Sports News of Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

What happened to Quincy Owusu Abeyie?

The name that encapsulates everything about Arsène Wenger’s League Cup policy and the various ‘Young Guns’ that failed to live up to the hype around them.

Quincy was at Ajax for nine years until the age of 16 before being released by the Dutch outfit due to attitude problems. However, Liam Brady saw potential in the Ghanaian international and offered the forward a trial, which eventually resulted in Owusu-Abeyie joining Arsenal as a scholar.

Arsenal highlights

Having made his first appearance and first start for the Arsenal first-team during the 2003/04 campaign, the striker added to his growing reputation when he notched his first goal for the Gunners in a 3-1 League Cup victory over Everton in the 2004/05 season. Furthermore, during the same season, the former Ajax youngster made his Premier League and Champions League debuts. Arsenal reject! Arsenal reject!

*CLICHÉ JOURNEYMAN KLAXON*

QOA made the sensible decision and left in the same transfer window when we signed Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor, moving to Russia to play for Spartak Moscow.

The former Netherlands U21 international never really settled at a club after leaving the Gunners. After just 18 months with Spartak, he was loaned to Celta Vigo, then a season later he returned to English football with Birmingham City taking him on loan.

Whilst still with the Russian Premier League club, Quincy had a trial with Tottenham Hotspur(!) but eventually spent the reminder of the 2008/09 season on loan with Championship side Cardiff City.

Portsmouth on loan (obviously) was next in line for the well-traveled forward, however, Moscow terminated the loan early in order to complete Quincy’s permanent move to Al-Sadd.

Just a few months later, Owusu-Abeyie was back in La Liga with Malaga taking him on loan. Then he popped up in Greece on loan with Panathinaikos in a move that eventually became permanent.

Finally, despite rumours of Blackpool being interested, the former Arsenal player signed a one-year deal with Portuguese side Boavista this summer. What happened to Ghana star Quincy Owusu Abeyie?