Editing Stephen Appiah (section)

==Club career==
Appiah began his career at local club, [[Accra Hearts of Oak S.C.|Hearts of Oak]], in 1995, at age 15. In 1996, he had trials with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]'s youth squad<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stephen Appiah|url=https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=2707|access-date=26 June 2020|website=mobile.ghanaweb.com}}</ref> but was not signed and he returned to Hearts of Oak.

In 1997, he moved abroad to join Italian [[Serie A]] side [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]], where he initially played as a striker. He spent three seasons with the club, later changing positions during his time there, moving to a deeper midfield position. A transfer to [[Parma AC|Parma]] in 1999 was jeopardised by viral hepatitis,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/luglio/01/Appiah_restituito_all_Udinese_ga_0_9907013310.shtml|title=Appiah restituito all' Udinese|date=1 July 1999|access-date=29 May 2010|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it}}</ref> but Appiah overcame the illness to move there in the summer of 2000. After two seasons at Parma, Appiah went on loan to [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] for the [[2002–03 Serie A|2002–03 season]]. Appiah became a first-team regular for the Lombardians, and scored seven times in 31 games.

===Juventus===
Appiah's success at Parma alerted defending Serie A champions [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] to his talents. Juventus paid Parma €2 million in the summer of 2003 to secure Appiah's services on loan, with an option to a permanent €6 million transfer in 2004. In 2003, Appiah finished 8th for African Footballer of the Year.<ref name="afrofootball.com">{{Cite web|title=Afrofootball - Stephen Appiah - Ghana|url=http://www.afrofootball.com/player/stephen-appiah/ghana.html?p=22|access-date=26 June 2020|website=www.afrofootball.com}}</ref>

He went on to enjoy a good first season for Juventus, playing in 30 [[Serie A]] games and appearing in the [[Coppa Italia]] final. He also made his debut in the [[UEFA Champions League]]. In his second season at Juventus, Appiah played in 18 Serie A games.<ref name="afrofootball.com"/>

===Fenerbahçe===
In July 2005, he was transferred from Juventus to Turkish giants [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]] for €8 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=105766.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630154027/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=105766.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2007|title=Fenerbahce buoyed by Zico's Brazilian touch|date=31 August 2006|work=fifa.com|publisher=[[FIFA]]}}</ref> He went on to win the Turkish Super League Championship with the club in their centenary year. In January 2007, he was injured during the international duty with the Black Stars and he delayed the operation on his left knee until end of season.<ref name=CAS>{{cite web|url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4337/5048/0/Award%201856%20%201857%20FINAL%20-%20caviard%C3%A9%20-%20version%20internet%20%C3%A0%20distribuer.pdf|title=CAS 2009/A/1856 – Club X. v/ A. & CAS 2009/A/1857 – A. v/ Club X.|date=7 June 2010|access-date=18 February 2011|work=CAS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721053543/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4337/5048/0/Award%201856%20%201857%20FINAL%20-%20caviard%C3%A9%20-%20version%20internet%20%C3%A0%20distribuer.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref>

At the end of the 2006–07 season, Appiah expressed a desire to leave and a German club made an offer of €4 million to Fenerbahçe, after Appiah's agent contacted other clubs without Fenerbahçe's permission.<ref name=CAS/> Fenerbahçe rejected the offer.<ref name=CAS/>

