Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy)
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu was born on 2nd December 1990 in Berekum. He is an international footballer from Ghana who plays for Serie A club Udinese and Ghana National team as a midfielder.
Club career
Badu known mononymously as Badu (/bɑːˈduː/ bah-doo) started his football career at Berlin F.C. based in Berekum, Brong-Ahafo, before later pledging his allegiance to Berekum Arsenal. Badu was announced in the Ghana Premier League All Star Team on 21 May 2007.
Berekum Arsenal and Recreativo de Huelva
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On 11 July 2008, Badu moved from Berekum Arsenal, to sign a one-year loan contract with Asante Kotoko.
In August 2008, Badu went for trials in England with Middlesbrough and at Wolverhampton Wanderers three months later.
Badu then signed on 16 April 2009 a six months loan contract with Recreativo de Huelva, on loan from Berlin FC. Reuters quoted a source from a Berlin FC official, that the loan cost Recreativo about €30,000 (US$40,000), while Associated Press reported his new club holds an option for a contract between 30 June 2012 and the loan will effective until the opening of 2009 summer transfer window. His contract with the Spanish club Recreativo de Huelva was dissolved in September 2009 and he moved back to Asante Kotoko.
Udinese
In November 2009, Reports from BBC and Sky Sports had it that the Italian Serie A side Udinese Calcio has official signed the player from Berlin FC. Badu received his first first team call-up against A.C. Milan on 12 February, but did not play. After a successive “appearances” as unused sub, he replaced Paolo Sammarco on 28 March 2010 against Fiorentina, which Udinese lost 1–4.
Badu picked up a regular team shirt in 2011–12 season, replacing departed Gökhan İnler in new 4–1–4–1 or 4–4–1–1 formation against Arsenal. Badu played as a cover attacking midfielder Giampiero Pinzi along with countryman Kwadwo Asamoah.
International career
Badu (number 8, top right) in action for the Ghana national team against England in 2011
Badu has represented Ghana at under-20, under-23 and senior level. On 22 May 2008, he received his first call-up to the Black Stars. Badu’s first senior international appearance came on 8 June 2008 against Lesotho and his first goal against Congo in June 2011.
Youth career
On 1 January 2009, he was named in the Black Satellites squad for the 2009 African Youth Championship in Rwanda. Badu played for the Black Stars’ domestic based team at the 2009 African Championship of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and represented his team at 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Badu scored the winning sudden death penalty on 16 October 2009 in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final against Brazil. The penalty made Ghana the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Senior career
In 2010, Badu was selected for his first Africa Cup of Nations as the Black Stars finished runners-up to Egypt, and went on to appear in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, with the team twice recording fourth-placed finishes.
During the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in a group match between Ghana and Guinea, Badu flipped up a teammate’s pass from just outside the penalty area and launched a mid-air volley to score a goal that was later nominated for the 2012 FIFA Puskás Award (FIFA’s global Goal of the Year award).
After missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup through injury, Badu was selected in Ghana’s squad for the 2014 tournament.
