Sulley Muntari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sulley Muntari

Muntari with Inter Milan in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Suleyman Ali Muntari
Date of birth	(1984-08-27) 27 August 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Konongo, Ashanti, Ghana
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2001	Liberty Professionals
2001–2002	Udinese
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2007	Udinese	125	(8)
2007–2008	Portsmouth	29	(4)
2008–2012	Inter Milan	66	(7)
2011	→ Sunderland (loan)	9	(1)
2012	→ AC Milan (loan)	13	(3)
2012–2015	AC Milan	57	(8)
2015–2016	Al Ittihad	18	(2)
2017	Pescara	9	(1)
2018	Deportivo La Coruña	8	(0)
2019	Albacete	2	(0)
2022	Hearts of Oak	11	(1)
Total		347	(35)
International career
2001	Ghana U20	7	(0)
2002–2014	Ghana	84	(20)
Medal record Representing  Ghana Men's football Africa Cup of Nations Third 2008 Ghana
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 10 June 2022 (UTC)

Suleyman Ali "Sulley" Muntari (born 27 August 1984) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder. Sulley spent most of his career playing for top clubs in Italy. These clubs included Udinese, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

Even when he was young, people saw that Muntari was a very talented player. He started his youth career in Ghana with Liberty Professionals. Then, he moved to Italy to join Udinese. There, he grew from their youth academy to become a first-team player. He played over 150 matches for Udinese and scored 9 goals.

After Udinese, he moved to the English team Portsmouth in the Premier League. He played there for only one season. During that time, he helped the team win the FA Cup in the 2007–08 season. His great performances in England led him to join Inter Milan in 2008.

While playing for Inter Milan, Sulley helped the team win many important trophies. They won the Champions League in 2009–10. They also won the Serie A title twice, in 2008–09 and 2009–10.

Sulley Muntari also played for the Ghana national team. He became a full international player in 2002. He played in over 80 matches for Ghana. He was chosen for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He also played in three FIFA World Cups. Before that, he was part of the Ghana U20 team. They finished second in both the African Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2001.

Sulley Muntari is the older brother of another footballer, Sulley Muniru.

Sulley Muntari's Club Journey

Starting His Career

Sulley Muntari's football skills were first noticed in youth tournaments. He played for the Liberty Professionals youth team in Ghana. At just 16 years old, he became a regular player for the Ghana under-20 team. They did very well, finishing second at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina. They lost to the host team in the final match.

After this tournament, Muntari had a trial with Manchester United. Even though he impressed them, he decided to join the Italian club Udinese in 2001.

Playing for Udinese

When Sulley joined Udinese in 2001, he spent his first season playing for the reserve team. He made his first appearance for the main team on 6 November 2002. This match was against AC Milan.

In his second full season, he played in 23 matches. The next season, he played even more, appearing in 33 games. He stayed with Udinese for five seasons before moving to Portsmouth in England.

Time at Portsmouth

Muntari had always wanted to play in the English Premier League. In early 2007, Portsmouth made offers to sign him. He finally joined Portsmouth on 30 May 2007. The transfer fee was a new record for the club, around £7.1 million. He signed a five-year contract.

He was a key player for Portsmouth during the 2007–08 season. He played in 29 league matches and scored four goals. His first Premier League game was on 11 August 2007. It was a 2–2 draw against Derby County.

On 29 September, Muntari scored his first goal for Portsmouth. He also helped set up another goal in an exciting 7–4 win over Reading. He scored the seventh goal from a penalty kick. This game set a record for the highest-scoring match in Premier League history. People praised his skill and strong play in this match.

Sulley also played in four FA Cup matches. He scored the winning goal from a penalty kick in a 1–0 victory over Manchester United. This win happened at Old Trafford and helped Portsmouth reach the semi-finals. He was in the starting team that won the 2008 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. They beat Cardiff City to lift the trophy. After just one season, he left Portsmouth to join Inter Milan.

Playing for Inter Milan

In 2008, Sulley Muntari joined Inter Milan. He wore the number 20 jersey.

Winning the Italian Super Cup

On 24 August 2008, Muntari played his first official game for Inter Milan. It was against Roma in the Italian Super Cup. He scored the first goal in a match that ended 2–2 after extra time. Inter then won the trophy by winning a penalty shootout.

First Serie A Title with Inter

On 22 November 2008, Muntari scored the winning goal in a big game against rivals Juventus. This was Inter's first win over Juventus at their home stadium, San Siro, in four years. Two weeks later, he scored another goal against Napoli.

On 31 May 2009, in the last Serie A match of the season, he scored the first goal for Inter against Atalanta. Inter won the game 4–3. This win meant Muntari won his first Scudetto (Italian league title) in his first season with the club.

Winning the Treble

For the 2009–10 season, Muntari was given the number 11 jersey. On 24 October, he scored his first goal of the season. This helped Inter Milan win 2–1 against Catania.

