{{short description|Ghanaian footballer (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | image = | name = Jordan Opoku | fullname = Jordan Darko-Opoku | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|10|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Mampona Twifu, Ghana | height = 1.74 m | currentclub = Berekum Chelsea | clubnumber = 32 | position = Attacking midfielder / Forward | youthyears1 = | youthyears2 = | youthyears3 = | youthyears4 = | youthclubs1 = Winneba Secondary School | youthclubs2 = Tema Hurricanes | youthclubs3 = Feyenoord Ghana | youthclubs4 = Feyenoord | years1 = 2002 | years2 = 2002–2005 | years3 = 2003–2004 | years4 = 2004–2005 | years5 = 2005–2006 | years6 = 2006–2011 | years7 = 2011 | years8 = 2012–2013 | years9 = 2013–2015 | years10 = 2015–2016 | years11 = 2017 | years12 = 2018–2019 | years13 = 2020– | clubs1 = Feyenoord Ghana | clubs2 = Feyenoord | clubs3 = → Excelsior (loan) | clubs4 = → Royal Antwerp (loan) | clubs5 = Feyenoord Academy | clubs6 = Asante Kotoko | clubs7 = → Dinamo Tirana (loan) | clubs8 = Berekum Chelsea | clubs9 = Asante Kotoko | clubs10 = Al-Talaba SC | clubs11 = Sakaeo | clubs12 = Asante Kotoko | clubs13 = Berekum Chelsea | caps1 = – | caps2 = 0 | caps3 = 34 | caps4 = 24 | caps5 = 29 | caps6 = 113 | caps7 = 16 | caps8 = 25 | caps9 = 34 | caps10 = – | caps11 = 13 | caps12 = 24 | goals1 = – | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 3 | goals4 = 3 | goals5 = 1 | goals6 = 22 | goals7 = 2 | goals8 = 2 | goals9 = 3 | goals10 = – | goals11 = 4 | goals12 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2009– | nationalteam1 = Ghana | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | pcupdate = | ntupdate = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Football}} {{medalTeam|Asante Kotoko}} {{MedalW|Ghana Premier League|2008}} {{MedalW|Ghana Premier League|2013}} {{MedalW|Ghana Super Cup|2013}} {{MedalW|Ghana Premier League|2014}} {{MedalW|Ghanaian FA Cup|2014}} {{medalCountry|{{fb|Ghana}}}} {{MedalW|WAFU Nations Cup|2013}} {{MedalRU|African Nations Championship|2014}} | caps13 = 13 | goals13 = 0 }}
'''Jordan Darko-Opoku''' (born 8 October 1983) is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Berekum Chelsea and the Ghana national football team.
== Early life == Opoku was born on 8 October 1987 at Mampona Twifu in Ghana. He attended Winneba Secondary School for his secondary education whilst playing in the school's football team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jordan Opoku - Soccer Player - Dinamo Tirana |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/player.php?ID=189 |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=GhanaWeb.}}</ref>
==Club career== Opoku is a product of Feyenoord Fetteh.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ghanaweb.com/mobile/wap/sports.article.php?ID=32487 |title=Feyenoord Fetteh's Opoku |access-date=17 January 2009 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014143/https://www.ghanaweb.com/mobile/wap/sports.article.php?ID=32487 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prior to that he played for the colts team, Tema Hurricans in Tema, Accra, bef0000ore being scouted in 2000 to join the Feyenoord Fetteh side. In 2003, he was adjudged as the SWAG Discovery of the Year for 2002.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=4 August 2003 |title=Discovery of the Year Off To Holland |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/112369/discovery-of-the-year-off-to-holland.html |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=Modern Ghana |publisher= |language=en}}</ref>
Opoku gained promotion to play for the youth team of Fetteh's mother club Feyenoord, becoming the first player from the academy in Ghana to join the main club in Holland.<ref name=":1" /> Opoku spent some time at Dutch club Excelsior and Belgian club Royal Antwerp FC before returning to the Ghana.<ref>[http://www.myradiogoldlive.com/gold/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=860&Itemid=102 Opoku Feyenoord]. myradiogoldlive.</ref> Opoku signed with Feyenoord Ghana for one year and joined in 2006 Asante Kotoko. In the 2007–2008 season Opoku won the Ghana Premier League title and the Ghana President's Cup with Asante Kotoko.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Welsing |first=Kobina |date=3 July 2013 |title=Kotoko want me back - Jordan Opoku |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghanaian-football/2013/07/03/4091196/kotoko-want-me-back-jordan-opoku |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=Goal.}}</ref><ref>Otchere Jerome 2 April 2008 [http://www.asantekotokofc.org/Newreel/000408/three_more_signed.htm Three More Signed]. asantekotokofc. retrieved 13 July 2021</ref>
The attacking midfielder and forward on 31 January 2010 left his club Asante Kotoko. He served as the club captain from 2010<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2010|title=Jordan Opoku is new Kotoko captain|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/jordan-opoku-is-new-asante-kotoko-captain|access-date=13 July 2021|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}</ref> till 2011 when he moved to Dinamo Tirana on a four-month loan deal with Dinamo Tirana.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 January 2011|title=Jordan Opoku joins Albanian side Tirana|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=202278|access-date=13 July 2021|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}}</ref> After a short loan spell with Dinamo Tirana, Opoku became a free agent. In late January 2012, Opoku signed with Ghana Premier League club Berekum Chelsea.<ref>Midfielder Jordan Opoku Has Joined The Blues {{Cite web |url=http://www.berekumchelsea.com/2011/12/midfielder-jordan-opoku-has-joined-the-blues/ |title=Midfielder Jordan Opoku Has Joined The Blues |access-date=21 February 2012 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108174319/http://www.berekumchelsea.com/2011/12/midfielder-jordan-opoku-has-joined-the-blues/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> On 1 August 2013, Opoku re-signed for Asante Kotoko.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Obour|first=Samuel K.