Charles Akonnor

Charles Kwabla Akonnor (born 12 March 1974) is a Ghanaian football gambler, currently Gor Mahia F.C, and former player who most recently managed the Ghana national team. A former midfielder, he spent most of his club career in Germany. He made 51 appearances for the Ghana national team scoring 13 goals.

He started his career in Ghana with a colts team Young Hearts, before joining Okwawu United and later Obuasi Goldfields. In 1992, Akonnor moved to Germany with Samuel Kuffour and joined then 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Köln, where he would spend six seasons and appear in over 150 matches and score over 25 goals before securing a move to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg where he made his name. At Wolfsburg, Akonnor played over 140 matches, scored over 20 goals and served as captain in the 2001–02 season before leaving the club in 2004 to join SpVgg Unterhaching.

At the international level, he was capped for Ghana at the U20, U23 and the senior team. At the youth level, he starred for Ghana and helped them to third place during the 1991 African Youth Championship and second place during the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship. At the senior level he made 51 appearances and scored 13 goals for Ghana between 1991 and 2001 and captained the team from 1998 to 2001. Akonnor also represented Ghana at the 1996 Summer Olympics and in four Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000, serving as captain in 2000. In 1998, he was also named in the CAF XI of the year and AFCON Team of the Tournament.