Sunderland AFC support will wish they had kept 51-goal international for far longer | OneFootball

FLW look back in time at Ghana star Asamoah Gyan's time at Sunderland, where he fast became a cult hero.

Asamoah Gyan scored 51 goals in 109 games for Ghana and Sunderland fans will be disappointed that they never got to see more of the striker during his prime after just over a season at the Stadium of Light.

He enjoyed a steady rise before joining Sunderland in 2010. Starting his professional career with Liberty Professionals in Ghana, he soon attracted the attention of European clubs, moving to Udinese in Italy. After gaining experience in Serie A, Gyan headed to Rennes in France, where he began to show his prowess as both a powerful and technical striker.

Despite some injury setbacks, his performances caught the eye of top scouts but it was his exploits on the greatest international stage of all that truly made him a global star. Gyan’s standout moment came during the 2010 World Cup with Ghana, where he was the heartbeat of an exciting, adventurous team that captured the imagination of football fans worldwide.

Asamoah Gyan's impact for Ghana and Sunderland

In the tournament in South Africa, Gyan scored three goals, including a dramatic extra-time winner against the USA in the Round of 16, propelling Ghana into the quarter-finals – the joint-furthest any African nation had reached. His pace, power, and fearless attacking play made him one of the tournament’s breakout stars and had scouts across Europe eyeing up the striker.

However, the quarter-final against Uruguay ended in heartbreak. After Luis Suarez’s infamous last-minute handball denied Ghana a winning goal, Gyan stepped up to take the penalty but agonisingly hit the crossbar. Though Ghana eventually lost in the shootout, Gyan’s performances made him a hero in his homeland and put him firmly on the map for Europe’s top clubs.

In the summer of 2010, Sunderland swooped to sign Gyan for a club-record fee of £13 million, hoping he could lead their attack in the Premier League. Gyan quickly became a fan favourite at the Stadium of Light for his performances and infectious charisma and larger-than-life personality around the training ground.

He played with plenty of personality and character, and it wasn't long before the World Cup form was leaking over to his Premier League performances. His debut goal against Wigan Athletic gave a glimpse of what he could offer, with a mix of speed, strength, and clinical finishing. Over the course of the season, Gyan netted 10 goals in 33 Premier League appearances, including a memorable goal in Sunderland's 3-0 demolition of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

That goal and his 94th-minute equaliser against Newcastle United were the games that quickly endeared him to the fans. However, Gyan was known for other quirks as well.

What made him particularly unique was his preference for wearing the No.33 shirt at Sunderland. It was an unusual choice for a striker, as many wondered why he didn’t opt for the traditional No.9. Gyan later explained that it was due to his personal affinity for the No.3, which had significance to him, despite being a number more commonly associated with defenders.

This eccentricity only added to his cult status among Sunderland fans, who loved his dancing and idiosyncrasies, as well as his flair both on and off the pitch. It seemed like Sunderland had found a player who could lead the line for years to come, with Gyan’s blend of physicality and technical skill making him well-suited for Premier League football. Gyan even took the No.3 shirt for the 2011/12 season, the same squad number he wore for Ghana at that famous World Cup.

However, the promise of a long and fruitful relationship was cut short when, after just one season, Gyan made a shock move to Al Ain FC in the UAE on a lucrative loan deal. This came as a bitter disappointment to Sunderland fans, who had hoped to see more of him in the Premier League.

Asamoah Gyan's premature Sunderland departure

On 10 September 2011, it was confirmed on the Sunderland website that Gyan would leave on a season-long loan to club Al Ain. Amid speculation of a fee of up to £6 million being paid for the loan period, with Gyan receiving up to four times his previous salary.

His sudden departure left a sour taste, with many feeling that Gyan's move was driven more by financial gain than footballing ambition. Despite this, the striker left a lasting legacy at Sunderland as a player who brought excitement and energy to the club, even if it was for only one season.

After leaving Sunderland, Gyan found immense success by becoming a prolific goalscorer for Al Ain and his nation's all-time leading scorer, ahead of the Ayew brothers and Sulley Muntari, among others. He also won multiple Golden Boot awards in the UAE Pro League and solidified his reputation as a top striker in the Middle East.

Following his spell in the UAE, Gyan moved on to China, where he played for Shanghai SIPG and later Turkey with Kayserispor before winding down his career with stints in India and in his homeland of Ghana. While his club career gradually declined, Gyan remained an integral part of the national team, continuing to represent the Black Stars until 2019.

He remains Ghana’s top scorer and a national icon after a career with them that spanned 16 years from 2003. Now semi-retired, Gyan has transitioned into business and philanthropy, focusing on various ventures in Ghana, while still maintaining a connection to football as a beloved figure in African sport.

Were it not for the big money from UAE, the 39-year-old could have become the same sort of icon for Sunderland as he did with Ghana, albeit Gyan achieved cult-hero status during his 37 games with the Black Cats in 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Even so, the Stadium of Light faithful will wish they'd had the chance to see him in a red and white shirt for much longer.