv.com. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.