|date=15 August 2013|title=Jordan Opoku back to Kotoko|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/football/jordan-opoku-back-to-kotoko.html?template=graphicshowbiznews&is_preview=on|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=13 July 2021|newspaper=Daily Graphic|language=en-gb}}</ref> After playing for Thailand club Sakaeo F.C. for a year, he rejoined Asante Kotoko in December 2018 on a one-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sienu|first=Sheikh Tophic|date=28 December 2017|title=OFFICIAL: Jordan Opoku completes Kumasi Asante Kotoko return|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/official-jordan-opoku-completes-kumasi-asante-kotoko-return|access-date=8 July 2021|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Darkwah|first=Frank|date=8 December 2017|title=Experienced midfielder Jordan Opoku set for Kotoko reunion as player trains with Club|url=https://ghanasportsonline.com/2017/12/experienced-midfielder-jordan-opoku-set-kotoko-reunion-player-trains-club/|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Ghana Sports Online|language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2020, Opoku returned to Berekum Chelsea.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Osman|first=Abdul Wadudu|date=14 January 2020|title=Jordan Opoku completes return to Berekum Chelsea|url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2020/01/14/jordan-opoku-completes-return-to-berekum-chelsea/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601153249/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2020/01/14/jordan-opoku-completes-return-to-berekum-chelsea/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 June 2020|access-date=13 July 2021|website=Football Made In Ghana|language=en-US}}</ref>
==International career== Opoku's first call up for the Ghana national football team was for a friendly match against Argentina national football team,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Stars away in Argentina |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/black-stars-away-in-argentina |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=ghanafa. |language=en}}</ref> and Opoku earned his debut in the match on 1 October 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 October 2009 |title=Ghana Suffer Argentina Defeat |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/sports/soccer/200910/28034.php |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=Peace FM Online |publisher=}}</ref> In November 2013, coach Maxwell Konadu invited Opoku to be a part of the Ghana national football team for the 2013 WAFU Nations Cup.<ref name="goal">{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Simon |date=25 October 2013 |title=Saka, Mohamed & Mpong in 30-man Ghana squad for Wafu Cup |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/10/25/4358558/saka-mohamed-mpong-in-30-man-ghana-squad-for-wafu-cup |accessdate=9 November 2014 |website=Goal |publisher=}}</ref> Opoku helped the Ghana national football team to a first-place finish after Ghana national football team beat Senegal national football team by three goals to one.<ref name="aasdfp">{{cite web |last=Atipaga |first=Umar-Farouk |date=28 November 2013 |title=Ghana win 2013 Wafu Cup after edging past Senegal 3-1 |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/11/28/4440799/ghana-win-2013-wafu-cup-after-edging-past-senegal-3-1 |accessdate=9 November 2013 |website=Goal |publisher=}}</ref>
Opoku captained and was a key member in the Ghana national football team for the 2014 African Nations Championship finished runner-up.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 January 2014|title=CHAN 2014: Ghana captain Jordan Opoku weary of Nigeria threat|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/chan-2014-ghana-captain-jordan-opoku-weary-nigeria-threat|access-date=13 July 2021|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 January 2014|title=Ghana captain Jordan Opoku expecting foreign deal after CHAN|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/516977/ghana-captain-jordan-opoku-expecting-foreign-deal.html|access-date=13 July 2021|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Allie|first=Mohammed|date=1 February 2014|title=Libya snatch first African title|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25719387|access-date=13 July 2021}}</ref>
== Honours == '''Asante Kotoko'''
* Ghana Premier League: 2007–08, 2013–14<ref>{{Cite web|last=Yeboah|first=Thomas Freeman|date=8 June 2016|title=Kotoko win historic double|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/today-in-history-kotoko-win-historic-double/7ysen0z|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Pulse Ghana|language=en}}</ref> * GFA Normalization Competition: 2019<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kwakofi|first=Edwin|date=23 June 2019|title=NC Special: Kotoko beat Karela on penalties to win Tier 1 Competition|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2019/06/nc-special-kotoko-beat-karela-on-penalties-to-win-tier-1-competition/|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Citinewsroom|language=en-US}}</ref> * Ghanaian FA Cup: 2014<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2014 |title=Kotoko wins MTN FA Cup - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/kotoko-wins-mtn-fa-cup/ |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=MyJoyOnline |language=en-US}}</ref> * Ghana Super Cup: 2013{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
'''Ghana'''
* WAFU Nations Cup: 2013<ref name="aasdfp" /> * African Nations Championship Runner-up: 2009, 2014{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
'''Individual'''
* SWAG Discovery of the Year: 2002<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{NFT player|33769/Jordan_Opoku}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Opoku, Jordan}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Liberty Professionals F.C. players Category:Feyenoord players Category:Royal Antwerp FC players Category:Excelsior Rotterdam players Category:Asante Kotoko S.C. players Category:FC Dinamo City players Category:Al-Talaba SC players Category:Berekum Chelsea F.C. players Category:Eerste Divisie players Category:Ghana Premier League players Category:West African Football Academy players Category:2014 African Nations Championship players Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Albania Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Thailand Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Iraq Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Albania Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iraq Category:Ghana men's international footballers Category:Ghana men's A' international footballers Category:Footballers from Central Region (Ghana) Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen