Michael Anaba

{{short description|Ghanaian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Michael Anaba

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Michael Anaba{{cite web |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Ghana |work=FIFA.com |format=PDF |page=10 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=23 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627043508/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|12|05|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kumasi, Ghana

| height = {{height|m=1.80|precision=0}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Real Republicans

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Feyenoord Academy

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Windy Professionals

| years1 = 2010–2011

| clubs1 = Windy Professionals

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2011–2013

| clubs2 = Asante Kotoko

| caps2 = ?

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2013–2015

| clubs3 = Elche B

| caps3 = 48

| goals3 = 5

| years4 = 2015–2016

| clubs4 = Elche

| caps4 = 3

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016

| clubs5 = → Alcoyano (loan)

| caps5 = 11

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = Eldense

| caps6 = 16

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2017

| clubs7 = Sud América

| caps7 = 4

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2017–2018

| clubs8 = Ontinyent

| caps8 = 29

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2018–2019

| clubs9 = Alcoyano

| caps9 = 22

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2019

| clubs10 = AFC Eskilstuna

| caps10 = 9

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2020–2021

| clubs11 = Al-Jahra

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 2021–2022

| clubs12 = Atzeneta

| caps12 = 5

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2022–2023

| clubs13 = Kauno Žalgiris

| caps13 = 9

| goals13 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam1 = Ghana U20

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = 28 June 2023 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Michael Anaba (born 5 December 1993) is a Ghanaian professional footballer.

Club career

Born in Kumasi, Anaba started his professional football career with Windy Professionals, a division two football team based in Winneba.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/08/13/kotoko-midfielder-anaba-seals-3-year-dealwith-spanish-la-liga/ |title=Michael Anaba seals 3-year deal with Spanish side, Elche CF |publisher=Ghana Business |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903181113/http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/08/13/kotoko-midfielder-anaba-seals-3-year-dealwith-spanish-la-liga/ |archive-date=3 September 2014 }} He joined Asante Kotoko in September 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.asantekotokofc.org/newreel/2011/000911/windy_pros.htm |title=Windy Professionals duo aspire to impress at Kotoko |publisher=Asante Kotoko SC |date=19 September 2011 |access-date=28 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001142/http://www.asantekotokofc.org/newreel/2011/000911/windy_pros.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 }} and featured regularly for the side, also winning the Ghana Premier League in the 2012–13 campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/breaking-news-asante-kotoko-defend-ghana-premier-league-title-with-amidaus-win/|title=Asante Kotoko retain Ghana Premier League title with Amidaus win|publisher=Ghana Soccernet|access-date=13 August 2013}}

In January 2013 Kotoko blocked Anaba's move to Valencia CF.{{cite web|url=http://ghanasoccernet.com/asante-kotoko-block-michael-anabas-move-to-valencia/|title=Asante Kotoko block Michael Anaba's move to Valencia|publisher=Ghana Soccernet|date=28 January 2013|access-date=28 August 2014}} He was also linked to Parma F.C. in the same transfer window, but nothing came of it.

In late July 2013, Anaba joined Elche CF in a trial basis. On 13 August, the club agreed a fee with Kotoko,{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/08/13/4183772/kotoko-agree-to-sell-michael-anaba-to-elche|title=Kotoko agree to sell Michael Anaba to Elche|publisher=Goal.com|date=13 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2014}} and the player signed a four-year deal late in the month.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/08/30/4225445/kotoko-midfielder-anaba-joins-elche|title=Kotoko midfielder Anaba joins Elche|publisher=Goal.com|date=30 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2014}}

Anaba was initially assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B. In July 2014 he was called up to the main squad for the pre-season,{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ex-ghana-youth-star-michael-anaba-leaves-elche-pre-season-high-hopes/|title=Ex-Ghana youth star Michael Anaba leaves for Elche pre-season with high hopes|publisher=Ghana Soccernet|date=6 July 2014|access-date=28 August 2014}} being definitely promoted to the first-team in the following month.