On 16 April 2010, he helped set up a goal for Samuel Eto'o in a 2–0 win against Juventus. The next game, he scored his second goal of the season. Inter Milan won the Serie A title again that season. Muntari played in 27 matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists.

He also played in all of Inter Milan's Coppa Italia matches. The club won this competition for the sixth time. Inter Milan also won the UEFA Champions League that season. This meant they achieved the first-ever Italian treble. This is when a team wins the league, the main domestic cup, and the Champions League in one season. Muntari played in 9 Champions League matches. He came on as a substitute in the final against Bayern Munich. He became the fourth Ghanaian player to win the Champions League. Overall, he played 42 matches that season and was important in winning the treble.

Muntari playing for Inter in 2009

Muntari playing for Inter in 2010

Loan to Sunderland

In January 2011, Muntari moved to the English Premier League club Sunderland on loan. He stayed there until the end of the 2010–11 season. He played 9 matches for Sunderland. After the loan, he returned to Inter Milan.

Playing for AC Milan

Muntari (left) with AC Milan teammates El Shaarawy (center) and Traoré (far right) in 2012

On 31 January 2012, Muntari joined AC Milan on loan. He scored his first goal for Milan on his debut, in a 3–1 win against Cesena. In another match against Juventus, he scored a goal that was not given by the referee, even though the ball seemed to cross the line. The match ended 1–1.

Muntari officially signed with AC Milan on a free transfer in July 2012. He stayed with the club for several seasons.

Key Moments with AC Milan

In February 2013, Muntari scored a goal against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. This gave Milan a two-goal lead in the first leg of their match. However, Barcelona won the second leg and knocked Milan out of the competition.

In May 2013, he scored his first Serie A goal of the season in a 4–0 win against Pescara.

Muntari playing for AC Milan in 2013

In October 2013, Muntari scored two goals against Juventus, but Milan lost the game 3–2. He also scored a late goal against Roma in December, helping Milan get a 2–2 draw.

In June 2014, Muntari signed a new two-year contract with Milan. He scored in Milan's first game of the 2014–15 Serie A season, a 3–1 win over Lazio. He was released by mutual agreement on 30 June 2015.

Moving to Saudi Arabia

On 27 July 2015, Muntari joined the Saudi team Al Ittihad on a two-year deal. He played his first league game on 20 August, helping his team win 2–1. He scored his first goal for the club in February 2016. He scored his second goal the following week.

Muntari also played in the 2016 AFC Champions League. He scored a long-range goal in a match against Lokomotiv Tashkent. He played 29 matches and scored 3 goals for Al Ittihad. His contract was ended early due to money problems at the club.

Return to Italy with Pescara

In January 2017, Sulley returned to Italy and signed a six-month contract with Pescara. He made his debut on 5 February. On 12 March, he scored his first goal for Pescara against his old club, Udinese.

On 30 April 2017, Muntari left a Serie A match early. He had complained about racist abuse from fans, but the referee gave him a yellow card instead. After this incident, Muntari did not play for Pescara again.

Playing in Spain

On 22 February 2018, Muntari joined the Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña. He signed until the end of the 2017–18 season. The manager, Clarence Seedorf, who used to play with Muntari at AC Milan, helped him decide to join the club. He made his debut the day after signing.

After six months without a club, Muntari signed with Albacete on 31 January 2019. He made his debut for them in March. In April 2019, he started a match and helped set up the winning goal against AD Alcorcón.

Coming Home to Ghana

After two years without a contract, Muntari returned to football in Ghana. He joined Hearts of Oak, a big club in the Ghana Premier League. He signed a six-month deal. He said his son asked him to play so he could watch him in the stadium.

On 6 February 2022, he made his debut for Hearts of Oak. The next match, he made his first start and received a standing ovation from fans when he was substituted.

He won his first trophy with the club, the President's Cup, on 4 March. He played 80 minutes in a 2–1 win over rivals Asante Kotoko. On 9 March 2022, he scored his first goal for Hearts of Oak from a penalty kick.

On 27 June 2022, Muntari played in the 2023 Ghana FA Cup final. Hearts of Oak won the cup 2–1. This FA Cup final was his last professional match. He decided not to renew his contract and announced his retirement in November. He played 15 matches for Hearts of Oak, scored 1 goal, and won two trophies.

On 28 November 2022, Sulley Muntari officially announced his retirement from football. He said, "I just did a few months with the local side-Hearts of Oak. My son wanted me to play. I didn’t play for almost three years, then my son decided to ask me to go and play. I did that but now I’m done." This ended his 18-year professional career.

Sulley Muntari's International Career

Youth Teams

Muntari played for Ghana's youth teams, including the Black Starlets. He played in the 2001 UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup. He was also chosen for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, where Ghana finished in second place.