====Injury and contract dispute====
After an extended knee-injury layoff, Appiah came off the bench for Fenerbahçe in the [[Turkish Super League]] on 6 October 2007. However, the injury recurred after his last game on 1 December, and Appiah went to Italy for rehabilitation on 20 December 2007.<ref name=CAS/> The long-term injury forced him to miss the [[2008 African Cup of Nations]] as a player, instead, he became a special adviser of the team.<ref name=CAS/> Fenerbahçe also wanted to de-register Appiah as he occupied a foreigner quota, but he refused as he was unclear with the matter.<ref name=CAS/> Appiah also refused to take rehabilitation in Turkey.<ref name=CAS/> The club also thought that Appiah was actually [[AWOL]] and Appiah thought the club exposed his medical history to the press and mistreatment to his injury, although the club defended that it had made an appointment for Appiah to visit [[Mayo Clinic]], United States, but Appiah did not attend.<ref name=CAS/> On 1 February 2008, Appiah formally submitted a claim of mistreatment by asking to leave as free agent on 1 July 2008 and received the pre-agreed 2008–09 season salary of €2 million.<ref name=CAS/> In response, Fenerbahçe notified [[FIFA]]. In April 2008 the case went to FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), and both parties sued each other.<ref name=CAS/> He unilaterally terminated the contract at the end of season, as he thought the club had breached the contract by not fulfilling its duties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=563974&cc=5901|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604030343/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=563974&cc=5901|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Ghana captain Appiah quits Fenerbahce after row|date=18 August 2008|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/player-news-and-rumors/fenerbahce-betray-stephen-appiah.html|title=Player News and Rumors: Fenerbahce betray Stephen Appiah|work=ghana.worldcupblog.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716120500/http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/player-news-and-rumors/fenerbahce-betray-stephen-appiah.html|archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> He also discussed with [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in summer 2008 for a possible contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20080902/di-michele-and-ilunga-sign_2236884_1383011|title=Di Michele and Ilunga sign|date=2 September 2008|access-date=1 November 2011|work=West Ham United FC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523182745/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20080902/di-michele-and-ilunga-sign_2236884_1383011|archive-date=23 May 2012}}</ref> DRC ordered Appiah to pay Fenerbahçe €2,281,915 as he breached the contract without just cause on 9 January 2009.<ref name=CAS/> He immediately appealed to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] in May after received the decision on 5 May 2009 and the club also submitted its appeal. On 7 June 2010 CAS ruled that Appiah did not need to pay Fenerbahçe, as Fenerbahçe saved more in wages (€2,633,020.65) than losses (€2,496,278.85).<ref name=CAS/>

===Serie A return===
Appiah was on trial with the London-based club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in January 2009 with a view to a 6-month permanent contract,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7813007.stm|title=Appiah chases Tottenham contract|date=6 January 2009|access-date=4 April 2011|work=BBC Sport|language=it}}</ref> however, concerns over his knee and fitness resulted in no contract being offered, as Spurs took up the option of signing [[Wilson Palacios]] from [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan]] instead. The following month Appiah underwent a trial at [[FC Rubin Kazan|Rubin Kazan]],{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} but the Russian champions decided against signing the player because of the same fitness concerns. Despite being without a club since his departure from Fenerbahçe in June 2008, Appiah remained a regular with the national team throughout the 2008–09 season.

On 1 November 2009, [[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]] announced the signing of Appiah on a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appiah Signs For Bologna|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/247021/appiah-signs-for-bologna.html|access-date=26 June 2020|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref>

On 7 August 2010, Appiah signed for newly promoted Italian Serie A side [[AC Cesena|Cesena]] on a one-year deal with the option of signing on for another year if the club managed to remain in the top flight. At the end of the 2010–11 season his contract with Cesena expired, and he became a free agent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2010/08/07/stephen-appiah-joins-cesena|title=Stephen Appiah joins Cesena|publisher=Ghana Business News|date=7 August 2010|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref>

===Vojvodina===
On 2 February 2012, after passing medical exams, Appiah signed a six-month deal with Serbian side [[FK Vojvodina|Vojvodina]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghana |date=5 February 2012 |title=Stephen Appiah Signs 6 Month Deal with Serbian Side Vojvodina |url=https://newsghana.com.gh/stephen-appiah-signs-6-month-deal-with-serbian-side-vojvodina/ |access-date=26 June 2020 |website=News Ghana}}</ref> Along with [[Almami Moreira]] and [[Aleksandar Katai]], he was the main winter-break signing of Vojvodina in order to challenge Belgrade clubs dominance and guarantee a European competition place. He made his [[Serbian SuperLiga]] debut as a starter in a 16-round match played on 4 March 2012 against [[FK Radnički Kragujevac|Radnički Kragujevac]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=Appiah makes Serbian league debut|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/appiah-makes-serbian-league-debut|access-date=26 June 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}</ref>

