Asamoah Gyan who is Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals was in the news for both the right and the wrong reason.
The former Sunderland striker despite his impeccable record with the national team, he has failed to find the back of the net in two years five months which is unlike him.
He, however, registered some important goals at club level that made the headlines in 2019.
Below are six times Asamoah Gyan made the headlines this year:
Retired from international football
Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan shockingly recused himself from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and announced his retirement from international duty.
Gyan was expected to be named in Kwesi Appiah’s squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON), but the 33-year-old opted out of the competition prior to the announcement of the provisional squad for the continental showpiece.
Asamoah Gyan cited the issue of captaincy as the reason for him to bow out from national team football with four weeks to the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Kayseispor former Kayserispor striker has been at every AFCON since 2008 on home soil and has captained the Black Stars at three different competitions (2013, 2015 and 2017).
Rescinded his decision to quit international football
The former Skipper changed his mind not to play for the Black Stars after he received a call from the President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo.
He had announced his retirement from the Black Stars after he was stripped of his captaincy by James Kwesi Appiah.
However, the President of the Republic of Ghana talked him out of it and he rescinded his decision stating that he couldn’t say no to President Akufo-Addo and he returned to the team because he was persuaded by the President whom he has an excellent relationship with.
Got back at Kwesi Appiah
Asamoah Gyan told the Black Stars coach he was the reason why Kwesi Appiah succeeded in his first term as coach of the Black Stars.
This happened after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He was upset with Kwesi Appiah for stripping him of his Black Stars captaincy.
Joined Indian outfit NorthEast United
Former Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan joined NorthEast United in the Indian topflight league after his contract with Turkish side Kayserispor expired.
The Executive Director of NorthEast United Priya Runchal has confirmed that they have secured the signing of Asamoah Gyan and expressed their excitement for his capture.
“We are thrilled to have a player of Gyan’s calibre and experience join our squad. He has continuously delivered excellence at the highest of levels of world football and we are confident that he will add a lot of firepower on the pitch here.”
Asamoah Gyan after signing the deal also said “I am extremely excited to start this new chapter in my career.
”I have heard great things about North East United FC and the Indian Super League and I am thrilled to be a part of it for the upcoming season.
”I am confident that we can better the wonderful season the club had last year.”
Asamoah Gyan joined NorthEast United on a free transfer, barely three months after his deal with Kayserispor expired.
He is expected to use his rich experience to help the club: he has had spells with Udinese, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Al Ahly Dubhai and Kayserispor.
Met President Akufo-Addo to discuss Black Stars bonuses
Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo met Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan and deputy Andre Ayew over increment in the winning bonus of the team, NSA board Chairman Hon Kwadwo Baah Agyemang revealed.
The meeting was to iron out the issues of winning bonuses and other related issues for the team ahead of the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
This happened before Gyan was stripped of his captaincy.
Scored twice to save Kayserispor from relegation
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan gave a huge indication for his readiness for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations when he came off the bench to score two goals that secured Kayserispor’s 2-1 win over Kasimpasa IN May 2019.
Tunisian defender Ben Yousseff opened the scoring for Kasimpasa in the 26th minute with a simple finish from close range.
With the Anatolian Star looking like tasting another defeat, coach Hikmet Karaman called upon Asamoah Gyan from the bench to replace Atila Turan in the 55th minute.
Gyan then levelled the scores in the 74th minute with a diving header.
The Black Stars captain grabbed the wnning goal with a stupendous header 5 minutes later to give the hosts the three points
