Ghanaian players who played in the UEFA Champions League final

kwame

May 26, 2016 12:59 PM

Pulse Sports reflects on Ghanaian players who played in the UEFA Champions League as Thomas Teye Partey's Atletico Madrid play Real Madrid in the 2016 final.

Milan 2016. Madrid moved to Milan. The most prestigious club cup competition comes off at the Giuseppe Meazza. 80,000 football fans under one roof, one trophy up for grasp. It is the

Real Madrid take on Atletico Madrid in a super Madrid derby UEFA Champions League final clash set in Milan, Italy.

The tie is a repeat of the 2013/2014 final which Real Madrid won to win the ‘La Decima’, their 10th title in the competition.

The upcoming final between the two Madrid clubs has a Ghanaian twist in the name of Thomas Teye Partey. The 22-year-old Ghanaian midfielder was on loan at Mallorca the last time his Atletico Madrid side played in the UEFA Champions League.

Partey has however played his part in this season’s journey to Milan for the final game making four substitute appearances, mostly to help his Atletico Madrid team hold on to a slender lead and see off a game. The Ghanaian’s 43 minutes game time in all came without a yellow card and a red card.

Ghanaian player Thomas Teye Partey is likely to play in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid in Milan on Saturday.

PulseSports takes a look at Ghanaian players who have played in the UEFA Champions League final.

Abedi Pele - Olympique Marseille

Ghana international Abedi Pele, tagged as one of the pioneers of African football in Europe made a great impact during his playing days.

The former Black Stars captain was a member of Olympique Marseille’s ‘Magical Trio’ with Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle.

Abedi Pele played in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final in Munich where his Olympique Marseille tem beat AC Milan by a goal to nil.

Samuel Kuffour - Bayern Munich

The defeat against Manchester United in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final was one of the most disappointing moments in the football life of Samuel Kuffour. The Ghanaian player’s reaction after Manchester United scored two late goals to lift the trophy at Camp Nou showed a man in pain for losing.

Another opportunity came in 2001 which Kuffour and his teammates made amends. They held Valencia to a draw before winning the final with a penalty shootout.

Sulley Muntari - Inter Milan

Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari was an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan who won the UEFA Champions League after beating Bayern Munich in 2010.

The player made a cameo for his Inter Milan team who had seen off Barcelona in the semi-final of the competition.

Muntari’s abilities complemented Jose Mourinho’s defensive setup on the road to the Italian club’s first European Cup in 45 years.

Michael Essien - Chelsea

That penalty from John Terry could have won it. The Chelsea captain missed it and his team missed the UEFA Champions League trophy in the final game against Manchester United in 2008.

Michael Essien played in the final staged at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

The Ghanaian player was also an unused substitute when his team beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany to win their first UEFA Champions League trophy.

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

Get rewards worth up to $20 when selected to participate in our exclusive focus group. Your input will help us to make informed decisions that align with your needs and preferences.

I've got feedback!

kwame