Maxwell Konadu

{{Short description|Ghanaian association football player and manager}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Maxwell Konadu

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| currentclub = Black Leopards (Head coach)

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Nkoranza Republican{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Web |title=Encountering Soccer in the Brong Ahafo Region |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=62465 |date=24 July 2004}}

| years1 = 1991–1993 | clubs1 = Asante Kotoko | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1993–1994 | clubs2 = CS Sfaxien | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 1994–1995 | clubs3 = Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) | caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = 1995 | clubs4 = SG Egelsbach | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 1996–1997 | clubs5 = Asante Kotoko | caps5 = | goals5 =

| years6 = 1997–1999 | clubs6 = Leiria | caps6 = 37 | goals6 = 9

| years7 = 1999–2000 | clubs7 = Beira-Mar | caps7 = 22 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2000–2001 | clubs8 = Marinhense | caps8 = | goals8 =

| years9 = 2003 | clubs9 = King Faisal Babes | caps9 = | goals9 =

| nationalyears1 = 1997 | nationalteam1 = Ghana | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2009–2010 | managerclubs1 = All Stars

| manageryears2 = 2011–2012 | managerclubs2 = Asante Kotoko

| manageryears3 = 2011 | managerclubs3 = Ghana U23 (Assistant coach)

| manageryears4 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs4 = Ghana (Assistant coach)

| manageryears5 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs5 = Ghana U-20

| manageryears6 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs6 = Ghana U-23

| manageryears7 = 2014–2019 | managerclubs7 = Ghana (Assistant coach)

| manageryears8 = 2019-2020 | managerclubs8 = Asante Kotoko

| manageryears9 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs9 = Legon Cities

| manageryears10 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs10 = Nsoatreman

| manageryears11 = 2024– | managerclubs11 = Black Leopards

}}

{{MedalTableTop|name=no|medals=

{{MedalCountry | {{GHA}} }}

}}

Maxwell Konadu{{needs IPA|Akan|lang=ak}} (born 4 December 1972) is a football coach and a retired Ghana international football player. He is currently the coach of Black Leopards. Before his current post, he was formerly the manager of Glo Premier League club Asante Kotoko. Konadu was a member of the Men's National Team that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He also won gold as assistant coach of Ghana's Men's Olympic Team at the All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Web |title=Can Local Coaches Smile Again After The Maputo Victory? |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=219504 |date=21 September 2011}}

Playing career

Konadu began his youth career with Nkoranza Republic and Upper West Republic in Ghana. He began his professional career with the Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, with whom he won the Ghana Premier League in his debut season.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Web |title=Can Local Coaches Smile Again After The Maputo Victory |url=http://ghanaweb.net/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=219504 |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507105016/http://ghanaweb.net/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=219504 |archive-date=7 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}

After brief spells playing in Tunisia and Germany,[https://archive.today/20120912215852/http://www.statistik-klein.de/rls95-96.htm Regionalliga Süd, Saison 1995/96 (Rainer Klein)] he returned to Asante Kotoko in January 1996, before moving to U.D. Leiria of the Portuguese second division in July of the following year. He would play for Leiria in the Portuguese Liga during the 1998–99 season, and then moved to rival but relegated lower division club S.C. Beira-Mar, and A.C. Marinhense.

He then had a brief spell playing in Turkey, before returning to play for Ghanaian side King Faisal Babes in 2003.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Web |title=Maxwell Konadu at Faisal |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=36578 |date=18 May 2003}}

Coaching career

Following his playing career, Konadu became a coach. First interning at Ghana's Feyenoord Academy before taking on the assistant coach position of Red Bull Academy's U-17 team in Sogakope.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Web |title=Konadu joins Red Bull Academy |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=153287 |date=18 May 2003}}

After participating in the 31st and 32nd International DFB (German Football Association) coaching courses in Hennef, Germany, he received the International DFB Coaching Certificates "B" and "A" in 2008 and 2009 respectively.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana Soccernet |title=Ghanaian football Coaches receive certificates |url=http://sports.peacefmonline.com/soccer/201003/40136.php?storyid=100& |date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421005619/http://sports.peacefmonline.com/soccer/201003/40136.php?storyid=100& |archive-date=21 April 2012}} By then, he had moved to Ghana Premier League club All Stars F.C., leading them during the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.{{cite web |publisher=Ghana News |title=Tough calls for Oly and All Stars |url=http://news.myjoyonline.com/sports/200911/37165.asp |date=1 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104053538/http://news.myjoyonline.com/sports/200911/37165.asp |archive-date=4 January 2010}}

