Mohammed Gargo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mohammed Gargo

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|6|19}}

| birth_place = Accra, Ghana

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| years1 = 1991

| clubs1 = Real Tamale United

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1991–1996

| clubs2 = Torino

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1993–1994

| clubs3 = → Borussia Dortmund II (loan)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1994–1995

| clubs4 = → Bayern Munich II (loan)

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1995

| clubs5 = → Stoke City (loan)

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 1995–1996

| clubs6 = → Udinese (loan)

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 1996–2004

| clubs7 = Udinese

| caps7 = 88

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2003

| clubs8 = → Venezia (loan)

| caps8 = 18

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2004–2005

| clubs9 = Genoa

| caps9 = 44

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2005–2007

| clubs10 = Al-Wakrah

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| years11 = 2007–2008

| clubs11 = Ashanti Gold

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| nationalyears1 = 1992–2001

| nationalteam1 = Ghana

| nationalcaps1 = 20

| nationalgoals1 = 4

| manageryears1 = 2009–2010

| managerclubs1 = New Edubiase United

| manageryears2 = 2010–2012

| managerclubs2 = Real Tamale United

| manageryears3 = 2015

| managerclubs3 = BA United

| manageryears4 = 2016

| managerclubs4 = Okwawu United

| manageryears5 = 2018–2019

| managerclubs5 = Tura Magic

| manageryears6 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs6 = African Stars

| manageryears7 = 2020–

| managerclubs7 = Steadfast

}}

{{MedalTableTop|name=no|medals=

{{MedalCountry | {{GHA}} }}

}}

Mohammed Gargo (born 19 June 1975) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Playing career

=Club=

==Torino==

Gargo's performances at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship brought him to the notice of European clubs' scouts. He had initially agreed to join Bayer 04 Leverkusen alongside fellow Ghana national under-17 football team member Sebastian Barnes.{{cite news |last1=Boddenberg |first1=Johannes |title=Dynamische Angsthasen |url=https://taz.de/!1701459/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |publisher=Die Tageszeitung |date=23 September 1991 |language=German}} However Leverkusen withdrew from the Gargo transfer when it became evident that they could not compete financially with a much larger offer from Torino.{{cite news |title="Gnadenlos ausgenommen" |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/gnadenlos-ausgenommen-a-65b5cddc-0002-0001-0000-000013687321 |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Der Spiegel |date=29 December 1991 |language=German}}

In October 1991 a payment of 100,000,000 Italian lira to Gargo's parents secured his move to Turin, where he was joined by his national under-17 team colleagues Samuel Kuffour and Emmanuel Duah.{{cite news |last1=Crosetti |first1=Maurizio |title=Lasciateci sognare |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1991/10/31/lasciateci-sognare.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=31 October 1991 |language=Italian}} Torino's president Gian Mauro Borsano planned fake employment for the three players as "messengers" in his construction company until they were 18 years old and eligible to be registered as professional footballers.{{cite news |last1=Piva |first1=Andrea |title="Che fine hanno fatto?" Duah, Gargo e Kuffour: i tre "fattorini" ghanesi presi da Moggi |url=https://www.toro.it/rubriche/che-fine-hanno-fatto/che-fine-hanno-fatto-duah-gargo-kuffour/1100679/ |access-date=19 March 2022 |date=25 November 2018 |language=Italian |publisher=Toro.it}}

The plan was controversial and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) refused to register the Ghanaian players as either amateurs or professionals. FIGC president Antonio Matarrese compared the situation to the trafficking of children.{{cite news |title=L' affare Ghana, Toro sotto inchiesta |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1991/10/30/affare-ghana-toro-sotto-inchiesta.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=30 October 1991 |language=Italian}}{{cite news |last1=Schoorl |first1=John |last2=Wagendorp |first2=Bert |title=Piepjong voetbaltalent te koop via internet |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/piepjong-voetbaltalent-te-koop-via-internet~ba783e0b/ |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=de Volkskrant |date=18 January 2001 |language=Dutch}} Although Gargo and his father emphasised that they were happy with the arrangements in Turin, the football authorities retained their opposition. An appeal by Torino and Gargo to Confederation of African Football (CAF) was thrown out in October 1992, by which time Kuffour and Duah had already left the club.{{cite news |title=Il Torino non puo' tesserare Gargo |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1992/10/16/il-torino-non-puo-tesserare-gargo.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=16 October 1992 |language=Italian}} CAF president Issa Hayatou was particularly hostile to Dominico Ricci, whose African Football Management agency had brokered the transfers.{{cite news |last1=Oliver |first1=Brian |title='Slaves' on a fortune |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/feb/13/africannationscup2002.africannationscup |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=13 February 2000}}

