David Odonkor
Full nameDavid Odonkor[1]
Birth date21 February 1984 (age 42)
Birth placeBünde, West Germany
Height1.72 m
PositionWinger
Youthyears 11991–1995
Youthclubs 1JSG Holsen-Ahle
Youthyears 21995–1998
Youthclubs 2Bünder SV
Youthyears 31998–2001
Youthclubs 3Borussia Dortmund
Years 12001–2005
Clubs 1Borussia Dortmund II
Caps 149
Goals 17
Years 22002–2006
Clubs 2Borussia Dortmund
Caps 275
Goals 22
Years 32006–2011
Clubs 3Betis
Caps 351
Goals 32
Years 42011–2012
Clubs 4Alemannia Aachen
Caps 423
Goals 42
Years 52012–2013
Clubs 5Hoverla Uzhhorod
Caps 514
Goals 52
Years 62021
Clubs 6TuS Bövinghausen
Caps 613
Goals 61
Years 72022–2023
Clubs 7SC Düsseldorf-West
Caps 70
Goals 70
Totalcaps212
Totalgoals15
Nationalyears 12004–2007
Nationalteam 1Germany U21
Nationalcaps 115
Nationalgoals 13
Nationalyears 22006–2008
Nationalteam 2Germany
Nationalcaps 216
Nationalgoals 21
Manageryears 12013–2014
Managerclubs 1SC Verl (assistant)
Manageryears 22014–2015
Managerclubs 2SC Herford (assistant)
Manageryears 32015
Managerclubs 3TuS Dornberg
Manageryears 42015–2017
Managerclubs 4Hammer SpVg (director of football)

David Odonkor (born 21 February 1984) is a German former professional footballer who played as a right winger.

He started playing professionally with Borussia Dortmund, appearing in 90 competitive matches. Since leaving Dortmund, however, Odonkor's career was blighted by injury. He played for Real Betis in Spain, Alemannia Aachen in the German second tier and Hoverla Uzhhorod in Ukraine before retiring. When fit, he is known for his top speed and acceleration.[2][3]

Odonkor represented the Germany national team in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Borussia Dortmund

Odonkor was born in Bünde, North Rhine-Westphalia, to a German mother and a Ghanaian father.[4] A product of Borussia Dortmund's youth ranks, he made his first-team debut on 3 March 2002, having recently turned 18, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 home draw against FC St. Pauli. After splitting the following season with the first and second teams he was definitely promoted for 2003–04, helping Borussia to a final sixth place in the Bundesliga.

In the 2005–06 season Odonkor was everpresent, only missing one league game. On 26 November 2005, he scored and assisted alike in a 2–1 success at 1. FC Nürnberg and, subsequently, he attracted attention from Real Betis, eventually signing for a €6 million fee.[5] He left Borussia after two additional appearances in the 2006–07 season.[6]

Real Betis

Odonkor's first season at Betis was unassuming, as he appeared in only 13 La Liga matches due to a serious knee injury.[7] The second year began promisingly, but another knee ailment forced him out for another three months.[8]

Upon his return Odonkor appeared regularly for the Andalusians, mainly from the bench. On 4 May 2008, as a starter, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 away draw against UD Almería;[9] in July, after returning to Germany for surgery, he was forced to sign a document by club owner Manuel Ruiz de Lopera by which his contract could inclusively be unilaterally terminated if he returned later than expected.[10]

Having made his way back into the German squad and the Betis starting lineup, Odonkor would however undergo surgery on his knee for a third time in the country, only being reinstated during the 2008–09 winter transfer window. Late into 2009, with the side now in the second division, he relapsed again and missed the remainder of the season.

Betis returned to the Spanish top flight at the end of 2010–11, but Odonkor played no part in the club's campaign, again due to injury.[11][12]

Later years

On 28 July 2011, Odonkor arrived at Scottish Premier League side Rangers for a week-long trial, after his contract at Betis came to an end.[13] However, he was ultimately not given a deal,[14] and returned to his country after five years, signing with Alemannia Aachen in the second level.[15]

In the 2012 summer, after his team's relegation, Odonkor moved to FC Hoverla Uzhhorod in the Ukrainian Premier League. In September 2013, after another lengthy injury layoff, the 29-year-old retired from football.[16]

International career

Odonkor was involved in two UEFA European Under-16 Championship editions, 2000 and 2001, managing to score against Romania in the latter, an 8–2 win.[17] On both occasions Germany lost in the quarter-finals, on penalty shootouts.

