Lee Addy

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lee Addy

| image = Li Adi.jpg

| upright = 0.9

| caption = Addy with Red Star Belgrade in 2011

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana

| height = 1.79 m

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| years1 = 2007–2008 |clubs1 = Nania |caps1 = 20 |goals1 = 0

| years3 = 2008–2010 |clubs3 = Bechem Chelsea |caps3 = 46 |goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2010–2011 |clubs4 = Red Star Belgrade |caps4 = 32 |goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2012–2014 |clubs5 = Dalian Aerbin |caps5 = 24 |goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013–2014 |clubs6 = → Dinamo Zagreb (loan) |caps6 = 16 |goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014–2015 |clubs7 = Dinamo Zagreb |caps7 = 8 |goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015 |clubs8 = → Lokomotiva Zagreb (loan) |caps8 = 4 |goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2015–2016 |clubs9 = Čukarički |caps9 = 8 |goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2017 |clubs10 = Lusaka Dynamos |caps10 = |goals10 =

| years11 = 2019 |clubs11 = Free State Stars |caps11 = 0 |goals11 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2012 |nationalteam1 = Ghana |nationalcaps1 = 30 |nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Lee Addy (born 26 September 1985[https://web.archive.org/web/20100607034240/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43860/squadlist.html Ghana Squadlist for FIFA 2010 World Cup]) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for the Ghana national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

=Early career=

Addy began his senior career in 2007 playing with Nania F.C. Soon after, in 2008, he moved to the Bechem Chelsea playing in the Ghana Premier League.

=Red Star Belgrade=

At the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Addy received a call to move to Europe to play with Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star Belgrade and he signed a contract. He became a regular centre-back at both his club and the Ghana national team.

=Dalian Aerbin=

On 4 January 2012, Addy completed a three-year deal with newly promoted Chinese Super League side Dalian Aerbin and was handed the squad number 13 after passing a medical test. The move from Serbian club Red Star Belgrade was for a reported transfer fee of $2.2 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/lee-addy-completes-move-to-chinese-club-daelin-aerbin/|title=Lee Addy completes move to Chinese club Daelin Aerbin|publisher=ghanasoccernet.com|date=4 January 2012|access-date=5 January 2012}}

=Dinamo Zagreb=

On 10 February 2013, it was announced that Addy had been loaned to Dinamo Zagreb for a year.{{Cite web|title=lee addy loan to dinamo zagreb - Google Search|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=lee+addy+loan+to+dinamo+zagreb|access-date=1 December 2020|website=www.google.com}} He signed for Dinamo Zagreb in January 2014. He ended his Dinamo Zagreb spell in late July 2015.

=Čukarički=

Addy signed a one-year contract with FK Čukarički on 31 August 2015.[http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/sport.294.html:565144-Li-Adi-pojacao-Cukaricki] Novosti: Li Adi pojačao Čukarički {{in lang|sr}} 31 August 2015

=Free State Stars=

In August 2019 it was reported, that Addy had signed with Free State Stars in South Africa.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200308235721/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2019/08/10/south-african-side-free-state-stars-sign-lee-addy/ South African side Free State Stars sign Lee Addy]}}, footballmadeinghana.com, 10 August 2019 However, it was later reported in December 2019, that he had terminated his contract with the club.[https://www.thepressradio.com/2019/12/16/five-black-stars-players-who-are-available-on-the-ghanaian-transfer-market/ Five Black Stars players who are available on the Ghanaian transfer market], thepressradio.com, 16 December 2019

International career

=Early career & 2010 African Nations Cup=

On 30 September 2009, Addy made his debut for the Ghana national team as part of a domestic-based team that played a friendly against Argentina.[http://www.accra-mail.com/sports/local-football/2333-black-stars-away-in-argentina.html Black Stars away in Argentina] He was part of the Ghana national squad at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations having played four matches including the lost final against Egypt.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121024144650/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=287699&cc=5739 Match report] at Soccernet. and since then he quickly became a regular player of the national team.

=2010 World Cup=

Addy was called up by Ghana's national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup[https://web.archive.org/web/20110107054705/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=318419/index.html Lee Addy] at FIFA.com-World Cup archives. In Ghana's opening game at the 2010 World Cup, he entered as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Serbia.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110112041748/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/matches/round=249722/match=300061471/report.html Match report] at FIFA.com. He also played in the 1–1 draw against Australia[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/matches/round=249722/match=300061469/report.html Match report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920062509/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/matches/round%3D249722/match%3D300061469/report.html |date=20 September 2013 }} at FIFA.com. in the group stage, after which he appeared again as a substitute in the Round of 16 2–1 victory over the United States,[https://web.archive.org/web/20110107061147/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/matches/round=249717/match=300061503/report.html Match report] at FIFA.com. but couldn't play in the quarter-finals match against Uruguay because of accumulated yellow cards, where Ghana was eliminated in a penalty shoot-out.

Age controversy

Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Addy's age became the subject of controversy. When he debuted in the national team in September 2009, he was registered with date of birth 26 September 1985.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/vm/2010/artikkel.php?artid=10009464|title=Hvor gammel er du egentlig, Addy? (How old are you really, Addy?)|date=23 June 2010 |publisher=www.vg.no|language=no|access-date=13 July 2011}} That statement also stated on most sites on the web.{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/landslagsfotboll/vm2010/article7354102.ab|title=Fuskade med åldern – blev 5 år yngre i VM (Cheated with age – was 5 years younger in World Cup)|date=23 June 2010 |publisher=aftonbladet.se|language=sv|access-date=13 July 2011}} Even FIFA lists Addy as born on 26 September 1985 in the official documents.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616010702/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2010|title=FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 List of Players|publisher=fifa.com|access-date=13 July 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/20/86/87/provisional1305.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601094155/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/20/86/87/Provisional1305.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2010|title=Release list of up to 30 players|publisher=fifa.com|access-date=13 July 2011}} But when Addy was reported in Ghana's World Cup squad, he had suddenly been five years younger and lists as born on 7 July 1990.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=318419/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713165834/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=318419/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 July 2011|title=19 Lee ADDY|publisher=fifa.com|access-date=13 July 2011}} The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet was in contact with FIFA regarding the matter. FIFA informed that they did a passport control on Addy, but they did not find anything suspicious. Also there was a lack of comparative material, because Addy never got any previous passport control.

Honours

Red Star Belgrade

Serbian Cup: 2011–12

Dinamo Zagreb

Ghana

African Nations Cup runner-up: 2010

Individual

Ghana Premier League: Best central defender of the 2008 season

{{Cite web |url=http://sports.thinkghana.com/soccer/premierleague/news/200909/40744.php |title=Bissah wins league's MVP award | Premier League | News in Ghana |access-date=9 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915230858/http://sports.thinkghana.com/soccer/premierleague/news/200909/40744.php |archive-date=15 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}