{{Short description|Ghanaian footballer (born 1980)}} {{About|the footballer born 1980|the footballer born 1973|Sammi Adjei}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Sammy Adjei | fullname = Samuel Adjei<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Ghana |publisher=FIFA |page=13 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|1|df=yes}} | birth_place = Accra, Ghana | height = 1.86 m | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Goalkeeper | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1997–2004 | clubs1 = Hearts of Oak | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2004–2005 | clubs2 = Club Africain | caps2 = 20 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2005 | clubs3 = Hearts of Oak | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2005–2008 | clubs4 = Ashdod | caps4 = 83 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2008–2013 | clubs5 = Hearts of Oak | caps5 = | goals5 = | nationalyears1 = 2001–2007 | nationalteam1 = Ghana | nationalcaps1 = 38 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }} '''Samuel Adjei''' (born 1 September 1980) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
==Career== Adjei was born in Accra, Ghana on 1 September 1980<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Ghana |date=2025-09-03 |title=Sammy Adjei: Ghana’s Iconic Goalkeeper Inspired a Generation |url=https://ghanamedia.net/sammy-adjei-ghanas-iconic-goalkeeper-inspired-a-generation/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Ghana Media |language=en-US}}</ref>. He was transferred from Accra-based club Hearts of Oak to Club Africain for a reported $150,000 on 15 September 2005. On 29 November 2008, he returned to Hearts of Oak for a second spell with the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.thinkghana.com/soccer/premierleague/news/200811/9142.php |title=News in Ghana | Papic cold about Adjei deal | Premier League |accessdate=8 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223074340/http://sports.thinkghana.com/soccer/premierleague/news/200811/9142.php |archivedate=23 December 2008 }}</ref> He agreed to return to Hearts Of Oak SC on a one-year contract in order to convince then national team coach Milovan Rajevac to include him in the national side.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} In July 2009, he trialled with South African club Maritzburg United.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maritzburg send Adjei away |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/Maritzburg-send-Adjei-away-165673 |website=ghanaweb.com |accessdate=13 August 2020 |date=20 July 2009}}</ref>
==International career== Adjei was the first-choice goalkeeper for the national side until 2006, when Richard Kingson rose to prominence. Adjei was named in Ghana's squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt and 2006 World Cup squad on 13 May 2006.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,396921,00.html WM-Teilnehmer Ghana patzt gegen Nigeria]</ref> Adjei made one appearance on the tournament, as a substitute, when the first choice goalkeeper Richard Kingson was taken off with an injury.
On 24 March 2007, Adjei manned the post for Ghana against Austria in a FIFA International friendly in Graz. He was however injured in a collision with an Austrian striker in the first half and was taken to the hospital. Kingson was brought on to replace him. He was again called up to join the Ghana national team in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations as the second choice goal keeper, after which he retired from international football. However he received a recall for Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Ghana |date=2025-12-12 |title=Sammy Adjei Says He’s Ready to Return if Ghana Calls for 2026 World Cup |url=https://ghanamedia.co/sammy-adjei-ready-for-ghana-world-cup-return/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Ghana Media |language=en-US}}</ref> Sammy however expressed interest in joining the current Blackstars squad to USA/Canada for the 2026 World Cup but not much have been heard from the coach of the Blackstars nor Sammy Adjei himself as to whether he's still fit or not.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Ghana |date=2025-12-13 |title=Debate Rises Over Sammy Adjei’s Possible Return to the Black Stars |url=https://ghanamedia.co/sammy-adjei-black-stars-return-debate/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Ghana Media |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/179814_ADJEI_Sammy.html Fifa 2006 World Cup Profile] * {{NFT|2623}}
{{Navboxes |title=Ghana squads | bg = White | fg = Black |list1= {{Ghana Squad 2000 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ghana Squad 2002 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ghana Squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{Ghana Squad 2006 World Cup}} {{Ghana Squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adjei, Sammy}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Accra Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Ghana men's under-20 international footballers Category:Ghana men's international footballers Category:F.C. Ashdod players Category:Club Africain players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel Category:2000 African Cup of Nations players Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players Category:2006 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:2011 African Nations Championship players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Tunisia Category:Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. players Category:Israeli Premier League players Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Tunisia Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Israel Category:Ghana men's A' international footballers Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen