Gerald Asamoah facts for kids
Asamoah in 2016
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 October 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mampong, Ghana | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | VfV Hainholz | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | SG Borken | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | BV Werder Hannover | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Hannover 96 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Hannover 96 | 79 | (28) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2010 | Schalke 04 | 279 | (44) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Schalke 04 II | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | FC St. Pauli | 27 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Greuther Fürth | 27 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Schalke 04 II | 49 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 462 | (91) | |||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2006 | Germany | 43 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2021 | Schalke 04 II | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Gerald Asamoah (born 3 October 1978) is a German football expert and former player. He now works as the first-team manager for Schalke 04.
During his time as a player, Asamoah was a forward. He was known for being fast, strong, and always working hard. He spent most of his career at Schalke. Fans loved him not just for his skills but also for his positive attitude and for being a leader in the community.
After he stopped playing, Asamoah continued to work in Gelsenkirchen. He took on different jobs in management and administration over the years.
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Gerald Asamoah was born in Mampong, Ghana. In 1990, when he was 12, his family moved to Germany.
He quickly started playing football for local teams. By age 16, he joined the youth academy of Hannover 96. This was the beginning of his journey in professional football.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Strong at Hannover 96
Asamoah began his professional career with Hannover 96. In his first season (1996–97), he scored five goals. The next year, he really shined, scoring 19 goals in 33 games. He even scored a key goal in a match that helped Hannover reach the play-offs.
Hannover 96 won their play-off match after a penalty shootout, earning a promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. Overall, Asamoah played 79 games for Hannover, scoring 28 goals.
A Long Time at Schalke 04
In 1999, Asamoah joined Schalke 04. He quickly became a fan favorite. Even though he didn't always score many goals, his hard work and positive attitude made him special. He got along well with his teammates and coaches, especially Huub Stevens.
With Schalke, Asamoah helped the team achieve great things. They qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2001. They also won two German Cups (in 2001 and 2002). Plus, they won two UEFA Intertoto Cups (in 2003 and 2004) and a German League Cup in 2005.
Asamoah played for Schalke for eleven years. He played a total of 381 games, scoring 64 goals and making 45 assists. He left the club in 2010.
Later Years as a Player
Time at St. Pauli
In 2010, Asamoah signed with FC St. Pauli, a team that had just been promoted to the Bundesliga. He played regularly and scored six goals. One of his goals was a winning goal against their big rivals, Hamburger SV. This was St. Pauli's first away win against Hamburg since 1977!
However, St. Pauli was relegated (moved down a league) at the end of the season. Asamoah decided to leave the club in 2011.
Playing for Greuther Fürth
After a few months without a club, Asamoah joined Greuther Fürth in January 2012. He helped the team win the 2. Bundesliga title. This was a huge moment for Greuther Fürth, as it was their first time ever being promoted to the Bundesliga.
The next season (2012–13) was tough. Asamoah didn't score any goals, and Greuther Fürth finished last in the league. This was Asamoah's last season playing in the Bundesliga.
Back to Schalke and Retirement
In 2013, Asamoah returned to Schalke 04. He became a player-coach for their reserve team, FC Schalke 04 II. He played regularly for the reserve team.
He played one more game for Schalke's main team in a cup match in 2013. In 2015, Asamoah officially announced his retirement from playing football.
Playing for Germany
In May 2001, Gerald Asamoah was called up to play for the German national team. He played his first game against Slovakia. This was a special moment because he became the first African-born black player to play for Germany. He even scored a goal in his very first game!
He went on to play in two FIFA World Cups: in 2002 and 2006. He usually came on as a substitute in these big tournaments. In total, he played 43 games for Germany and scored six goals.
Life After Playing: Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Asamoah stayed involved with Schalke. In 2015, he became an assistant coach for the club's U-15 team. He also earned his UEFA A coaching license.
In 2016, he became the head coach of Schalke's U23 team. He held this role until 2021. For a short time in 2019, he also worked as the team manager for the main senior team.
In 2021, Asamoah took on a new role as a coordinator for the first team. He helped connect the players, coaches, and club management. In May 2021, he was appointed as Schalke's first-team manager.
Personal Life and Important Work
Gerald Asamoah is married and has two children, who are twins born in 2007. His brother and cousin also played football, mostly in non-professional leagues.
Asamoah has a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This means a part of his heart muscle is thicker than usual, which can sometimes cause an irregular heartbeat. Even with this condition, he was able to have a successful football career.
Beyond football, Asamoah is a strong voice against racism. He has led educational campaigns in schools and spoken out many times. He believes it's important to teach young people that everyone is equal. In 2016, he received the FIFA Fair Play Award for his work supporting refugees.
In 2020, he spoke out about the murder of George Floyd. He said, "If you have never experienced racism, you'll never find out what that truly means. It's a pain you carry inside yourself and you can't swallow it. I'll work even harder to visit schools and teach young people that we're all the same."
In 2021, he was part of a documentary called Schwarze Adler. This film shared the experiences of Black players in German professional football.
Honours
Schalke 04
- DFB-Pokal: 2000–01, 2001–02
- DFL-Ligapokal: 2005
- UEFA Intertoto Cup 2003, 2004
Greuther Fürth
- 2. Bundesliga: 2011–12
Germany
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002; third place: 2006
- FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2005