During the 1993–94 season, Gargo spent time at Borussia Dortmund, where his cousin Ibrahim Tanko already played. He was restricted to the club's Amateure team in the Oberliga Westfalen, and when Dortmund tried to buy him outright Torino declined the transfer fee on offer.{{cite news |title=Gargo, 5 anni e la voglia di rivincita |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1996/08/24/page_022.pdf |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=l'Unità |date=24 August 1996 |pages=22 |language=Italian }} In November 1994 Giovanni Trapattoni took Gargo to Bayern Munich.{{cite news |title=Calcio News |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/11/16/calcio-news.html?rss |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=14 November 1994 |language=Italian}} He suffered the same fate he had at Dortmund and was unable to conclude a transfer.

In May 1994 Gargo had appeared for Torino in a non-competitive game against rivals Juventus. The "Memorial Giorgio Calleri" fixture was staged in Novara and was marred by poor attendance and hooliganism. Gargo was subjected to racist chanting, while Torino supporters mocked the recent death of Andrea Fortunato.{{cite news |title=Il Calcio vile va in Provincia |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/05/30/il-calcio-vile-va-in-provincia.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=30 May 1994 |language=Italian}} Gargo scored in a 2–2 draw before Torino lost the penalty shootout.{{cite web |title=Memorial Giorgio Calleri 1994, 28/05/1994 Juventus-Torino 2-2 |url=https://www.juworld.net/partita.asp?d=28/05/1994 |publisher=Juworld.net |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=Italian}}{{cite news |title=Juve - Torino, Che Vergogna |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/05/29/juve-torino-che-vergogna.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=29 May 1994 |language=Italian}} Despite his three years of inactivity, Gargo maintained ambitions of playing competitively for Torino.{{cite news |last1=Benigno |first1=Aurelio |title=Gargo: sarò il Rijkaard granata |url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/img199394/amic37_1994.pdf |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=La Stampa |date=30 May 1994 |language=Italian}} However he was not favoured by the club's incoming president Gianmarco Calleri.

==Stoke City==

Gargo joined Stoke City as a pre-season trialist ahead of their 1995–96 campaign. After fielding him in a friendly match with Stockport County, Stoke's manager Lou Macari was impressed with Gargo's potential. However, Macari was less impressed with Gargo's poor attendance record and sudden unexplained departure, which took place shortly afterwards.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=What Paul Lambert should have said to AWOL disgrace Jese |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-awol-jese-bangoura-1450880 |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Stoke Sentinel |date=13 April 2013}}

==Udinese==

Increasingly unhappy at his lack of competitive football, Gargo then joined Italian team Udinese in October 1995. After a further year of inactivity, Gargo was allowed to register with Udinese before their 1996–97 season.{{cite web |title=Alberto Zaccheroni |url=https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=42989&lang=ita |publisher=Udinese Calcio |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=Italian |date=1 May 2020}} He transferred to Udinese on a free transfer, on the expiry of his five-year contract with Torino. Real Tamale United remained entitled to a sell-on fee and Gargo gave his former club a promissory note for $20,000 so they did not dispute his transfer to Udinese.{{cite news |title=Gargo moved to Udinese on free transfer - Jones |url=http://www.mclglobal.com/History/Oct1999/13k1999/13k9s.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Ghana Review International |date=13 October 1999}}

In Alberto Zaccheroni's progressive 3–4–3 formation, Gargo was usually deployed in defence, but was also capable of playing in midfield.{{cite news |last1=Barcellona |first1=Fabio |title=Come giocava l'Udinese di Zaccheroni |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/udinese-zaccheroni-come-giocava/ |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=l'Ultimo Uomo |date=1 April 2020 |language=Italian}} The team performed above expectations although Gargo sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a 4–0 defeat at Sampdoria on 18 May 1997.

