SULE MUNTARI:EX-BLACK STARS MIDFIELDER RETIRES FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
Sule Ali Muntari has hanged his boots after an illustrious career which spanned eighteen years.
Born on August 27, 1984 at Konongo he attended Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School which unearthed a long list of footballers such as Owusu Afriyie, John Mensah, Mallam Yahaya, Ibrahim Anyars Tanko, Lawrence Kainya, Abedi Sarfo, Kenneth Sarpong, Frank Amankwah, Stephen Yaw Oduro and sprint sensation Vida Anim for his secondary education.
Developing a passion for football which propelled him from obscurity to meteoric fame and success, he joined Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals constituted on September 28, 1996 and featured for the Black Satellites who finished in second place at both the CAF Under-20 Nations Cup and FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2001.
The midfielder who is renowned for his physically strength and combative playing style debuted for Ghana in a 0-2 loss to Slovenia on May 17, 2002.
After enjoying spells with a host of clubs, he moved to English side Portsmouth managed by Harry Redknapp who triumphed in the 2008 FA Cup Final after pipping Cardiff City by a solitary goal with the likes of David James, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Herman Hreidarsson, Noe Pamarot, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar, Pedro Mendes, Lassana Diarra, Papa Bouba Diop of blessed memory, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka, Milan Baros and David Nugent.
His impressive outing caught the eye of Italian giants Inter Milan who signed him to augment their midfield.
Having won the Scudetto in 2009, the team handled by Jose Mourinho clinched the Treble a year later by downing German giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final parading the likes of Julio Cesar, Maicon Douglas Sisenando, Lucio da Silva, Walter Samuel, Ivan Cordoba, Christian Chivu, Marco Materazzi, Esteban Cambiasso, Wesley Sneijder, Javier Zanetti, McDonald Mariga, Mario Balotelli, Goran Pandev, Diego Milito and Samuel Eto'o.
He also clinched the Club World Cup and featured as Inter emerged victorious in the 2011 Coppa Italia Final. Muntari who suited for AC Milan, Al-Itihad, Albacete, Deportivo La Coruna and Pescara later signed a six month deal with Hearts of Oak.
The 2008 Nations Cup bronze medallist was instrumental in their 2022 FA and President's Cup victories. A scorer of two goals at three separate World Cups, he also netted twenty goals in eighty-four appearances for Ghana.