Karim Abdul Razak
Karim Abdul Razak Tanko ( born September 5, 1961 in Kumasi ) is a former Ghanaian football player and current coach. The midfielder was in the 1970s and 1980s in particular for the local club Asante Kotoko and New York Cosmos in the defunct North American Soccer League active.
Biography
Razak was born in Kumasi, the son of Alhaji Abdul Karimu and Hajija Ishatu and enjoyed his basic education at the Asem Boy's Elementary School. He began his playing career in local youth football club before he went to the Kumasi Cornerstones 1972.
Professional career
In 1975 he moved to Ghana's most successful club Asante Kotoko. After a four-year phase in Kotoko, during which he became a member of the national team and in 1978 was awarded the African Footballer of the Year, 1979 Ghana Razak left to the New York Cosmos in the NASL. There he played with former World Champions Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto.
National
Razak was a member of the Ghanaian national team, which took part in the African Cup in 1978 as hosts. He scored two winning goals, one against Zambia in the first round and one to defeat in the semi-finals Tunisia 1-0. His decisive goal against Tunisia is often called golden gate. In the final, Ghana defeated Uganda and won the third continental title. Months later Razak was to help Africa's Footballer of the Year because of its large share of Ghana African Cup. He was the second of only three Ghanaians at all that should ever win the title.
According to a report by UEFA Razak ran 70 times for Ghana, scoring 25 goals.
Coaching career
After retirement from the playing career Razak, who is now player-manager at Al Ain Club, was his coaching career and was responsible for several semi-professional teams from Togo, before moving to AS Dragons FC de l' Ouémé Benin began.
In 2000 he spent a short time as an assistant coach of the Ghanaian national team. After leaving Ghana, Razak went to Mali, where he won the double in the Malien Première Division and the cup with Stade Malien. On the way to the title, the club did not lose a single game. In 2003 he was appointed as coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and helped the club to the first title since ten years. After the 2003/ 04 season, he resigned from his post.
Achievements
In a 1999 survey conducted by the IFFHS undertaken, which should elicit the best footballer of the 20th century, Razak took the 31st place among African players and in 2007 he was appointed by the CAF via Internet voting as one of the 30 best African footballer of the last 50 years selected. Razaks career title and individual honors include:
- African Cup of Nations 1978 - Winner
- African Footballer of the Year 1978
- Player of the Year in Egypt: 1983, 1985