Kevin-Prince Boateng facts for kids
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Boateng in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin-Prince Boateng | ||
| Date of birth | 6 March 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | West Berlin, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994 | Reinickendorfer Füchse | ||
| 1994–1995 | Hertha BSC | ||
| 1995–1996 | Reinickendorfer Füchse | ||
| 1996–2004 | Hertha BSC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2007 | Hertha BSC II | 59 | (11) |
| 2005–2007 | Hertha BSC | 53 | (5) |
| 2007–2009 | Tottenham Hotspur | 24 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Borussia Dortmund (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Portsmouth | 27 | (5) |
| 2010–2011 | Genoa | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Milan (loan) | 34 | (3) |
| 2011–2013 | Milan | 66 | (14) |
| 2013–2015 | Schalke 04 | 60 | (7) |
| 2016 | Milan | 14 | (1) |
| 2016–2017 | Las Palmas | 29 | (10) |
| 2017–2018 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 36 | (6) |
| 2018–2019 | Sassuolo | 15 | (5) |
| 2019 | → Barcelona (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Fiorentina | 15 | (1) |
| 2020 | → Beşiktaş (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | Monza | 25 | (5) |
| 2021–2023 | Hertha BSC | 38 | (0) |
| Total | 521 | (76) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Germany U19 | 12 | (7) |
| 2006 | Germany U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2009 | Germany U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2010–2014 | Ghana | 15 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kevin-Prince Boateng (born 6 March 1987) is a former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder or forward. Kevin-Prince was born in Germany. He later played for the Ghana national team.
Boateng started his career at Hertha BSC in Germany. He then moved to Tottenham Hotspur in England. After a short loan at Borussia Dortmund, he joined Portsmouth. In 2010, he moved to Italian club AC Milan. There, he won the league title and the Italian Super Cup in his first season.
After three seasons, Boateng returned to Germany to play for Schalke 04. In 2016, he went back to AC Milan for six months. He then played for Las Palmas in Spain. In 2017, he returned to Germany again with Eintracht Frankfurt. Later, he joined Sassuolo in Italy. He had a short loan spell at Barcelona, where he won a Spanish league title. He then moved to Fiorentina in Italy. In 2020, he was loaned to Beşiktaş in Turkey. Later that year, he joined Monza in Italy. He finished his career back at Hertha BSC, retiring in 2023.
Boateng played for Germany's youth teams. He later chose to play for Ghana at the senior level. He played 15 times for Ghana between 2010 and 2014, scoring two goals. He represented Ghana in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Contents
- Club Football Journey
- Early Years at Hertha BSC
- Playing for Hertha's Reserve Team
- First Team Debut at Hertha BSC
- Time at Tottenham Hotspur
- Moving to Portsmouth
- Joining Genoa and AC Milan
- Playing for Schalke 04
- Return to AC Milan
- Time at Las Palmas
- Playing for Eintracht Frankfurt
- Joining Sassuolo
- Moving to Fiorentina
- Playing for Monza
- Final Return to Hertha BSC
- International Career Highlights
- Playing Style
- Life Outside Football
- Career Statistics
- Awards and Achievements
- Images for kids
- See also
Club Football Journey
Early Years at Hertha BSC
Kevin-Prince Boateng began his football journey at age six in 1994. He first played for Reinickendorfer Füchse. Soon after, he joined Hertha BSC at age seven. He stayed with Hertha's youth teams until he was 20 years old.
Playing for Hertha's Reserve Team
Before joining the main team, Boateng played for Hertha BSC II for two seasons. This is Hertha's reserve team. He then moved up to the first team for the 2005–06 season.
First Team Debut at Hertha BSC
Boateng played his first game for Hertha's main team on 13 August 2005. It was a 2–0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. He came on as a substitute in the second half.
In 2005, he won the Fritz Walter Bronze Medal Award for best Under-18 player. He started his first league match in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. In 2006, he won the Fritz Walter Gold Medal for best Under-19 player.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
In July 2007, Boateng signed a four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in England. He moved for about £5.4 million. His time there was not very successful. In January 2009, he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund.
Loan Spell at Borussia Dortmund
He played ten league games during his loan at Dortmund. He missed the last two matches due to a suspension. This was after a strong challenge in a game. Dortmund wanted to sign him permanently, but they could not afford it.
