Godwin Antwi

Godwin Antwi Birago (born 7 June 1988) is a professional footballer who can play at either centre-back or as a central midfielder. Born in Ghana, he is a youth international for Spain.

Godwin Antwi
Personal information
Full name Godwin Antwi Birago
Date of birth (1988-06-07) 7 June 1988
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
0000–2004 Asante Kotoko
2004 San Gregorio
2004–2005 Zaragoza
2005–2006 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Liverpool 0 (0)
2007 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 9 (1)
2007–2008 → Hartlepool United (loan) 27 (1)
2008–2009 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 7 (0)
2009 → Hereford United (loan) 5 (1)
2009–2011 Vejle Boldklub 27 (0)
2011–2013 Vejle Kolding 6 (0)
2013 Bodø/Glimt 19 (0)
2014 Sisaket FC 31 (1)
2015–2016 DRB-Hicom F.C. 29 (1)
2017 Melaka United 12 (0)
Total 172 (5)
International career‡
2006–2008 Spain U-19 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 23, 2017
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 23, 2017

Club career

Early career

Antwi was born in Kumasi, Ghana. When he was 14 years old, he moved to Spain and lived there for three years.[1] He initially played street soccer, before he entered the youth setup of Spanish club Real Zaragoza for 1 year. He eventually obtained a Spanish passport.[2]

Liverpool

At 17 years of age, he was spotted by Paco Herrera, then head scout of Liverpool.[3] He watched Liverpool beat Chelsea home at Anfield in the semi-final of the 2005 UEFA Champions League. The experience of hearing the Anfield crowd left a great impression on him, and he expressed a desire to reach the status of former African Liverpool player, Guinean international striker Titi Camara.[3] He joined Liverpool, who had newly been crowned the UEFA Champions League winners, when Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez offered him a contract in August 2005.

He started his Liverpool career, playing in the reserve team during the 2005–06 season. Due to a striker shortage, he initially played up front. In his usual defending position, he helped Liverpool win the 2006 FA Youth Cup, beating Manchester City in the final.

On 8 November 2006, Antwi was called up by the Under-19 Youth setup of the Spain national team to train with them.[4][5] The call-up was possible due to his Spanish passport. Despite the Spain Under-19 team call-up,[6] Antwi could freely choose which country to represent at a senior level before he turned 21 years old.[2]

On 10 January 2007, Antwi was named captain of the Liverpool Reserves for the first time, and the 18-year-old led by example at the back against the experienced Neil Shipperley of Sheffield United.[7] On 13 March, it was announced that he had joined Accrington Stanley on a month's loan.[8] He remained at Stanley until the end of the season.

Antwi joined Hartlepool United on a season-long loan for the 2007–08 season on 29 June 2007. He scored his first goal for Hartlepool against Doncaster on 18 August 2007.[9]

In July 2008 he joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2009.[10] He returned to Anfield, only to be loaned out again in February 2009, this time to League One side Hereford United, and made his debut in their 2–0 home win over Leeds United.

Antwi was released by Liverpool FC on 16 June 2009.

Vejle BK

On 23 December Antwi signed a half-year-long contract with Danish club Vejle BK.[11]

Bodø/Glimt

After his contract with Vejle expired, Antwi signed a half-year contract with Norwegian First Division side Bodø/Glimt on 30 July 2013.[12] He made his debut in the 2–0 victory against Sandefjord.[13]

Sisaket FC

Antwi signed for Sisaket of the Thai Premier League on 23 February 2014.[14] He made his debut in the 0–1 loss against Osotspa Saraburi F.C.

On 15 October 2014 Antwi scored his first goal in Thai Premier League in 1–3 loss against Buriram United.

DRB-Hicom FC

Despite Sisaket FC's offer to extend his contract, Antwi made a decision to sign with a Malaysia Premier League side, DRB-Hicom F.C. He continues to be a very influential figure in the club, providing his team a rock-solid defence and much needed leadership at the back.[15]

Melaka United

However, after a year and a half playing, DRB-Hicom F.C. announced they will defunct the senior team for financial reason. Released as a free agent, it didn't take too long for Antwi to find a new club following a strong performance in Malaysia Premier League 2016 season. He was immediately signed by Melaka United F.C.[15] following their promotion to Malaysia Super League.[15]

Honours

Club

Liverpool Youth

Bodø/Glimt

References
  1. "Un español de Ghana" (in Spanish). elpais.com. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  2. "Spain "Steals" Godwin Antwi". GhanaWeb. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  3. "NEW BOY GODWIN LOVES THE ANFIELD ROAR". www.liverpoolfc.tv. 24 August 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  4. "La nueva perla negra del Liverpool es un hispanoganés" (in Spanish). labolsa.com. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2006.
  5. "LA SELECCIÓN ESPAÑOLA INTEGRA" (in Spanish). as.com. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  6. "Mensaje". cdnumancia.com. 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. "LINDFIELD EARNS RESERVES VICTORY". Liverpool.tv. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  8. "Antwi Joins Stanley on Loan". liverpoolfc.tv. 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  9. "Hartlepool Loan Liverpool Defender". Vital Hartlepool. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
  10. "Tranmere sign Liverpool's Antwi". BBC Sport. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  11. "Vejle Boldklub – Topfodbold i Regionen".
  12. Toresen, Freddy (30 July 2013). "Her er Glimts nye forsterkning". Avisa Nordland (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  13. Toresen, Freddy (7 October 2013). "Endelig duket for Antwi". Avisa Nordland (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  14. Okai Gyimah, Edmund (23 February 2014). "Former Liverpool defender Godwin Antwi joins Thai side Sisaket". goal.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  15. BOLA, Semuanya (19 January 2017). "Godwin Antwi: Hulubalang Melaka United Dari Akademi Liverpool". Semuanya BOLA. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  16. "Liverpoolfc.tv: Profile". 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  17. "Ghana - G. Antwi - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". gh.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
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