Charles Akonnor

**Charles Kwabla Akonnor** (born 12 March 1974) is a Ghanaian football manager and former player who most recently managed the Ghana national team. A former midfielder, he spent most of his club career in Germany. He made 51 appearances for the Ghana national team scoring 13 goals. Charles Akonnor's style of play is characterized by his tactical intelligence, leadership, and ability to manage a team effectively. As a coach, Akonnor emphasizes the importance of building chemistry among the players and fostering a strong sense of unity and commitment. He is known for his ability to adapt to different formations and strategies, ensuring that his team can perform at high levels regardless of the tactical setup. Akonnor's coaching style is also marked by his focus on player development, particularly through youth systems, which he believes is crucial for long-term success in football. His approach to coaching and playing is rooted in a deep understanding of the game and a commitment to improving both the team and individual players. Considered as one of the best Ghanaian midfielders of his time.

## Club career

Akonnor first came to Germany in 1992, along with his friend and national teammate Samuel Kuffour. After six years in the second Bundesliga at Fortuna Köln, he left in 1998 for first division team VfL Wolfsburg.

At Wolfsburg, Akonnor quickly developed as a resourceful player and one of the most important elements of the team. In the 2001-02 season, he was given the captain's armband. However, at the beginning of the following season, he was injured. He developed knee problems, for which he even underwent surgery in 2003. This was the reason for a transfer to SpVgg Unterhaching in January 2004. With this he returned to the second division.

In 2005, Akonnor left for Denmark to play for AC Horsens. He was given an important role in maintaining the team at the highest level, to which they had been promoted the year before. He played a final season at the highest level in Cyprus with Alki Larnaca. In the summer of 2008, Akonnor left Cyprus and briefly played in the Oberliga Niedersachenliga-West for SC Langenhagen, before announcing the end of his career in February 2009.

## International career

Akonnor made his debut for the Ghana national team in 1991. In 1994, he was called up for his first Africa Cup of Nations in his career, where he played three times: against Guinea (1:0 and a goal), against Senegal (1:0) and in the quarter-finals against Ivory Coast (1:2 and a goal). He was not picked to play for the Black Stars in the 1992 African Cup of Nations

In 1996, Akonnor played in the 1996 African Cup of Nations, and his achievements at this tournament include 5 matches: against Ivory Coast (2:0), against Tunisia (2:1 and a goal), quarter-finals against the Democratic Republic of Congo (1:0), semi-finals against South Africa (0:3) and for 3rd place against Zambia (0:1). In 1996, Akonnor also played at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

In 1998, Akonnor was in the Ghana squad for the 1998 African Cup of Nations. At the tournament in Burkina Faso, the Ghanaians did not get out of the group, and Akonnor played three times: against Tunisia (2:0), against Togo (1:2) and against the Democratic Republic of Congo (0:1).

In 2000, Akonnor was called up to the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. At this tournament, he played 4 matches: against Cameroon (1:1), against Togo (2:0), against Ivory Coast (0:2) and the quarter-finals against South Africa (0:1). In the national team from 1991 to 2001, he played 41 matches and scored 12 goals.

Akonnor also played for the Ghana youth teams. In 1993, together with the U-20 team, he won the vice-championship at the 1993 World Cup.

### Player

**Ghana**
- African Youth Championship: 1993, third place: 1991
- FIFA U-20 World Cup runner up: 1993

### Manager

**Dreams**

- Ghana Division One League Zone III: 2015

**Asante Kotoko**

- GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition: 2019

**Individual**

- Ghana Premier League Coach of the Month: March 2018
- Ghana Football Awards Manager of the Year: 2019
- AFCON Team of the Tournament & CAF African 11 Team of the Year: 1998

## Infobox (football biography)

- **name**: Charles Akonnor
- **full name**: Charles Kwabla Akonnor
- **birth place**: Nungua, Ghana
- **height**: 1.82 m
- **position**: Midfielder
- **currentclub**: Ghana national football team, Ghana (manager)
- **youthyears1**: 1985–1987
- **youthclubs1**: Young Hearts Tema
- **youthyears2**: 1988–1990
- **youthclubs2**: Okwawu United
- **years1**: 1990–1992
- **clubs1**: Ashanti Gold SC, Obuasi Goldfields
- **caps1**: 132
- **goals1**: 23
- **years2**: 1992–1998
- **clubs2**: Fortuna Köln
- **caps2**: 153
- **goals2**: 26
- **years3**: 1998–2003
- **clubs3**: VfL Wolfsburg
- **caps3**: 121
- **goals3**: 13
- **years4**: 2004–2005
- **clubs4**: SpVgg Unterhaching
- **caps4**: 46
- **goals4**: 4
- **years5**: 2005–2007
- **clubs5**: AC Horsens
- **caps5**: 54
- **goals5**: 6
- **years6**: 2007–2008
- **clubs6**: Alki Larnaca FC, Alki Larnaca
- **caps6**: 35
- **goals6**: 6
- **years7**: 2008–2009
- **clubs7**: SC Langenhagen
- **caps7**: 11
- **goals7**: 3
- **totalcaps**: 551
- **totalgoals**: 81
- **nationalyears1**: 1991–1993
- **nationalteam1**: Ghana national under-20 football team, Ghana U20
- **nationalcaps1**: 4
- **nationalgoals1**: 1
- **nationalyears2**: 1995–1996
- **nationalteam2**: Ghana national under-23 football team, Ghana U23
- **nationalcaps2**: 3
- **nationalgoals2**: 1
- **nationalyears3**: 1991–2001
- **nationalteam3**: Ghana national football team, Ghana
- **nationalcaps3**: 51
- **nationalgoals3**: 13
- **manageryears1**: 2009–2010
- **managerclubs1**: Sekondi Wise Fighters
- **manageryears2**: 2010–2012
- **managerclubs2**: Sekondi Wise Fighters (director of sport)
- **manageryears3**: 2012
- **managerclubs3**: Accra Hearts of Oak SC, Hearts of Oak
- **manageryears4**: 2014–2017
- **managerclubs4**: Dreams F.C. (Ghana), Dreams
- **manageryears5**: 2017–2018
- **managerclubs5**: Ashanti Gold SC, Ashanti Gold
- **manageryears6**: 2018–2019
- **managerclubs6**: Asante Kotoko S.C., Asante Kotoko
- **manageryears7**: 2019–2020
- **managerclubs7**: Ghana national football team, Ghana (assistant coach)
- **manageryears8**: 2020–2021
- **managerclubs8**: Ghana national football team, Ghana