With Udinese Gargo came to be recognised as a competent Serie A central defender, although troubled by frequent injuries.{{cite web |title=Accadde oggi {{!}} Mohammed Gargo |url=https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=43817&lang=esp |publisher=Udinese Calcio |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=Italian}} With his contract due to expire in 2001, he was linked with transfers to Inter Milan,{{cite news |title=Italy's African market place |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1424661.stm |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2001}} and even an improbable return to Torino.{{cite news |last1=Casella |first1=Daniele |title=Il ritorno del Toro sulle tracce di Gargo |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/il-ritorno-del-toro-sulle-tracce-di-gargo-2210 |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=TUTTOmercatoWEB |date=28 August 2001 |language=Italian}}

In January 2003 he was loaned to Venezia and in January 2004 sold to Serie B side Genoa along with Vittorio Micolucci, in exchange for Rodrigue Boisfer and Valon Behrami, all in a co-ownership deal, which few years later accused for inflated price in order to create paper profit.{{cite news |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=116072 |title=Udine, indagati Pozzo e Pierpaolo Marino |date=31 July 2008 |accessdate=10 August 2011 |work=Tutto Mercato Web |language=Italian}} Udinese and Genoa were already fined in June 2008 by FIGC{{cite news |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/85.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_19036_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf |title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 66/CDN (2007–08) |date=18 June 2008 |accessdate=10 August 2011 |work=FIGC |language=Italian}} and criminal charge were continued.

=International=

Gargo was a member of the men's national team that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain,{{cite web |publisher=Sports Reference |title=Mohamed Gargo Biography and Statistics |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/mohamed-gargo-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417214516/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/mohamed-gargo-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |accessdate=28 October 2009}} and gold in the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Italy.

In 2013 Gargo claimed that he had refused an approach to play for Ghana at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first time the nation had qualified, after being asked to pay a bribe.{{cite news |title=I refused to pay bribe for 2006 World Cup place - Gargo |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/i-refused-to-pay-bribe-for-2006-world-cup-place-gargo/#! |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=My Joy Online |date=21 April 2013}}

Coaching career

Gargo started after his retirement the job as coach in February 2010 by New Edubiase United.{{Cite web |url=http://sports.peacefmonline.com/pages/soccer/201002/39171.php |title=Mohammed Gargo Named Edubiase Coach |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316200250/http://sports.peacefmonline.com/pages/soccer/201002/39171.php |archive-date=16 March 2014 |url-status=dead}} He trained the club of the Poly Tank Division One League until summer 2010. On 6 August 2010, he was named as the new manager of Poly Tank Division One League rival Real Tamale United.[http://ghanafoot.wordpress.com/tag/real-tamale-united/ Glo Ghana Premier League Welcomes Real Tamale United Back] He coached the club RTU until November 2012 and resigned after the relegation from the Ghana Premier League his contract.[http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/mohammed_gargo_refuses_to_give_up_on_real_tamale_united/12133360 Mohammed Gargo refuses to give up on Real Tamale United]

Gargo was appointed manager of Ghana Premier League club BA United in March 2015, but was sacked after one match when he accused his players of betting against themselves.{{cite news |title=Record breaking: B.A United fire Gargo as coach after just one match |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/603709/record-breaking-ba-united-fire-gargo-as-coach.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Modern Ghana |date=10 March 2015}} The following year a short spell in charge of Okwawu United ended when he fell out with his players again, this time accusing them of "sexually promiscuous acts" in the club house.{{cite news |title=Okwawu United suspend coach Mohammed Gargo indefinitely |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/698682/okwawu-united-suspend-coach-mohammed-gargo-indefin.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Modern Ghana |date=17 June 2016}} In September 2018 Namibian Premier League club Tura Magic F.C. signed a contract with Gargo as their head coach.Mohammed Gargo appointed as Tura Magic head coach, Namibia Press Agency, 11 September 2018.

Personal life

Gargo was born in the Burma Camp in Accra, where his father was a Physical training instructor in the Ghana Army.{{cite news |last1=Ofosu Larbi |first1=Yaw |title=Mohammed Gargo: An incredible career of intoxicating highpoints and tough lows |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/1066612/mohammed-gargo-an-incredible-career-of-intoxicati.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=Modern Ghana |date=9 March 2021}} The family hailed from Bawku, part of the Busanga tribe of Mandé ethnicity.

Honours

Udinese

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/IntertotoCup/AllTimeStatistics/season%3D2000/Round%3D1469/match%3D65597/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623195839/http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/IntertotoCup/AllTimeStatistics/season%3D2000/Round%3D1469/match%3D65597/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2004 |title=Udinese 4 - 2 Sigma (Aggregate: 6 - 4) |publisher=UEFA |date=22 August 2000 |accessdate=16 April 2020}}