In July 2011, Konadu was appointed as assistant coach of Asante Kotoko,{{cite web |publisher=Asante Kotoko Official site |title=Maxwell Konadu begins work on Wednesday |url=http://www.asantekotokofc.org/Newreel/2011/000711/maxwell_begins.htm |date=12 July 2011}} the club where he first gained fame as a prolific goal scorer. He however signed on as head coach following his return from the All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, following the sacking of Serbian coach Bogdan Korak.{{cite web |publisher=Asante Kotoko Official site |title=Kotoko Sack Serbian Coach Bogdan Korak, Konadu Takes Over |url=http://dolshradio.com/?p=591 |date=September 2011}} On 3 May 2012, Konadu was appointed as the assistant coach of the Ghana national football team by the GFA (Ghana Football Association), succeeding James Kwesi Appiah.{{cite news |date=3 May 2012 |url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-fa-appoints-maxwell-konadu-as-black-stars-assistant-coach/ |title=Ghana FA appoints Maxwell Konadu as Black Stars assistant coach |publisher=ghanasoccernet.com |accessdate=3 May 2012}} On 5 June 2012, Konadu resigned as manager of Glo Premier League club Asante Kotoko after guiding the club to their 22nd league title and securing qualification to the 2013 CAF Champions League. Konadu was succeeded as manager of Asante Kotoko by, Mas-ud Didi Dramani. On 10 July 2012, Konadu was appointed as the manager of the Ghana national under-20 football team, succeeding Orlando Wellington. Furthermore, in January 2013, Konadu was appointed as the manager of the Ghana national under-23 football team.{{cite news |publisher=Ghana Football Association |title=Didi steps into Konadu's shoes at Kotoko |url=http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/premierleague/201206/7350.php |date=26 June 2012 |accessdate=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629033834/http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/premierleague/201206/7350.php |archive-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}

He was appointed caretaker manager of the men's senior national team, for the second time, in March 2017.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39129763 |title=Konadu appointed Ghana interim coach |work=BBC Sport}} He also served as coach of the "local Black Stars" - Ghana A' national football team.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=28 players invited for Black Stars 'B' camping ahead of crucial assignments |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/28-man-invited-for-black-stars-b-camping-ahead-of-crucial-assignments |access-date=2021-03-14 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Maxwell Konadu names Local Black Stars starting line up for Madagascar clash |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/maxwell-konadu-names-local-black-stars-starting-line-up-for-madagascar-clash |access-date=2021-03-14 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Maxwell Konadu invites 29 local Black Stars to prepare for COSAFA Cup and 2016 AFCON qualifiers |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/610261/maxwell-konadu-invites-29-local-black-stars-to.html |access-date=2021-03-14 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}

He was appointed head coach of South African National First Division side Black Leopards in July 2024.{{Cite web |last=Munyai |first=Ofhani |date=2024-07-02 |title=Black Leopards appoint Ghanaian coach ahead of new season |url=https://farpost.co.za/2024/07/02/black-leopards-appoint-ghanaian-coach-ahead-of-new-season/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=FARPost |language=en-ZA}}

Honours

= Player =

Asante Kotoko

Ghana Premier League: 1991–92, 1992–93{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Maxwell Konadu |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/35927/Maxwell_Konadu.html |access-date=2021-07-07 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}

Ghana U23

Summer Olympics Bronze medalist: 1992{{Cite web |last=Al-Smith |first=Gary |date=3 May 2012 |title=Stars give Konadu the nod |url=https://supersport.com/football/ghana/news/120503/Stars_give_Konaduthe_nod |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=supersport.com |language=en}}

= Manager =

==Asante Kotoko==

Ghana Premier League: 2011–12{{Cite web |last=Mensah |first=Kent |date=30 April 2012 |title=Asante Kotoko win Ghana Premier League {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1658/ghana/2012/04/30/3069954/asante-kotoko-win-ghana-premier-league|access-date=7 July 2021|website=www.goal.com}}
President's Cup: 2019{{Cite web |last=Teye |first=Prince Narkortu |date=22 December 2019 |title=Asante Kotoko down Hearts of Oak to win Ghana President's Cup |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/asante-kotoko-down-hearts-of-oak-to-win-ghana-presidents-cup/5td4518rmb0f1tv652ablc6af |access-date=15 October 2022 |website=Goal}}

==Ghana A==

WAFU Nations Cup: 2013, 2017{{Cite news |title=Ghana beat Nigeria to win WAFU Cup |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41386885 |access-date=2021-03-14}}

==Nsoatreman F.C.==

2023–24 Ghana FA Cup{{Cite web |last=Appiah |first=Samuel Ekow Amoasi |date=25 June 2024 |title=I knew I could transform Nsoatreman FC - Maxwell Konadu after FA Cup glory |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/1322235/i-knew-i-could-transform-nsoatreman-fc-maxwell.html |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=Modern Ghana}}

==Individual==

WAFU Nations Cup Coach of the Tournament: 2019{{Cite web |last=Okine |first=Sammy Heywood |date=17 October 2019 |title=Ghana's Maxwell Konadu Adjudged Best Coach Of The 2019 ESPN WAFU Tournament, Ghana Olympic Committee |url=https://www.ghanaolympic.org/index.php?item=7326 |access-date=15 October 2022 |website=Ghana Olympic Committee |language=}}
Ghana Premier League Manager of the month: April 2022{{Cite web |date=28 May 2022 |title=Legon Cities congratulates Maxwell Konadu on winning NASCO Coach of the Month Award for April |url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/legon-cities-congratulates-maxwell-konadu-on-winning-nasco-coach-of-the-month-award-for-april |access-date=15 October 2022 |website=GhanaSoccernet |language=en}}