Michael Anaba (born 5 December 1993) is a Ghanaian professional footballer.

Michael Anaba
Personal information
Full name Michael Anaba[1]
Date of birth (1993-12-05) 5 December 1993 (age 31)[1]
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Real Republicans
Feyenoord Academy
Windy Professionals
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Windy Professionals
2011–2013 Asante Kotoko ? (1)
2013–2015 Elche B 48 (5)
2015–2016 Elche 3 (0)
2016Alcoyano (loan) 11 (0)
2016–2017 Eldense 16 (2)
2017 Sud América 4 (0)
2017–2018 Ontinyent 29 (0)
2018–2019 Alcoyano 22 (0)
2019 AFC Eskilstuna 9 (0)
2020–2021 Al-Jahra
2021–2022 Atzeneta 5 (0)
2022–2023 Kauno Žalgiris 9 (0)
International career
2012–2013 Ghana U20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Kumasi, Anaba started his professional football career with Windy Professionals, a division two football team based in Winneba.[2] He joined Asante Kotoko in September 2011,[3] and featured regularly for the side, also winning the Ghana Premier League in the 2012–13 campaign.[4]

In January 2013 Kotoko blocked Anaba's move to Valencia CF.[5] He was also linked to Parma F.C. in the same transfer window, but nothing came of it.

In late July 2013, Anaba joined Elche CF in a trial basis. On 13 August, the club agreed a fee with Kotoko,[6] and the player signed a four-year deal late in the month.[7]

Anaba was initially assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B. In July 2014 he was called up to the main squad for the pre-season,[8] being definitely promoted to the first-team in the following month.

On 11 October 2014 Anaba returned to the B-side, due to the lack of opportunities in the main squad.[9] He only made his first team debut on 30 August 2015, playing the last 13 minutes in a 2–1 Segunda División home win against Bilbao Athletic.[10]

On 27 January 2016, Anaba was loaned to CD Alcoyano in the third level until June.[11] Upon returning, he rescinded his contract on 30 August,[12] and joined CD Eldense the following day.[13]

On 23 January 2017, Anaba switched teams and countries by agreeing to a contract with Uruguayan Primera División side Sud América.[14] On 14 August, he returned to Spain after joining third-tier club Ontinyent CF.[15]

In July 2020, Anaba joined Kuwaiti club Al-Jahra SC.[16] A year later, in September 2021, Anaba returned to Spain and joined Atzeneta UE.[17]

International career

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Anaba was a member of the Ghana under-20's during the 2013 African U-20 Championship qualification for the 2013 African U-20 Championship. In 2013, he was named in Sellas Tetteh's 23-man squad for the 2013 tournament, hosted in Algeria.[18] He was appointed vice-captain, and featured regularly during the tournament.[19]

Anaba was also selected to 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted in Turkey.[20] He was used mainly as a substitute during the competition, but started and captained his side in a 1–2 loss against France.[21] Anaba also appeared in the third-place match, again from the bench in a 3–0 win against Iraq.[22]

Honours

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Club
International

References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Ghana" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 June 2013. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Michael Anaba seals 3-year deal with Spanish side, Elche CF". Ghana Business. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Windy Professionals duo aspire to impress at Kotoko". Asante Kotoko SC. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Asante Kotoko retain Ghana Premier League title with Amidaus win". Ghana Soccernet. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Asante Kotoko block Michael Anaba's move to Valencia". Ghana Soccernet. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Kotoko agree to sell Michael Anaba to Elche". Goal.com. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Kotoko midfielder Anaba joins Elche". Goal.com. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Ex-Ghana youth star Michael Anaba leaves for Elche pre-season with high hopes". Ghana Soccernet. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. ^ "El filial del Elche busca su primera victoria a domicilio" [Elche's reserves hunts their first away victory] (in Spanish). ABC. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Remontada para la primera victoria de la 'era Baraja'" [Comeback for the first win of the 'Baraja era'] (in Spanish). Marca. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  11. ^ "El Elche cede a Anaba al Alcoyano" [Elche loan Anaba to Alcoyano] (in Spanish). Elche CF. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Michael Anaba rescinde su contrato con el Elche" [Michael Anaba rescinds his contract with Elche] (in Spanish). Marca. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  13. ^ "El ghanés Michael Anaba, último fichaje del Eldense" [Ghanaian Michael Anaba, last signing of Eldense] (in Spanish). Diario Información. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  14. ^ "El ghanés Michael Anaba, del Eldense a la IASA" [Ghanaian Michael Anaba, from Eldense to IASA] (in Spanish). Ovación Digital. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Michael Anaba, nou jugador blanc-i-negre per revolucionar l'atac" [Michael Anaba, new black-and-white player to revolutionize the attack] (in Catalan). Ontinyent CF. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  16. ^ Former Ghana youth star Michael Anaba joins Kuwaiti side Al-Jahra SC, ghanasoccernet.com, 29 July 2021
  17. ^ Michael Anaba at Soccerway
  18. ^ "Ghana names final squad for U-20 finals". GhanaFA.org. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Kotoko's Michael Anaba named deputy skipper for Black Satellites". goal.com. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  20. ^ "Revealed: Ghana's final 21-man squad for U-20 World Cup". All Sports. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Thauvin-inspired France make history". FIFA.com. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Three A's see Ghana finish third". FIFA.com. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
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