Matthew Amoah
A clinical Ghanaian striker whose predatory instincts in the box made him a key figure in the Black Stars' rise to World Cup regulars.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Ghanaian footballer·Birthday: October 24·Generation X
Biography
Mathew Amoah's career was defined by a striker's most valuable currency: goals. Emerging in the Netherlands with Vitesse and later finding his peak at NAC Breda, he developed a reputation as a sharp, opportunistic finisher who thrived on service. His international career for Ghana coincided with the nation's footballing renaissance. While not always a guaranteed starter, Amoah played a crucial role as a super-sub and tactical option, his experience and coolness in front of goal providing a different threat. He was part of the squads that qualified for Ghana's first-ever World Cup in 2006 and the memorable run to the quarter-finals in 2010. Though he didn't always grab headlines, his consistent goal return for club and country—12 goals in 45 caps—underscored his value as a reliable marksman during a golden generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned 45 caps for the Ghana national team, scoring 12 international goals between 2002 and 2011.
- Was a member of Ghana's historic squads for the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
- Finished as the Eredivisie's third-top scorer in the 2007-08 season while playing for NAC Breda.
- Helped Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga title in 2002, though his playing time was limited.
Did You Know?
He is the older brother of fellow professional footballer Nathaniel Amoah.
Amoah scored on his international debut for Ghana in a 2002 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia.
He had a successful loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem, which later became a permanent transfer.
After retirement, he has been involved in youth coaching in Ghana.
“The ball in the net is the only language everyone understands.”
