Karim Abdul Razak
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources
Career & Clubs
In 1975, he moved to Ghana's most successful club, Asante Kotoko. After a four-year spell with Kotoko, during which he became a member of the national team and earned the 1978 African Footballer of the Year award, Razak left Ghana in 1979 for the New York Cosmos of the NASL, where he played alongside former World Cup winners Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto. In 1981, after spending almost two years at the New York club, the Ghanaian forward decided to return home, signing with his former club Asante Kotoko. After one year, he moved, this time to Al Ain of UAE, where he spent two seasons. Razak then signed with Arab Contractors of Egypt, where he spent the next two years of his playing career. before returning to Ghana for a third spell with Kotoko. After another five years with the Ghanaian club, Razak moved to Ivorian side Africa Sports of Abidjan, where he retired two years later.
Razak was a member of the Ghana national team that competed at the 1978 African Cup of Nations as hosts of the tournament. He scored two game-winning goals, one against Zambia in the first round, and another one to defeat Tunisia 1–0 in semi-finals. His decisive goal against Tunisia has been referred to as the "Golden Goal". Ghana defeated Uganda in the final, winning their 3rd continental title. In good part due to his effort to help Ghana win the African Cup, Razak was named African Player of the Year months later, becoming the second of three Ghanaian players ever to win the award. According to a UEFA report, Razak appeared in a total of 62 international matches for Ghana, scoring 25 goals.
After retiring from playing, Razak, who had become a player-coach while at Al Ain, started his coaching career, being in charge of several semi-professional Togolese clubs, before moving to Benin's AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé. In 2000, he had a short spell as an assistant coach of the Ghana national team. After leaving the Ghanaian side, Razak went to Mali, where he won the Malien Premiere Division and cup double with Stade Malien. The club did not lose any matches on its way to winning the title. In 2003, he was appointed the coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and helped the club win their first local league in ten years. He discharged of his post after the 2003–04 league season, eventually returning to Stade Malien for two additional seasons. He also coached Real Tamale United in the Ghana Premier League from 2007 to 2009. He also coached the Qatari side Al-Markhiya in two separate tenures, the most recent ending in 2014.
- Club
- Al Ain FC (1982–1983)
- Club
- Asante Kotoko F.C. (1975–1979)
- Club
- Africa Sports d'Abidjan (1988–1990)
- Club
- Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC (1983–1985)
- Club
- New York Cosmos (1979–1981)
- Club
- Asante Kotoko F.C. (1981–1982)
- Club
- Asante Kotoko F.C. (1985–1988)
- Club
- Ghana men's national football team (1975–1987)
- League
- North American Soccer League
- National team
- Ghana
Personal
Razak was born in Kumasi to Alhaji Abdul Karimu and Hajija Ishatu. He studied at Asem Boy's Elementary School. He started his playing career at local youth team football, before moving to Kumasi Cornerstones in 1972.
Clubs
- Asante Kotoko F.C.1975–1979
- Ghana men's national football team1975–1987
- New York Cosmos1979–1981
- Asante Kotoko F.C.1981–1982
- Al Ain FC1982–1983
- Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC1983–1985
- Asante Kotoko F.C.1985–1988
- Africa Sports d'Abidjan1988–1990
Played together with
Abdul Kader KeïtaAfrica Sports d'Abidjan · 1999–2000
Abdul Kader KeïtaAl Ain FC · 2001–2002
Abdul Kader KeïtaAl Ain FC · 2002–2002
Abedi PeleAl Ain FC · 1998–2000- Adrian ȘutAl Ain FC · 2026
- Ahmed KhalilAl Ain FC · 2018–2018
Ahmed MubarakAl Ain FC · 2005–2005- Alain GouaménéAfrica Sports d'Abidjan · 1986–1989
Alex BrosqueAl Ain FC · 2012–2014- Alex NyarkoAsante Kotoko F.C. · 1992–1993
Amer AbdulrahmanAl Ain FC · 2016–2019
Amr ZakiAl Mokawloon Al Arab SC · 2015–2015
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Karim Abdul Razak Tanko is a Ghanaian football coach and former midfielder. He played for several clubs in the 1970s and 1980s, notably the local club Asante Kotoko and the New York Cosmos in the defunct North American Soccer League (NASL).
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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