Moving to Portsmouth
In August 2009, English club Portsmouth signed Boateng on a three-year contract. The fee was around £4 million. On 12 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the club. He was named Portsmouth's joint Player of the Month. He scored three goals in 22 league games that season. Portsmouth was relegated due to money problems.
In May 2010, Portsmouth played Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. Chelsea won 1–0. Boateng missed a penalty kick in the game. He also fouled Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, who then missed the 2010 World Cup. Boateng later said he apologized to Ballack.
Joining Genoa and AC Milan
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On 17 August 2010, Boateng moved to Italian club Genoa. He then immediately joined AC Milan on loan. Milan later signed him permanently in June 2011.
On 23 October 2011, Boateng came on as a substitute against Lecce. He scored three goals in just 14 minutes. Milan was losing 3–0 at halftime but won the game 4–3. This was a very fast hat-trick.
On 3 January 2013, Milan played a friendly match against Pro Patria. Boateng and other Milan players faced bad behavior from some fans. Boateng reacted by kicking the ball into the stands and leaving the field. His teammates followed him. The match was stopped. Many players and experts supported his decision to leave the field.
In February 2013, Boateng scored for Milan against Barcelona in a Champions League game. Milan won 2–0.
Playing for Schalke 04
On 30 August 2013, Boateng moved to German club Schalke 04. He signed a four-year contract. He made his debut in a 2–0 win. On 14 September 2013, he scored the winning goal against Mainz 05. Fans voted him Schalke's player of the month for October 2013. He scored seven league goals that season.
In May 2015, Boateng was suspended by the club. This was due to poor behavior after a loss. His contract with Schalke ended in December 2015.
Return to AC Milan
Boateng rejoined Milan on 5 January 2016. He signed a six-month contract. He had been training with Milan since September 2015. He played his first game back on 9 January 2016. He scored his first goal in his return match at San Siro six days later. In May 2016, Milan announced he would be leaving the club.
Time at Las Palmas
On 2 August 2016, Spanish club Las Palmas announced they had signed Boateng. He made his debut on 22 August 2016. He scored a goal against Villarreal in October. Many thought it was one of the best goals in the Spanish league that year.
On 16 August 2017, Boateng left Las Palmas. He said it was for "personal reasons."
Playing for Eintracht Frankfurt
On 18 August 2017, Boateng moved to Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. He signed a three-year deal. He won the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) with them.
Joining Sassuolo
On 5 July 2018, Boateng signed with Sassuolo in Italy. He signed a three-year deal.
Loan to Barcelona
Boateng joined Spanish club Barcelona on 21 January 2019. It was a loan until the end of the season. Barcelona had an option to sign him permanently. He was the first Ghanaian player to play for Barcelona. He made his debut on 23 January.
Moving to Fiorentina
On 30 July 2019, Boateng signed with ACF Fiorentina in Italy. He made his debut on 24 August. He scored a goal in his first game for the club.
Loan to Beşiktaş
On 31 January 2020, Boateng joined Turkish club Beşiktaş on loan. He stayed for the rest of the 2019–20 season.
Playing for Monza
On 28 September 2020, Boateng moved to Serie B side Monza in Italy. He signed a one-year contract. He scored his first goal on 24 October 2020. On 15 December 2020, he scored two goals in a game, helping Monza win 5–0.
Final Return to Hertha BSC
On 23 June 2021, Boateng returned to Hertha BSC. He announced his retirement from playing football on 11 August 2023.
International Career Highlights
Youth Teams for Germany
Boateng has a German passport. He played for Germany's national youth teams. His long-distance goal for the Under-19 team against Greece was voted "Goal of the Month" in Germany.
In 2007, he was not selected for the Germany Under-21 team. This was because he and other players broke a curfew. In 2009, he told German authorities he no longer wanted to play for Germany.
Switching to Ghana
Boateng received a Ghanaian passport in May 2010. He decided to play for Ghana. He said he felt more Ghanaian. He joined Ghana's training camp before the 2010 World Cup. He made his debut for Ghana in June 2010.
2010 FIFA World Cup
Boateng was chosen for Ghana's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. On 23 June, he started in Ghana's game against Germany. His brother, Jérôme Boateng, played for Germany. This was the first time two brothers played on opposite teams at the World Cup.
On 26 June, Boateng scored a goal against the United States. He dribbled the ball from midfield and scored with a left-footed shot. Ghana won the game 2–1.
