Quincy Owusu-Abeyie

Infobox Football biography
playername = Quincy
fullname = Quincy James Owusu-Abeyie
height = height|m=1.80
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|04|15
cityofbirth = Amsterdam
countryofbirth = Netherlands
currentclub = Birmingham City
clubnumber = 19
position = Striker / Left winger
youthyears = 1993–2002
youthclubs = Ajax
years = 2002–2006
2006–
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Arsenal
Spartak Moscow
→ Celta Vigo (loan)
→ Birmingham City (loan)
caps(goals) = 05 (1)
21 (1)
20 (4)
06 (2)
nationalyears = 200x–2006
2008–
nationalteam = Netherlands U-21
Ghana
nationalcaps(goals) = 08 (3)
09 (1)
pcupdate = 18:35, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Quincy James Owusu-Abeyie (born April 15, 1986), known occasionally simply by his first name "Quincy", is a Ghanaian-Dutch footballer who plays as a forward for Birmingham City on loan from Spartak Moscow. He played international football for his native Netherlands at youth level, but in 2007 requested to become eligible to represent Ghana instead.cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6625815.stm |title=Abeyie applies to play for Ghana |author=Ibrahim Sannie |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-05-04 |accessdate=2008-08-05] FIFA approved his request on January 10, 2008, just ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations.cite web |url=http://www.ghanafa.org/blackstars/200801/2459.asp |title=FIFA approves Quincy's switch |author=Nana Obiri Yeboah and Michael Boateng |publisher=Ghana FA |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-01-10] cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7181773.stm |title=Owusu-Abeyie in Ghana squad |author=Sannie Ibrahim |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-11 |accessdate=2008-08-05]

Club career

Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Ghanaian parents, [cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=9102/news/newsid=98967.html |title=Football without borders in the Lowlands |publisher=FIFA |date=2005-06-30 |accessdate=2008-08-05] Quincy had been a member of the youth system at hometown club Ajax for nine years when he was released at the age of 16 because of attitude problems. [cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-17016190-details/Quincy+learns+lessons+the+hard+way/article.do |title=Quincy learns lessons the hard way |author=Steve Stammers |work=Evening Standard |date=2005-03-03 |accessdate=2008-08-07] Liam Brady, Arsenal's head of youth development, offered him a trial which proved successful, and the player joined Arsenal as a scholar in September 2002.cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-8671378-details/Quincy+set+to+capitalise+on+Boro%27s+weakness/article.do |title=Quincy set to capitalise on Boro's weakness |author=Steve Stammers |work=Evening Standard |date=2004-01-20 |accessdate=2008-08-05] In the 2002–03 season he scored 17 goals in 20 games for the under-17 side, including six in a 7–1 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers under-17. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-to-use-novice-attack-for-final-step-573750.html |title=Wenger to use novice attack for final step |author=John Curtis |work=The Independent |date=2004-01-20 |accessdate=2008-08-05] Handed his first professional contract on his 18th birthday – a move which led to Arsenal being fined £10,000 and given a suspended two-year transfer ban for inadvertently dealing with an unlicensed agent [cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article506171.ece |title=Arsenal may appeal against FA fine |author=Russell Kempson |work=The Times |date=2005-01-25 |accessdate=2008-08-05] – Quincy signed a new long-term contract in July 2005. [cite news |date=2005-07-01 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4641381.stm |title=Owusu-Abeyie signs Arsenal deal |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=2005-07-01]

His first-team debut came as an 85th-minute substitute in the League Cup match against Rotherham United on October 28, 2003. During extra time he attempted to chip Rotherham goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, who handled the ball outside his penalty area and was sent off; with the score 1–1 after 120 minutes the game was decided by a penalty shootout which Arsenal won, though Owusu-Abeyie missed his kick. [cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/oct/29/match.arsenal |title=Aliadiere stakes Arsenal claims |author=Matt Scott |work=The Guardian |date=2003-10-29 |accessdate=2008-08-05] He scored his first goal for the first team in the same competition on November 9, 2004 against Everton, a game in which he also made two assists. [cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2389806/Youth-brigade-cheer-up-Arsenal.html |title=Youth brigade cheer up Arsenal |author=John Ley |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2004-11-10 |accessdate=2008-08-05] and produced a similarly impressive performance against Reading [cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=190346&cc=5901 |title=Arsenal 3-0 Reading |work=ESPNsoccernet |date=2005-11-29 |accessdate=2008-08-05] during the Gunners' 2005-06 League Cup run.

