David Odonkor

German footballer (born 1984) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

David Odonkor (born 21 February 1984) is a German former professional footballer who played as a right winger.

Full name David Odonkor[1]
Date of birth (1984-02-21) 21 February 1984 (age 42)
Place of birth Bünde, West Germany
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
David Odonkor
Odonkor warming up with Germany in 2006
Personal information
Full name David Odonkor[1]
Date of birth (1984-02-21) 21 February 1984 (age 42)
Place of birth Bünde, West Germany
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Winger
Youth career
1991–1995 JSG Holsen-Ahle
1995–1998 Bünder SV
1998–2001 Borussia Dortmund
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Borussia Dortmund II 49 (7)
2002–2006 Borussia Dortmund 75 (2)
2006–2011 Betis 51 (2)
2011–2012 Alemannia Aachen 23 (2)
2012–2013 Hoverla Uzhhorod 14 (2)
2021 TuS Bövinghausen 13 (1)
2022–2023 SC Düsseldorf-West 0 (0)
Total 212 (15)
International career
2004–2007 Germany U21 15 (3)
2006–2008 Germany 16 (1)
Managerial career
2013–2014 SC Verl (assistant)
2014–2015 SC Herford (assistant)
2015 TuS Dornberg
2015–2017 Hammer SpVg (director of football)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Germany
FIFA World Cup
Third place2006 Germany
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up2008 Austria-Switzerland
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
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He started playing professionally with Borussia Dortmund, appearing in 90 competitive matches. Since leaving Dortmund, however, Odonkor's career was blighted by injury. He played for Real Betis in Spain, Alemannia Aachen in the German second tier and Hoverla Uzhhorod in Ukraine before retiring. When fit, he is known for his top speed and acceleration.[2][3]

Odonkor represented the Germany national team in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Borussia Dortmund

Odonkor was born in Bünde, North Rhine-Westphalia, to a German mother and a Ghanaian father.[4] A product of Borussia Dortmund's youth ranks, he made his first-team debut on 3 March 2002, having recently turned 18, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 home draw against FC St. Pauli. After splitting the following season with the first and second teams he was definitely promoted for 2003–04, helping Borussia to a final sixth place in the Bundesliga.

In the 2005–06 season Odonkor was everpresent, only missing one league game. On 26 November 2005, he scored and assisted alike in a 2–1 success at 1. FC Nürnberg and, subsequently, he attracted attention from Real Betis, eventually signing for a 6 million fee.[5] He left Borussia after two additional appearances in the 2006–07 season.[6]

Real Betis

Odonkor's first season at Betis was unassuming, as he appeared in only 13 La Liga matches due to a serious knee injury.[7] The second year began promisingly, but another knee ailment forced him out for another three months.[8]

Upon his return Odonkor appeared regularly for the Andalusians, mainly from the bench. On 4 May 2008, as a starter, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 away draw against UD Almería;[9] in July, after returning to Germany for surgery, he was forced to sign a document by club owner Manuel Ruiz de Lopera by which his contract could inclusively be unilaterally terminated if he returned later than expected.[10]

Having made his way back into the German squad and the Betis starting lineup, Odonkor would however undergo surgery on his knee for a third time in the country, only being reinstated during the 2008–09 winter transfer window. Late into 2009, with the side now in the second division, he relapsed again and missed the remainder of the season.

Betis returned to the Spanish top flight at the end of 2010–11, but Odonkor played no part in the club's campaign, again due to injury.[11][12]

Later years

On 28 July 2011, Odonkor arrived at Scottish Premier League side Rangers for a week-long trial, after his contract at Betis came to an end.[13] However, he was ultimately not given a deal,[14] and returned to his country after five years, signing with Alemannia Aachen in the second level.[15]

In the 2012 summer, after his team's relegation, Odonkor moved to FC Hoverla Uzhhorod in the Ukrainian Premier League. In September 2013, after another lengthy injury layoff, the 29-year-old retired from football.[16]

International career

Odonkor was involved in two UEFA European Under-16 Championship editions, 2000 and 2001, managing to score against Romania in the latter, an 8–2 win.[17] On both occasions Germany lost in the quarter-finals, on penalty shootouts.

After appearing at under-19 level,[18] Odonkor would nonetheless be left out of the under-21 squad that appeared at Euro 2006 in Portugal, due to having received a surprise call-up by Jürgen Klinsmann for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[19] He made his full debut on 30 May 2006 in a friendly match with Japan,[20] going on to appear as a substitute in four World Cup games, most notably against Poland in the group stage where he displayed an excellent performance and assisted Oliver Neuville's winning goal in stoppage time.[21]

Despite his problems with injuries at Betis, Odonkor was called up to UEFA Euro 2008 by Joachim Löw,[22] where he featured 45 minutes in the 1–2 loss to Croatia.[23] Overall he won sixteen caps for Germany.[24]

Career statistics

Club

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[25][26]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Borussia Dortmund II 2001–02 Oberliga Westfalia 142142
2002–03 Regionalliga Nord 182182
2003–04 Regionalliga Nord 9292
2004–05 Regionalliga Nord 6161
2005–06 Oberliga Westfalia 3030
Total 507507
Borussia Dortmund 2001–02 Bundesliga 20001[c]030
2002–03 Bundesliga 60001[d]070
2003–04 Bundesliga 24110203[e]0301
2004–05 Bundesliga 7000202[f]1111
2005–06 Bundesliga 331102[f]0361
2006–07 Bundesliga 200020
Total 742204091893
Betis 2006–07 La Liga 13020150
2007–08 La Liga 20100201
2008–09 La Liga 700070
2009–10 Segunda División 11110121
2010–11 Segunda División 000000
Total 51230542
Alemannia Aachen 2011–12 2. Bundesliga 23200232
Hoverla Uzhhorod 2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League 14200142
TuS Bövinghausen 2021–22 Westfalenliga 131131
Career total 2251650409124317
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  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup

International

Appearances by national team and year[27]

More information National team, Year ...
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany 2006100
200731
200830
Total161
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Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Odonkor goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by David Odonkor
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
112 September 2007RheinEnergieStadion, Köln, Germany Romania2–13–1Friendly[28]
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Honours

Borussia Dortmund

Germany

References

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