Ibrahim Tanko

{{short description|Ghanaian retired footballer (born 1977)}} {{For|the Nigerian justice|Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad}} {{distinguish|Ibrahim Tanko (footballer, born 1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ibrahim Tanko | image = 2008-08-11 015 FC-Training; Ibrahim Tanko.JPG | caption = Tanko in 2011 | fullname = Ibrahim Anyars Tanko | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|7|25|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kumasi, Ghana | height = 1.80m | position = Forward | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = King Faisal Babes | years1 = 1993–1994 | clubs1 = King Faisal Babes | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1994–2001 | clubs2 = Borussia Dortmund | caps2 = 52 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 1998–2000 | clubs3 = Borussia Dortmund II | caps3 = 24 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2001–2007 | clubs4 = SC Freiburg | caps4 = 106 | goals4 = 5 | totalcaps = 182 | totalgoals = 10 | nationalyears1 = 1996–2004 | nationalteam1 = Ghana | nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2019 | managerclubs1 = Ghana U-23 | manageryears2 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs2 = Ghana A' }}

'''Ibrahim Anyars Tanko'''<ref name=":2" /> (born 25 July 1977) is a Ghanaian retired footballer who played mostly as a second striker or an attacking midfielder, scout and manager who last served as the head coach of the local Black Stars - Ghana A' national football team.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=Ibrahim Tanko heads new Black Stars 'B' Technical team|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/ibrahim-tanko-heads-new-black-stars-b-technical-team|access-date=2021-03-14|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}</ref>

He played most of his 15-year professional career – blighted by injuries – in Germany, with Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg. At the international level, he represented the Ghana national football team.

==Club career==

=== Borussia Dortmund === Born in Kumasi, Tanko began his professional career in Germany at just 17, signing with German side Borussia Dortmund from King Faisal Babes F.C. This made him the third-youngest player ever to feature for the club, behind Nuri Şahin and Lars Ricken.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/sport/article157348106/Ganz-schnell-ganz-oben.html|title=Ganz schnell ganz oben|trans-title=Really quick really high|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=28 July 2016|access-date=30 January 2017}}</ref> He made his Bundesliga debut on 24 September 1994 in a 5–0 home win against VfB Stuttgart, and finished his first season with 14 games and one goal.

Tanko participated in three matches, all as a late substitute, in Borussia's 1996–97 UEFA Champions League victorious run. Injuries and loss of form led to an eventual demotion to Borussia Dortmund II, where he played 24 league matches from 1998 to 2000. <ref name=":0" />

He made another 13 league appearances before leaving the club in 2001. <ref>{{cite web|date=3 January 2001|title=BVB löst Vertrag mit Tanko|trans-title=BVB release Tanko from contract|url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/bvb-loest-vertrag-mit-tanko-aid-1.1676286|access-date=30 January 2017|language=de|newspaper=Rheinische Post}}</ref> He was also suspended and eventually released after testing positive for cannabis. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1153406.stm|title=Africans abroad|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 May 2001|access-date=30 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=15 February 2001|title=Tanko Banned For Taking Marijuana|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Tanko-Banned-For-Taking-Marijuana-13589|access-date=6 June 2021|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}}</ref> During his seven-year period with the club, he made 71 appearances in all competitions for the first team and scored three goals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ibrahim Tanko {{!}} Laufbahn {{!}} Spielerprofil|url=https://www.kicker.de/ibrahim-tanko/laufbahn|access-date=2021-06-06|website=kicker|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ibrahim Tanko|url=https://www.fussballdaten.de/person/ibrahim-tanko-410375/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Fussballdaten|language=de}}</ref>

=== SC Freiburg === In January 2001, Tanko joined SC Freiburg, scoring in his fourth game to help to a 3–1 success at VfL Bochum, but also missed a great part of the following campaign due to a severe knee injury,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=19242.html|title=Injury setback hits Freiburg|publisher=UEFA|date=12 March 2002|access-date=30 January 2009}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> as the Black Forest team dropped down to the 2. Bundesliga.{{fact|date=July 2023}}

At Freiburg, Tanko's output improved slightly, and he played a career-high 27 matches (with two goals) in 2005–06 2. Bundesliga.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|title=Ibrahim Tanko|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8065/Ibrahim_Tanko.html|access-date=2021-05-30|website=www.national-football-teams.com|language=en}}</ref> However, he only appeared once the following season, and retired at 30.{{fact|date=July 2023}}

==International career== Tanko earned nine caps for Ghana, the last coming on 10 October 2004 – after an absence of eight years – in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=6 December 2012|title=Ghana Fa to announce scouts for Nations Cup|url=http://www.spyghana.com/ghana-fa-to-announce-scouts-for-nations-cup/|access-date=11 September 2013|publisher=News Ghana}}</ref>