2014 FIFA World Cup
On 1 October 2013, Boateng was selected for Ghana's 2014 World Cup play-off games. On 19 November 2013, he came on as a substitute and scored Ghana's only goal. This helped Ghana qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
On 2 June 2014, Boateng was named in Ghana's World Cup squad. He played against his brother again in a 2–2 draw with Germany. On 26 June, Boateng was sent home from the Ghana squad. This was due to a disagreement with the team manager.
Playing Style
Boateng was a fast, strong, and versatile midfielder. He was known for his energy, goal-scoring ability, and long-range shots. He also had great flair and dribbling skills. He could play in many midfield positions. He often played in the center, or as an attacking midfielder or forward. He was also known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, like a backflip.
His former teammate, Niko Kovač, praised Boateng's leadership. He said Kevin gave the team stability, both mentally and physically. He called him a "warrior."
Life Outside Football
Personal Life and Family
Boateng was born in Berlin, Germany. His mother is German, and his father is from Ghana. He has an older half-brother, Jérôme Boateng, who is also a professional footballer.
He was married to Italian model Melissa Satta. They have a child named Maddox Prince, born in 2014. They were married in 2016, but their marriage ended in 2020. Boateng speaks Turkish, German, English, and Italian. He also understands French and Arabic.
Tattoos and Meanings
Boateng has several tattoos. He has a map of Ghana and the country's name on his arm. On his ribs, he has Chinese words for clan, health, love, success, and trust. He has other tattoos on his upper body.
Fighting Racism
In February 2013, Boateng became the first global ambassador for FIFA's anti-discrimination task force. He worked to help end racism in football. In March 2013, he was named a United Nations (UN) ambassador for anti-racism. He gave his first speech in this role at the United Nations Office in Geneva.
Music and Dance
Boateng enjoys singing and dancing. He has said that Michael Jackson is his idol. He likes choreography and singing. He once performed Michael Jackson's famous Moonwalk dance for 88,000 fans at San Siro stadium. This was when AC Milan celebrated winning their league title. He also sang live on TV.
In August 2018, he released a rap song called King under the name PRIN$$ Boateng. He released his second song, Bella Vita, in July 2019.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hertha BSC II | 2004–05 | Regionalliga Nord | 18 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 3 | ||||
| 2005–06 | Regionalliga Nord | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | |||||
| 2006–07 | Regionalliga Nord | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | ||
| Hertha BSC | 2005–06 | Bundesliga | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Bundesliga | 21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 26 | 3 | |||
| Total | 42 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 5 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2007–08 | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Borussia Dortmund (loan) | 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| Portsmouth | 2009–10 | Premier League | 22 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 27 | 5 | |||
| Milan | 2010–11 | Serie A | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 9 | ||
| 2012–13 | Serie A | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 37 | 3 | |||
| 2013–14 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total | 74 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 17 | ||
| Schalke 04 | 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 35 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15 | Bundesliga | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 7 | ||
| Milan | 2015–16 | Serie A | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| Las Palmas | 2016–17 | La Liga | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 10 | |||
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 31 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 6 | |||
| Sassuolo | 2018–19 | Serie A | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 15 | 5 | |||
| Barcelona (loan) | 2018–19 | La Liga | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Fiorentina | 2019–20 | Serie A | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2019–20 | Süper Lig | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | ||||
| Monza | 2020–21 | Serie B | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 25 | 5 | ||
| Hertha BSC | 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 406 | 58 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 492 | 70 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana | 2010 | 8 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 2 | |
- Ghana score listed first, score column indicates score after each Boateng goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 June 2010 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa |  United States |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup |
| 2 | 19 November 2013 | 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt |  Egypt |
1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Awards and Achievements
Portsmouth
- FA cup runner-up: 2010
AC Milan
- Serie A: 2010–11
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2011
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2015–16
Eintracht Frankfurt
- DFB-Pokal: 2017–18
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2018–19
Individual
- Fritz Walter Medal U18 bronze: 2005
- Fritz Walter Medal U19 gold: 2006
- Das Erste Goal of the Month: 2005
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2010–11
- CAF Team of the Year: 2010, 2011
Images for kids
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Boateng in 2011
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Boateng playing for Portsmouth in the 2010 FA Cup Final
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Boateng playing for AC Milan in 2012
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Boateng training with Schalke 04 in 2015
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Boateng (right) playing for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
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Boateng pictured in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Kevin-Prince Boateng para niños