However, he failed to break through to regular first-team selection. Although he appreciated training alongside and learning from players such as Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, and accepted the need for patience, [cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_2345726,00.html |title=Quincy wants Gunners chance |author=Gerrit van Leeuwen |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2005-08-18 |accessdate=2008-08-05] once Arsenal boosted their forward line in the January 2006 transfer window by signing Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor and rising star Theo Walcott, Quincy recognised that he needed to leave. [cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_2365685,00.html |title=Quincy relishing Spartak chance |author=Paul Higham |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2006-02-01 |accessdate=2008-08-05] He signed for Russian club Spartak Moscow for an undisclosed fee on January 31, 2006. [cite news |date=2006-01-31 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4667414.stm |title=Moscow move for Arsenal youngster |publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2006-01-31]

In June 2007, it was reported that Premier League club Birmingham City had expressed interest in Quincy and wanted to bring him back to play in England, [cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11694_2493605,00.html |title=Blues eye former Gunner |author=Peter O'Rourke |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2007-07-01 |accessdate=2007-06-28] but on the final day of the summer 2007 transfer window, however, he joined Spanish side Celta de Vigo on loan for the 2007–08 season with an option to purchase. [cite news |date=2007-09-02 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6974805.stm |title=Owusu-Abeyie joins Celta Vigo |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-09-02] [cite web |url=http://www.celtavigo.net/article.php?sid=9882 |title=Cesión de Quincy Owusu |publisher=Celta de Vigo |date=2007-09-01 |accessdate=2008-08-07 |language=Spanish] He made 20 appearances in the Segunda División, of which half were as substitute, and scored five goals, [cite web |url=http://www.lfp.es/historico/segunda/plantillas/partidos_jugados.asp?jug=3001&ntemp=2007-08&equ=66&temp=107 |title=Ficha jugador: Quincy |publisher=Liga de Fútbol Profesional |accessdate=2008-08-07] though he missed several weeks of the season on international duty at the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

On 6 August 2008 he joined Birmingham City on loan, initially until January 2009, but with the intention of extending the loan for the rest of the season. An option was included to purchase the player outright at that point. [cite web | date=2008-08-06 |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1351118,00.html | title=Quincy wings in | publisher=Birmingham City F.C. | accessdate=2008-08-06] He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the first-round League Cup match against Wycombe Wanderers, scoring the fourth goal in a 4–0 win with a fine finish from 18 yards. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7551383.stm |title=Wycombe 0-4 Birmingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-13 |accessdate=2008-08-14]

International career

Netherlands youth teams

Owusu-Abeyie appeared at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship for the Netherlands national under-21 football team, the "Jong Orange" in the summer of 2005. In the first game against Japan he set up Ryan Babel for a close range goal. [cite news | date=2005-06-10 |url=http://fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,107337,00.html | title=Dutch overcome late nerves to sink Japan | publisher=FIFA.com | accessdate=2005-06-10] Though the Netherlands crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out against Nigeria, [cite news | date=2005-06-27 |url=http://fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,2442,108192,00.html?comp=WYC&year=2005&articleid=108192 | title=Young Oranje go out with a bang | publisher=FIFA.com | accessdate=2005-06-27] Described by FIFA.com as "a bit special... full of Power, pace and bags of sumptuous skill", Quincy was profiled as one of the Best Players of that FIFA U20 Championship. [cite news | date=2005-06-19 |url=http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,107831,00.html | title=Fourteen nuggets in Netherlands | publisher=FIFA.com | accessdate=2005-06-19]

Quincy was a member of the Netherlands' junior sides since he was 15, progressing through all the way to the U21 side. He played his last game for them on 14 November 2006 in a 0-1 international friendly home loss to England Under-21's in Alkmaar.

witch to Ghana

On Friday 5 January 2007, Quincy went to Ghana to meet with Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials [cite news | date=2007-01-05 |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=116769 | title=Owusu-Abeyie to play for Ghana? | publisher=Ghanaweb | accessdate=2007-01-05] and engage them in talks over the role he could play to help Ghanaian football, and discussed switching his allegiance to play for Ghana.

The first attempt by the GFA to convince him to feature for the "Black Stars" at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany hit a snag, following the player’s earlier appearances with the Netherlands' U21 side at the 2005 World Youth Championship.

