Jo Kuffour
Kuffour playing for Wycombe Wanderers in 2014
Personal information
Full name Jonathan Osei-Kuffour[1]
Date of birth (1981-11-17) 17 November 1981
Place of birth Edmonton, England
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Arsenal 0 (0)
2001 → Swindon Town (loan) 11 (2)
2002–2006 Torquay United 148 (30)
2006–2007 Brentford 39 (12)
2007–2008 AFC Bournemouth 44 (12)
2008–2012 Bristol Rovers 130 (32)
2011 → Gillingham (loan) 12 (7)
2012 Gillingham 18 (2)
2012–2014 Wycombe Wanderers 56 (5)
2014 Sutton United 3 (0)
Total 460 (101)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jonathan Osei-Kuffour (born 17 November 1981), known as Jo Kuffour, is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.[3]

Having come through the youth academy at Premier League side Arsenal, Kuffour notably had spells in the Football League with Torquay United, Brentford, AFC Bournemouth, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers. He also played professionally for Swindon Town and Gillingham before finishing his career with non-league side Sutton United.

He was called up to represent Ghana in a friendly versus Nigeria on 6 February 2007, but was not included in the matchday squad and was never capped internationally.

Club career

Born in Edmonton, Greater London, and after secondary school at St Ignatius' College, Enfield, he joined Arsenal as a trainee, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2000.[4] He failed to break into the first team at Highbury and was allowed to join Swindon Town on loan in August 2001.[5] His league debut came on 25 August as a substitute as Swindon lost 2–0 at home to Oldham Athletic.[6] He left Arsenal at the end of the 2001–02 season and joined Torquay United, initially on non-contract terms, in October 2002, signing a contract in December 2002.[7] His Torquay debut came as a substitute in the 4–1 home defeat to Hull City.[8] He quickly became a regular in Leroy Rosenior's side, scoring 10 times in the 2003–04 side that won automatic promotion to the third tier of English football.[9][10] He remained with Torquay, until 16 June 2006 when he joined Brentford on a free transfer, linking up again with Leroy Rosenior, despite having agreed to sign a new contract with Torquay earlier that month.[11][12][13]

Kuffour's club form was rewarded with a call-up to the Ghana squad for the game against Nigeria on 6 February 2006.[14] He was one of the few shining lights in a disastrous 2006–07 season for Brentford, top-scoring with 14 goals despite the team finishing bottom of the table. Kuffor went on to win Brentford's Player of the Year Award at the season's end.[15]

Kuffour signed for AFC Bournemouth on 19 June 2007 on a Bosman free transfer,[16] after rejecting a new contract offer from Brentford that would have made him the best paid player at the club. It was also revealed that he rejected a move to Huddersfield Town, because it was too far north and that he would only move north if it was to a Championship side.[17]

On 29 August 2008, Bristol Rovers announced they had signed Kuffour on a three-year deal.[18] He has made a massive impact at Rovers, including a volley at Leicester City and a last-minute equaliser against Leeds United. He finished the 2009–10 season as top scorer with 14 goals.

After a successful loan spell in which he scored seven goals for the Gills, including a hat-trick in the 4–3 win over Northampton Town and both goals as league leaders Crawley Town were beaten 2–1 on Boxing Day, Kuffour signed for Gillingham permanently until the end of the season.[19] At the end of the season Kuffour was released with teammates Simon King and Garry Richards.[20]

Kuffour was released from Wycombe Wanderers at the end of the 2013–14 season to join up with Sutton United where he eventually retired.[3][21]

International career

Kuffour was called into the Ghana squad for a friendly versus Nigeria on 6 February 2007,[22] but was not included in the matchday squad.[23]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2000–01[24] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ― 0 0
Swindon Town (loan) 2001–02[6] Second Division 11 2 0 0 1 0 ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 13 2
Torquay United 2002–03[8] Third Division 29 5 2 1 ― ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 32 6
2003–04[9] 41 10 0 0 1 0 ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 43 10
2004–05[25] League One 34 6 0 0 1 1 ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 36 8
2005–06[26] League Two 43 8 4 0 1 0 ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 49 9
Total 147 29 6 1 3 1 ― 4 2 160 33
Brentford 2006–07[27] League One 39 12 1 0 2 1 ― 2[lower-alpha 1] 1 44 14
AFC Bournemouth 2007–08[28] League One 42 12 2 0 1 0 ― 3[lower-alpha 1] 1 48 13
2008–09[29] League Two 2 0 ― 1 1 ― 0 0 3 1
Total 44 12 2 2 1 ― 3 1 51 28
Bristol Rovers 2008–09[29] League One 41 11 1 0 ― ― 0 0 42 11
2009–10[30] 42 14 1 0 2 0 ― 0 0 45 14
2010–11[31] 42 6 1 0 1 0 ― 2[lower-alpha 1] 3 46 9
2011–12[32] League Two 5 1 0 0 1 0 ― ― 6 1
Total 130 32 3 0 4 0 ― 2 3 139 35
Gillingham 2011–12[32] League Two 30 9 0 0 ― ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 31 9
Wycombe Wanderers 2012–13[33] League Two 32 2 0 0 ― ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 33 2
2013–14[34] 24 3 0 0 1 1 ― 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 28 4
Total 56 5 0 0 1 1 ― 4 0 61 6
Sutton United 2014–15[2] Conference South 3 0 0 0 ― ― 0 0 3 0
Career total 460 101 12 1 13 4 0 0 17 7 502 113

Honours

Arsenal

Torquay United

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Jo Kuffour". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 Jo Kuffour at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. 1 2 "CLASS OF 2000". Arsenal.com. 12 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Arsenal take Youth Cup stranglehold". BBC Sport. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Jo Kuffour at Soccerbase
  6. 1 2 "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "Gulls swoop for Kuffour". BBC Sport. 2 December 2002. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 Torquay United F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  11. ↑ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | KUFFOUR SIGNS". brentfordfc.co.uk. 16 June 2006. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "Gulls furious after Kuffour exit". BBC Sport. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  13. ↑ "Kuffour agrees new Torquay deal". BBC Sport. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  14. ↑ Steve Claridge (6 March 2007). "Scouting report: Jo Kuffour – Brentford". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  15. 1 2 "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | JO LIFTS THE TROPHY". brentfordfc.co.uk. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Cherries sign Kuffour from Bees". BBC Sport. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  17. ↑ "Kuffour rejects Terriers move". The Ghana Football Association. 18 May 2007. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "Kuffour completes Pirates switch". BBC Sport. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  19. ↑ "KUFFOUR SIGNS GILLS DEAL". Gillingham Football Club. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  20. ↑ "Go on now Jo, walk out Kuffour". Sky Sports. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Experienced Striker Joins Sutton". Pitchero.com. 9 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | PAST AND PRESENT CALL UP". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  23. ↑ "Ghana v Nigeria, 06 February 2007". 11v11.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  29. 1 2 "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  32. 1 2 "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Jo Kuffour in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
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