Nwankwo Kanu
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Kanu in a friendly in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Nwankwo Kanu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| –1992 | Federation Works | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | 25 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1996 | Ajax | 54 | (25) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Inter Milan | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2004 | Arsenal | 119 | (30) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | West Bromwich Albion | 53 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2012 | Portsmouth | 143 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 406 | (98) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Nigeria U17 | 6 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Nigeria U23 | 6 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2011 | Nigeria | 86 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nwankwo Kanu (ⓘ) OON (born 1 August 1976) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was a member of the Nigeria national team, and played for Nigerian club Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth. He is widely considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time.
A member of the Arsenal 'Invincibles', he was named by the club as one of its greatest ever players. He is one of the few Africans to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and an Olympic gold medal.
Kanu won a FIFA U-17 World Cup medal, a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, three Eredivisie titles, three FA Cup medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic gold medal. As of April 2021, he made the ninth-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times, and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history.
He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and African brand ambassador for digital TV operator StarTimes. He is also the owner of Kanu Sports TV, an Internet sports television company.