On Wednesday 24 January 2007, the Dutch youth international decided to pledged his senior international future to Ghana. [cite news | date=2007-01-24 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6295897.stm | title=Owusu-Abeyie opts for Ghana | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2007-01-24] Ghana coach Claude Le Roy named him in the Ghana squad for their 6 February 2007 friendly International match against Nigeria. [cite news | date=2007-01-25 |url=http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=38650 | title=Owusu Abeyie kiest voor Ghana | publisher=voetbalzone.nl | accessdate=2007-01-25]

However, FIFA was yet to approve Owusu-Abeyie's request for a switch of nationality, and in the end Quincy did not make his International debut for Ghana as expected, because he was not released by Spartak Moscow; Ghana's national coach made clear he would complain to FIFA as a result [ [http://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/int-friendlies/2006-2007/sport_sto1078879.shtml Football Results | Football Scores | News - Yahoo! Eurosport UK ] ] Although called up for Ghana's match against Austria in March 2007, Quincy did not play but did declare that he would be playing for Ghana in the future. [cite news | date=2007-04-05 |url=http://www.voetbalkrant.com/index.php?menu=Nieuws&pag=Lezen&nieuws=146486 | title=Quincy koos definitief voor Ghana | publisher=voetbalkrant.com | accessdate=2007-04-05]

On 18 December 2007, Quincy was called up by Ghana as part of the 40-man squad [cite news | date=2007-12-18 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7149631.stm | title=Owusu-Abeyie called up for Ghana | publisher=BBC Sports | accessdate=2007-12-18] for their 2-week training camp in Dubai ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations. [cite news | date=2007-12-18 | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/blackstars/200712/2397.asp | title=Le Roy calls up 40 players | publisher=Ghanafa.org | accessdate=2007-12-18] He later told Spanish media that he was very happy to receive the callup. [cite news | date=2007-12-18 | url=http://www.farodevigo.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=3210_11_187559__Deportes-Quincy-puede-causar-baja-Copa-Africa-Ghana | title=Quincy puede causar baja un mes si va a la Copa África con Ghana | publisher=Faro de Vigo | accessdate=2007-12-18]

On January 10, 2008, just ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations, FIFA approved Quincy's request to switch to Ghana. Chelsea FC midfielder Michael Essien was the first to congratulate the Dutch-born forward. Other players followed by pouring bottles and buckets of water on Quincy to officially welcome him into the team admist wild cheers from team officials. [cite news | date=2008-01-10 | url=http://ghanasoccernet.com/index.php/Nations-Cup/Ghana-players-jubilate-Abeyie-clearance.html | title=Ghana players jubilate Abeyie clearance | publisher=Ghanasoccernet | accessdate=2008-01-10] [cite news | date=2008-01-10 | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/blackstars/200801/2462.asp | title=Quincy switch excites Ghana camp | publisher=Ghana FA | accessdate=2008-01-10]

Quincy was selected for Ghana's 2008 African Cup of Nations squad [cite news | date=2008-01-11 | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/blackstars/200801/2463.asp | title=Black Stars Squad announced | publisher=Ghanafa.org | accessdate=2008-01-11] and was in the team that defeated Nigeria [cite news | date=2008-02-03 | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=236088&cc=5901 | title=Ghana 2-1 Nigeria | publisher=ESPNsoccernet | accessdate=2008-02-03] on February 3, 2008, advancing to the semi-finals. He [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm7Av61RsNc scored his first international goal] in the third place match of the 2008 African Cup of Nations, where Ghana defeated Ivory Coast [http://www.fifa.com/confederationcup/news/newsid=688390.html#ghana+late+show+bags+bronze 4-2]

Personal life

Owusu-Abeyie was arrested after up to five men began brawling in a London café, "Café Royal" following the Professional Footballers' Association Player Awards at 3am on 25 April 2005. Officers were called at about 03:00 BST where they found a man with serious head injuries. However, the police did not press any charges against Owusu-Abeyie and cleared him of any involvement in the incident. [cite news | date=2005-04-25 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4481613.stm | title=Arsenal player in 'awards brawl' | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2005-04-25] He is the cousin of English rapper Sway DaSafo.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=36695|name=Quincy Owusu-Abeyie
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE053kPs9r8 Spartak Moscow Career Highlights]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/rus06squads.html Russian Premier League squads]
* [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/Players/Player=74106/index.html UEFA Champions League Profile]
* [http://www.ghanafa.org/ Ghana Football Association] - official website
* [http://discussions.ghanaweb.com/viewforum.php?f=2/ Ghanaweb Football Forum] - Ghana Football Fan Forum
* [http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enPlayerProfile&playerId=282872 English Premier League Profile]