Ghana: five things to know about Christian Atsu
Missing since the violent earthquake that struck Turkey on 6 February, Christian Atsu (31) has been found dead
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Porto, his first professional club
Christian Atsu made his professional debut with FC Porto (Portugal) in 2010 at the age of 22. He won the league with the Portuguese club in 2013. Atsu played 25 games that season and scored 1 goal.
A globetrotter
Christian Atsu played for several clubs during his career. Before joining Hatayspor (Turkey) last September, the Ghanaian had played for Porto and Vitesse Arnhem (Netherlands), then Everton (England), Malaga (Spain), Bournemouth (England) and Chelsea (England). He also had spells at Newcastle (England) and El Raed (Saudi Arabia). Newcastle is the club where he stayed longest (3 seasons, 2017, 2018 and 2019).
65 caps for the Black Stars
Born in Ada, Ghana, in 1992, Christian Atsu won his first cap for the Black Stars in 2012. Impressive from the start, he became a fixture in the squad and played in 4 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019). The former Blue was not in the squad for the AFCON in Cameroon in early 2022, however. Nor was Atsu part of the Ghana team that played in its fourth World Cup in Qatar in late 2022. For the Black Stars, Atsu had played 60 games and scored 10 goals.
Named player of the tournament at AFCON 2015
AFCON 2015 in Equatorial Guinea saw Christian Atsu light up the tournament with his talent. Thanks to fine performances that helped his side reach the final (lost to Ivory Coast on penalties), the Ghanaian midfielder won the award for the competition's best player. He was also given the prize for goal of the tournament.
A fine free kick to say goodbye
A few hours before the earthquake in Turkey on Monday 6 February, Christian Atsu had rediscovered a pleasure that had eluded him for some time: scoring a goal. Against Kasimpasa on Sunday 5 February, it was he who secured victory for his team Hatayspor, with a fine free kick scored 10 minutes from time. Was it a goal that would finally kick-start his season with the Turkish club after a difficult start? We will never know. He was found dead under the rubble of his building on Saturday 18 February, after being missing for a long time.
The Ghana Football Association has received the sad news of the recovery of the body of Christian Atsu from the rubble following the earthquake that struck Southern and Central Turkey on Monday, February 6, 2023.
May his Soul Rest in Peace! 🖤🕊️
📰: https://t.co/iJ38HQWPtv pic.twitter.com/6gjdkxlvzy
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) February 18, 2023