After appearing at under-19 level,[18] Odonkor would nonetheless be left out of the under-21 squad that appeared at Euro 2006 in Portugal, due to having received a surprise call-up by Jürgen Klinsmann for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[19] He made his full debut on 30 May 2006 in a friendly match with Japan,[20] going on to appear as a substitute in four World Cup games, most notably against Poland in the group stage where he displayed an excellent performance and assisted Oliver Neuville's winning goal in stoppage time.[21]

Despite his problems with injuries at Betis, Odonkor was called up to UEFA Euro 2008 by Joachim Löw,[22] where he featured 45 minutes in the 1–2 loss to Croatia.[23] Overall he won sixteen caps for Germany.[24]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[25][26]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]EuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Borussia Dortmund II2001–02Oberliga Westfalia142———142
2002–03Regionalliga Nord182———182
2003–04Regionalliga Nord92———92
2004–05Regionalliga Nord61———61
2005–06Oberliga Westfalia30———30
Total507———507
Borussia Dortmund2001–02Bundesliga2000—1[c]030
2002–03Bundesliga6000—1[d]070
2003–04Bundesliga24110203[e]0301
2004–05Bundesliga7000202[f]1111
2005–06Bundesliga33110—2[f]0361
2006–07Bundesliga2000——20
Total742204091893
Betis2006–07La Liga13020——150
2007–08La Liga20100——201
2008–09La Liga7000——70
2009–10Segunda División11110——121
2010–11Segunda División0000——00
Total51230——542
Alemannia Aachen2011–122. Bundesliga23200——232
Hoverla Uzhhorod2012–13Ukrainian Premier League14200——142
TuS Bövinghausen2021–22Westfalenliga131———131
Career total2251650409124317
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes DFB Liga-Pokal
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup

International

Appearances by national team and year[27]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany2006100
200731
200830
Total161
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Odonkor goal.
List of international goals scored by David Odonkor
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 September 2007RheinEnergieStadion, Köln, GermanyRomania2–13–1Friendly[28]

Honours

Borussia Dortmund

Germany

References

  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Germany". FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 12. Archived 10 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Acedo, Francisco (2006). "Odonkor blow for Betis". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Soccer-Round-up-Injured Odonkor hopes to be back next month". Reuters. 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Odonkor cannot play for Ghana". Ghana Web. 31 March 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Meyers Heimpremiere mißglückt" [Meyer's unlucky home debut] (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. ^ Arnhold, Matthias (2 April 2020). "David Odonkor - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Odonkor set for three-month absence". UEFA. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2015.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Odonkor se operará de la rodilla el viernes" [Odonkor to undergo knee surgery on Friday] (in Spanish). ABC. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Almeria 1–1 Real Betis". ESPN Soccernet. 4 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Odonkor se va a Alemania pero se juega su contrato" [Odonkor goes to Germany but gambles on contract] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Odonkor llega a Sevilla para revisar su lesión y su futuro" [Odonkor arrives in Seville to check on injury and future] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  12. ^ "El fichaje estrellado: David Odonkor" [Crashed signing: David Odonkor] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Odonkor in Gers trial". Rangers F.C. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.[dead link]
  14. ^ "Rangers make fresh bids for Roland Juhasz and Wesley Verhoek". STV News. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Odonkor heuert in Aachen an" [Odonkor signs up for Aachen] (in German). T-Online. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  16. ^ "WM-Held Odonkor beendet seine Fußball-Karriere" [WC hero Odonkor ends his football career] (in German). Ostthüringer Zeitung. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Germany put eight past Romania". UEFA. 24 April 2001. Archived from the original on 17 May 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Germany comeback shocks England". UEFA. 22 July 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010.[dead link]
  19. ^ "Germany's Eilts opts for experience". UEFA. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2017.[dead link]
  20. ^ "Schweinsteiger rettet Remis" [Schweinsteiger rescues draw] (in German). kicker. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Germany 1–0 Poland". BBC Sport. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  22. ^ "May 2008: Joachim Loew's surprises: Adler instead of Hildebrand for the UEFA EURO, chance for Marin". Conti Soccer World. May 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Olić kick-starts Croatian celebrations". UEFA. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  24. ^ Arnhold, Matthias (2 April 2020). "David Odonkor - International Appearances". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "D. Odonkor". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  26. ^
  27. ^ "David Odonkor (Player) | National Football Teams". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  28. ^ "Odonkor kommt und trifft" [Odonkor comes and scores] (in German). kicker. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2015.