Until the end of the [[2011–12 Serbian SuperLiga]] season, he gathered 11 league appearances and scored his only goal in the deciding last-round home 2–1 victory against [[Red Star Belgrade]],<ref name=soccerway>[https://int.soccerway.com/players/stephen-appiah/618/ Stephen Appiah] at Soccerway</ref> which put Vojvodina on a final third place in the league and guaranteed a spot in next season's [[UEFA Europa League]].

===Retirement and testimonial===
After being inactive from football for two-years due to a recurring knee injury, at the age of 33, Appiah announced his retirement from football on 14 January 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2015 |title=Stephen Appiah retires from professional football |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/football/stephen-appiah-retires-from-professional-football.html |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Graphic Sports}}</ref>

On 27 June 2015, a [[testimonial match]] was organized to mark the end of his career. The match was played at the [[Accra Sports Stadium]]. It featured The Black Stars against Appiah XI, which cumulated former international footballers including; [[Giuseppe Colucci (footballer)|Giuseppe Colucci]], [[Richard Kingson]], [[George Boateng]], [[Sammy Adjei]], [[Samuel Eto'o]], [[Baffour Gyan]] and [[Emmanuel Adebayor]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 June 2015 |title=Appiah says final goodbye to football as testimonial game ends in a draw |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/appiah-says-final-goodbye-to-football-as-testimonial-game-ends-in-a-draw |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Ghana FA |publisher=Ghana Football Association |language=en}}</ref> The match ended in a 2–2 draw with Appiah scoring the first goal from a free kick for Appiah XI. [[Asamoah Gyan]] and [[Ben Acheampong]] scored for the Black Stars and Baffour Gyan scored the final equalizer for Appiah XI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2015 |title=Tornado Appiah bows out with a 2-2 testimonial game in Accra |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/tornado-appiah-bows-out-with-a-2-2-testimonial-game-in-accra/ |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=My Joy Online}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The match was a sell-out, and saw Appiah perform a lap of honour at the end with his family.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2015 |title=Stephen Appiah's Wife & Children At Testimonial (PHOTOS) |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/sports/soccer/201506/246244.php |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Peace FM Online}}</ref> The testimonial was attended by high rank officials including, former Presidents [[Jerry Rawlings|Jerry John Rawlings]] and [[John Kufuor|John Agyekum Kufour]], Speaker of Parliament [[Edward Adjaho|Edward Doe Adjaho]] and the sitting President, [[John Mahama|John Dramani Mahama]], who also performed the ceremonial kick-off.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2015 |title=Stephen Appiah scores to bid final farewell in testimonial match |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Stephen-Appiah-scores-to-bid-final-farewell-in-testimonial-match-365058 |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=GhanaSoccernet}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Religious leaders including the national chief Imam of Ghana Sheik [[Osman Nuhu Sharubutu|Osman Nuhu Sharabutu]] and Rev. [[Sam Korankye Ankrah]], Apostle General of Royal House Chapel were also present.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 July 2015 |title=Stephen Appiah Expresses Appreciation For Befitting Testimonial |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/sports/soccer/201507/247083.php |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Peace FM Online}}</ref>

Prior to the testimonial, a special dinner and fundraising was held on the 26 June at the State Banquet Hall, Accra.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Portia |date=27 June 2015 |title=Asamoah Gyan, Eto'o and others donate at Stephen Appiah fund raising event |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/testimonial-match-asamoah-gyan-etoo-and-others-donate-at-stephen-appiah-fund-raising/51j3zst |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Pulse Ghana}}</ref> All proceeds of the match and fundraising went to charitable causes of his foundation, Step App foundation.<ref name=":1" />