== Coaching career == On 1 July 2007, Tanko was named assistant coach for Freiburg's reserves, leaving after 18 months together with Karsten Neitzel to J1 League's Urawa Red Diamonds, and re-uniting with former Freiburg boss Volker Finke in the same capacity. In the 2011 summer, he began working under Ståle Solbakken at 1. FC Köln.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.express.de/sport/fussball/1--fc-koeln/assistenz-trainer-tanko-wird-beim-fc-vom--ohr--zum--auge--10515006|title=Assistenz-Trainer Tanko wird beim FC vom "Ohr" zum "Auge"|trans-title=Assistant coach Tanko will be from „years“ to „eyes“ at FC|newspaper=Express|language=de|date=18 September 2011|access-date=30 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 4 June 2013, Tanko resumed his partnership with Finke as the former joined the latter's coaching staff in the Cameroon national side.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2013|title=Meet Tanko, Finke's new assistant|url=http://en.starafrica.com/football/meet-tanko-finkes-new-assistant.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235302/http://en.starafrica.com/football/meet-tanko-finkes-new-assistant.html|archive-date=30 December 2013|access-date=7 June 2013|publisher=Star Africa}}</ref> In January 2012 he was appointed as the Ghana national team's head scout, prior to that year's Africa Cup of Nations.<ref name=":1" />

In May 2017, Tanko was appointed as the first assistant coach for the Ghana national team to James Kwesi Appiah.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gyamera-Antwi|first=Evans|date=16 May 2017|title=Tanko Ibrahim named Ghana assistant coach|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/tanko-ibrahim-named-ghana-assistant-coach/qn0pskzs91gt1xbiei5j5ad84|access-date=6 June 2021|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> After serving in that role two years, he was promoted to serve as the head coach of the Ghana national U-23, the Black Meteors in November 2018 after Yussif Abubakar died.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Appiah|first=Samuel Ekow Amoasi|date=26 November 2018|title=Ibrahim Tanko Replaces Yusif Abubakar As Black Meteors Coach|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/900180/ibrahim-tanko-replaces-yusif-abubakar-as-black.html|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref> He led the team to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations tournament, Egypt 2019, for the first time in 12 years. The team missed out on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after losing on penalty shout out to South Africa.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=PROFILE OF NATIONAL TEAM COACHES: Ibrahim Tanko|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/profile-of-national-team-coaches-ibrahim-tanko|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=South Africa beat Ghana to clinch Olympic place|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50517480|access-date=2021-06-06}}</ref> In January 2020, Tanko was appointed as the head coach of the Ghana A' national football team, the local Black Stars.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-14|title=Ibrahim Tanko appointed Black Stars 'B' coach as Tony Aubynn heads management committee|url=https://www.happyghana.com/ibrahim-tanko-appointed-black-stars-b-coach-as-tony-aubynn-heads-management-committee/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Happy Ghana|language=en-US}}</ref> After 5 months in charge of the team, he was replaced by Annor Walker.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-27|title=Ibrahim Tanko axed; Annor Walker takes over as Black Stars B coach|url=https://citisportsonline.com/2021/04/27/ibrahim-tanko-axed-annor-walker-takes-over-as-black-stars-b-coach/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Citi Sports Online|language=en-US}}</ref>

On Tuesday, 28 June 2022, Tanko was appointed the Head coach of the Black Meteors by the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Ibrahim Tanko appointed as Coach of Black Meteors |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/ibrahim-tanko-appointed-as-coach-of-black-meteors |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=PROFILE OF NATIONAL TEAM COACHES: Ibrahim Tanko |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/profile-of-national-team-coaches-ibrahim-tanko |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life == Tanko is married with three children. He is a devout Muslim and speaks French, English and German.<ref name=":2" />

== Honours == '''Borussia Dortmund'''

* Bundesliga: 1994–95, 1995–96<ref name=":0" /> *UEFA Champions League: 1996–97

==See also== *List of doping cases in sport

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Fussballdaten|ibrahim-tanko-410375}} *{{Kicker|ibrahim-tanko}} *{{NFT player|8065}}

{{Ghana Squad 1996 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanko, Ibrahim}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Kumasi Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:King Faisal F.C. players Category:Bundesliga players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:Borussia Dortmund players Category:Borussia Dortmund II players Category:SC Freiburg players Category:Ghana men's international footballers Category:1996 African Cup of Nations players Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Doping cases in association football Category:Ghanaian Muslims Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players