Anthony Gildas Kofi Annan Profile

Norwegian Champion (2008)
Norwegian Champion (2009)
Norwegian Champion (2010)

Anthony Annan began playing football with a local colts Super Rainbow Stars in Cape Coast, Ghana. He also played for Cape Coast Venomous Vipers in the Ghanaian Division one league before joined Sekondi Hasaacas in 2003 and later moved to Accra Hearts of oak in 2005. At Accra Hearts of Oak, Annan was regarded as the best young midfielder in Ghana. He combined midfield artistry with some goal scoring skills, and endeared himself to many football fans in Ghana. Anthony Annan joined Accra Hearts of Oak from Sekondi Hasaacas FC in the 2005/2006 league season.

He signed for the Norwegian club I.K. Start in January 2007, after a very promising career in Ghana with his local club Accra Hearts of Oak.[2] He quickly established himself as a first team regular during I.K. Start's preseason games, and showed skills both on and off the ball. Unfortunately he was plagued by injury and illness during the first part of the 2007 season, and did not gain trust from then head coach Benny Lennartson in the important final games to avoid relegation.
After Start got relegated during the 2007 season, he joined Stabæk on loan until August 2008. He had been playing well in the heart of midfield as Stabæk went unbeaten in an impressive opening half of the season. Stabæk hinted that they would want to buy him from Start, but Start stated that they would have to pay a "European transfer-fee". Instead, Annan claimed that several "big" clubs had approached his agent and that he would leave Norway during the summer. On August 1, 2008 it was revealed that Annan would be travelling to England for a trial with Blackburn Rovers. After impressing Paul Ince and the Blackburn coaching staff immensely, while on trial, he was sent back to his club to play in one more competitive game where the Blackburn Rovers scouts were to watch and report back on whether or not to complete the signing. It is also rumoured that Arsenal and Everton wanted to have Annan for a trial, but his first-team responsibilities with Stabæk prevented it from happening.
On August 31, 2008 he was presented for the audience on Lerkendal as a Rosenborg player before the match against Vålerenga. Rosenborg paid £1.2 million to get him from Start. (Rosenborg won the game against Vålerenga 2-1). He made his league debut for Rosenborg on 14 September 2008 against Fredrikstad, with the game ending 1-1.

He is currently known as one of the most controversial players in "Premier League" in Norway, Tippeligaen, and have several times been accused for biting and hitting and kicking opponents. Annan means that some of these allegations are linked to racism and other are just linked to the way he thinks football should be played.

A Junior and Olympic International for Ghana, Annan received his first senior call up for the national team on 20 March 2007 as a direct injury replacement for Essien for Ghana's FIFA International friendlies against Austria and Brazil in 2007.[3] His first cap came against Brazil on March 27, 2007 at the Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden when Ghana lost 0-1.[4] He made his first goal for the national team in the 2-2 draw against Mali 15 November 2009.[5] He played for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

News

Jan 29 2011: Anthony Annan has quit Norwegian side Rosenborg to join Bundesliga team Schalke 04, it was announced today. A defensive midfielder, Annan, 24, is reported to have joined Die Konigsblauen for €2m and is a replacement for Croatia's Ivan Rakitic who joined Spanish side Sevilla yesterday.

Jan 2006: Accra Hearts of Oak’s Anthony Annan, one of the key performers for the Phobians has signed a three-year deal that would see Hearts of Oak earning $200,000.