On 11 October 2014 Anaba returned to the B-side, due to the lack of opportunities in the main squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=1691086|title=El filial del Elche busca su primera victoria a domicilio|trans-title=Elche's reserves hunts their first away victory|publisher=ABC|language=Spanish|date=11 October 2014|access-date=6 November 2014}} He only made his first team debut on 30 August 2015, playing the last 13 minutes in a 2–1 Segunda División home win against Bilbao Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2015/08/30/futbol/2adivision/1440967128.html|title=Remontada para la primera victoria de la 'era Baraja'|trans-title=Comeback for the first win of the 'Baraja era'|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=30 August 2015|access-date=2 September 2015}}

On 27 January 2016, Anaba was loaned to CD Alcoyano in the third level until June.{{cite web|url=http://www.elchecf.es/noticia/el-elche-cede-a-anaba-al-alcoyano|title=El Elche cede a Anaba al Alcoyano|trans-title=Elche loan Anaba to Alcoyano|publisher=Elche CF|language=es|date=27 January 2016|access-date=4 July 2016}} Upon returning, he rescinded his contract on 30 August,{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/elche/2016/08/30/57c5ce4eca474199578b4589.html|title=Michael Anaba rescinde su contrato con el Elche|trans-title=Michael Anaba rescinds his contract with Elche|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=30 August 2016|access-date=31 August 2016}} and joined CD Eldense the following day.{{cite web|url=http://www.diarioinformacion.com/deportes/2016/09/01/ghanes-michael-anaba-ultimo-fichaje/1801085.html|title=El ghanés Michael Anaba, último fichaje del Eldense|trans-title=Ghanaian Michael Anaba, last signing of Eldense|publisher=Diario Información|language=es|date=1 September 2016|access-date=7 September 2016}}

On 23 January 2017, Anaba switched teams and countries by agreeing to a contract with Uruguayan Primera División side Sud América.{{cite web|url=http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/futbol/ghanes-michael-anabadel-eldense-iasa.html|title=El ghanés Michael Anaba, del Eldense a la IASA|trans-title=Ghanaian Michael Anaba, from Eldense to IASA|publisher=Ovación Digital|language=es|date=23 January 2017|access-date=24 January 2017}} On 14 August, he returned to Spain after joining third-tier club Ontinyent CF.{{cite web|url=http://www.ontinyentcf.es/index.php/1er-equip/noticies-1er-equip/2232-michael-anaba-nou-jugador-blanc-i-negre-per-revolucionar-latac|title=Michael Anaba, nou jugador blanc-i-negre per revolucionar l'atac|trans-title=Michael Anaba, new black-and-white player to revolutionize the attack|publisher=Ontinyent CF|language=ca|date=14 August 2017|access-date=21 November 2017}}

In July 2020, Anaba joined Kuwaiti club Al-Jahra SC.[https://ghanasoccernet.com/former-ghana-youth-star-michael-anaba-joins-kuwaiti-side-al-jahra-sc Former Ghana youth star Michael Anaba joins Kuwaiti side Al-Jahra SC], ghanasoccernet.com, 29 July 2021 A year later, in September 2021, Anaba returned to Spain and joined Atzeneta UE.{{Soccerway|michael-anaba/285342}}

International career

Anaba was a member of the Ghana under-20's during the 2013 African U-20 Championship qualification for the 2013 African U-20 Championship. In 2013, he was named in Sellas Tetteh's 23-man squad for the 2013 tournament, hosted in Algeria.{{cite web|title=Ghana names final squad for U-20 finals|url=http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/blacksatellites/201303/8200.php|publisher=GhanaFA.org|access-date=27 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101074750/http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/blacksatellites/201303/8200.php|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=dead}} He was appointed vice-captain, and featured regularly during the tournament.{{cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/03/10/3812325/kotokos-michael-anaba-named-deputy-skipper-for-black | title=Kotoko's Michael Anaba named deputy skipper for Black Satellites | publisher=goal.com | access-date=13 August 2013}}

Anaba was also selected to 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted in Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://allsports.com.gh/2013/06/14/revealed-ghanas-final-21-man-squad-for-u-20-world-cup/ |title=Revealed: Ghana's final 21-man squad for U-20 World Cup |publisher=All Sports |access-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826064323/http://allsports.com.gh/2013/06/14/revealed-ghanas-final-21-man-squad-for-u-20-world-cup/ |archive-date=26 August 2013 }} He was used mainly as a substitute during the competition, but started and captained his side in a 1–2 loss against France.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/turkey2013/matches/round=259229/match=300232809/summary.html|title=Thauvin-inspired France make history|publisher=FIFA.com|date=10 July 2013|access-date=28 August 2014}} Anaba also appeared in the third-place match, again from the bench in a 3–0 win against Iraq.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=259227/match=300232840/summary.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716141622/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=259227/match=300232840/summary.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2013|title=Three A's see Ghana finish third|publisher=FIFA.com|date=13 July 2013|access-date=13 August 2013}}