Senior National Team

Muntari (centre) playing for Ghana against Lesotho in 2008

Sulley Muntari played his first senior international match for Ghana on 17 May 2002, against Slovenia. He became a regular player for The Black Stars. He helped them in their journey to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

He was selected for the 2006 World Cup squad. He played in the first two matches. He scored a goal in Ghana's 2–0 win over the Czech Republic. He was suspended for one game but returned for the match against Brazil, where Ghana was eliminated.

Muntari continued to be a key player for Ghana. He played in the 2008 African Cup of Nations. He scored the winning goal in the first group match against Guinea. He also scored in the last group match against Morocco. His goal against Guinea was a powerful shot from 25 meters. It was voted one of the best goals of the tournament. He was also chosen as an All-Star Player for the tournament.

Muntari with Ghana in 2008

World Cup Appearances

Muntari was chosen for Ghana's 2010 World Cup squad. He did not start the first two matches. However, he was later brought back into the team. He made two substitute appearances. He then started the quarter-final match against Uruguay. In that game, Muntari scored a long-range goal just before half-time, putting Ghana ahead 1–0.

On 2 June 2014, Muntari was named in Ghana's squad for the 2014 World Cup. He started in the team's opening match, which was a 2–1 defeat against the United States.

Muntari in action for Ghana in 2011

How Sulley Muntari Played

Sulley Muntari started his career as a left-back. But he later became a strong and experienced midfielder. He was known for his physical strength and tough playing style. Over time, he also improved his technical skills.

He had a powerful left foot and could shoot strongly from outside the penalty area. He was also good at passing the ball. Sulley was excellent at winning the ball back from opponents. This was because of his energy, smart tactics, and ability to break up the other team's play. He was a versatile player, meaning he could play in different positions. He often played as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or a box-to-box midfielder. He could also play as a left winger or even an attacking midfielder.

Sulley Muntari's Personal Life

Sulley Muntari's younger brother is Sulley Muniru, who is also a footballer.

In December 2010, Muntari married Ghanaian businesswoman Menaye Donkor. They have two children together. Their first child was born in June 2015, and their second child arrived in September 2020.

Sulley Muntari is a devout Muslim.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances and Goals

Scores and results list the Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Muntari goal.

List of international goals scored by Sulley Muntari

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	20 June 2004	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	South Africa	1–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	14 November 2005	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia	2–1	3–1	Friendly
3	8 October 2005	Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde	Cape Verde	2–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	29 May 2006	Walkers Stadium, Leicester, England	Jamaica	3–0	4–1	Friendly
5	4 June 2006	Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland	South Korea	2–0	3–1	Friendly
6	17 June 2006	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	Czech Republic	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup
7	7 February 2007	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Nigeria	4–0	4–1	Friendly
8	24 March 2007	UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria	Austria	1–1	1–1	Friendly
9	20 January 2008	Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana	Guinea	2–1	2–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
10	28 January 2008	Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana	Morocco	2–0	2–0	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
11	9 February 2008	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Ivory Coast	1–0	4–2	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
12	22 June 2008	Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana	Gabon	2–0	2–0	2010 World Cup qualification
13	12 August 2009	Brisbane Road, London, England	Zambia	3–0	4–1	Friendly
14	6 September 2009	Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana	Sudan	1–0	2–0	2010 World Cup qualification
15	3 March 2010	Koševo Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–1	1–2	Friendly
16	2 July 2010	Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa	Uruguay	1–0	1–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
17	27 March 2011	Stade de la Revolution, Brazzaville, Congo	Congo	3–0	3–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
18	1 June 2012	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Lesotho	1–0	7–0	2014 World Cup qualification
19	7 June 2013	Al-Merrikh Stadium, Omdurman, Sudan	Sudan	3–1	3–1	2014 World Cup qualification
20	15 October 2013	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Egypt	5–1	6–1	2014 World Cup qualification

Trophies and Awards

Portsmouth

• FA Cup: 2007–08

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Coppa Italia: 2009–10
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2008, 2010
• UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2010

Hearts of Oak

• Ghanaian FA Cup: 2021–22
• President's Cup: 2022

Ghana U20

• African Youth Championship runner-up: 2001
• FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2001

Ghana

• Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2008

Individual Awards

• CAF Team of the Year: 2008
• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2008
• Calcio Trade Ball Lifetime Achievement Award: 2022

Images for kids

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  Muntari with Inter Milan in 2009

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  Muntari playing for Inter in 2009

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  Muntari playing for Inter in 2010

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  Muntari (left) with AC Milan teammates El Shaarawy (center) and Traoré (far right) in 2012

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  Muntari playing for AC Milan in 2013

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  Muntari (centre) playing for Ghana against Lesotho in 2008

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  Muntari with Ghana in 2008

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  Muntari in action for Ghana in 2011

See also

In Spanish: Sulley Muntari para niños