
Matthew Amoah
GhanaAlso known as: Mathew Amoah
Birthday
October 24, 1980
Birth Sign
Sagittarius
Birthplace
Tema, Ghana
Age
45 years old
About
Matthew Amoah is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who made his mark as a striker across Europe and for his national team. Born in Tema, Ghana, he became a reliable goal scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie, had a stint in the German Bundesliga, and later played in Turkey. He earned 45 caps for Ghana between 2002 and 2011, scoring 12 goals, and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
After retiring, Amoah moved into coaching and worked at NAC Breda, a club where he had been a fan favorite during his playing days. He remains a respected figure in Ghanaian football, known for his professionalism and dedication. As of 2026, he is transitioning to new opportunities following his departure from NAC Breda.
Early Life & Background
Matthew Amoah was born on October 24, 1980, in Tema, a major port city on Ghana's Atlantic coast, about 25 kilometers east of Accra. He grew up there, honing his football skills on the streets and in local youth setups. At 17, he caught the attention of Dutch scouts and signed with Vitesse in 1998, moving to the Netherlands to begin his professional career. Adapting to European football was a challenge, but his natural goal-scoring instinct quickly shone through in the Eredivisie.
His early years at Vitesse were formative. He worked his way into the first team and became a regular scorer, which eventually led to his first call-up to the Ghana national team in 2002. His performances in the Netherlands laid the foundation for a career that would span over a decade and take him to three different European leagues.
Career Growth
Amoah's breakthrough came at Vitesse, where he established himself as a dependable striker. In 2005, he transferred to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, a move that promised a step up. However, an injury aggravated during the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations hampered his time in Germany, and he struggled to replicate his Dutch form. He returned to the Netherlands in 2007, joining NAC Breda, where he rediscovered his scoring touch and became a cult hero.
His international career peaked at the 2010 World Cup, where Ghana reached the quarter-finals, and he ended his national team tenure in 2011 with 45 caps and 12 goals. After leaving NAC Breda, he played in Turkey for Ankaragücü and Mersin İdman Yurdu before retiring around 2014. Post-retirement, he returned to NAC Breda in a coaching role, and in January 2026, he helped facilitate André Ayew's move to the club, though he downplayed his involvement as "only 10%." He departed NAC Breda in May 2026 following the club's relegation.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
Amoah is remembered as a solid, dependable striker who gave his best at every club. At NAC Breda, he is revered as a prolific scorer and later returned as a coach, cementing his bond with the fans. Ghanaian supporters appreciated his commitment to the Black Stars over nearly a decade. He never cultivated a flashy public persona; his reputation rests on professionalism and goal-scoring reliability. There is no official fandom name or specific fan rituals, but his legacy in Dutch football, especially at NAC Breda, remains strong.
Fame & Fandom
Matthew Amoah occupies a unique space in football history where club loyalty and national pride intersect without the noise of modern celebrity culture. His legacy is defined not by a global cult following, but by deep, localized reverence in Breda and Ghana, where his goal-scoring consistency created a bond that transcended typical player-manager relationships. While he lacks a formal fandom name or organized fan rituals common among pop icons, his supporters are characterized by a quiet, enduring devotion rooted in shared sporting triumphs rather than commercial hype. The narrative surrounding him remains firmly grounded in athletic achievement, specifically his prolific tenure at NAC Breda and his pivotal role in Ghana's historic 2010 World Cup run. iFANN has evaluated this profile and determined that Matthew Amoah does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, placing him outside the global top 1,000 and any Top-100 scope list. This assessment reflects a landscape where his fame is concentrated in specific geographic pockets and historical moments rather than distributed as a continuous global signal. Despite the absence of viral folklore or chart-topping campaigns, his status as a respected figure who transitioned seamlessly from star striker to club coach ensures his name remains relevant within the circles that matter most to his career.
Interesting Facts and Legends
Matthew Amoah's name often appears as 'Mathew' in various publications, including his Wikipedia entry, creating a minor spelling ambiguity that persists across sources. He holds dual citizenship with both Ghana and the Netherlands, a fact that facilitated his smooth integration into European leagues. A significant chapter in his career was marked by an injury sustained during the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, which had lasting repercussions on his subsequent stint with Borussia Dortmund. His contribution to Ghana's national team is particularly notable, as he helped lead the squad to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, making them only the third African nation to reach that stage at the time. Fans in Breda still recount his scoring prowess, having netted 57 goals in over 130 appearances between 2007 and 2011, a record that cemented his local legend status. More recently, the family legacy continued when his son, Eliott Amoah, won the Dutch U-16 Cup in 2026. Additionally, Transfermarkt records confirm that Amoah was frequently the designated penalty taker throughout his career, a detail often overlooked by casual observers but crucial to his utility on the pitch.
Notable Quotes
“It was only 10%.”
Family & Personal Life
Matthew Amoah keeps his family life private. He has a son, Eliott Amoah, who is a promising youth footballer at NAC Breda. In April 2026, Eliott won the Dutch U-16 Cup with the club, an early milestone in his young career. There is also a player listed as "Matthew Amoah jr." on Transfermarkt, born on April 9, 2008, an attacking midfielder with Dutch citizenship, who is likely another son or a relative, though this is not officially confirmed. Details about Amoah's parents, siblings, or spouse are not publicly documented.
Notable Connections
Matthew Amoah is closely associated with André Ayew, a fellow Ghanaian and former Black Stars teammate. They reunited at NAC Breda in 2026, where Amoah played a small role in Ayew's move. Ayew cited the strong Ghanaian presence at the club, including Amoah, as a key factor in his decision. Amoah also has ties to his son Eliott, who is coming up through NAC Breda's youth ranks.
Relationships & Dating History
Matthew Amoah has kept his personal life out of the public eye. No confirmed romantic relationships are documented in credible sources. He is known to have at least one son, Eliott, but the identity of the mother and his current relationship status are not publicly known. As of 2026, his relationship status remains unknown.
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$5 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Matthew Amoah's net worth stands at $5 Million as of 2026. This financial standing is primarily the result of a successful professional football career spanning multiple top-tier leagues. His earnings accumulated through substantial salaries from clubs such as Vitesse, Borussia Dortmund, NAC Breda, and Turkish sides Ankaragücü and Mersin İdman Yurdu. The period spent with Borussia Dortmund likely represented the peak of his earning potential during his playing days. Furthermore, he secured additional income through bonuses earned from international appearances representing Ghana over nearly a decade. Since hanging up his boots, Amoah has supplemented his wealth by working in coaching roles at NAC Breda, a club where he previously enjoyed immense popularity. There are no publicly known major endorsements or external business ventures contributing to his current financial portfolio.
Awards & Accolades
View 3 records, honours and achievementsKnown For
Ghana National Team
2002-2011 · Striker
NAC Breda
2007-2011 · Striker
2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 · Squad Member
Keywords
Sources
Quick Facts
- Profession
- Professional Footballer
- Born
- October 24, 1980
- Birthplace
- Tema, Ghana
- Gender
- Male
- Birth Sign
- Sagittarius
- Nationality
- Ghanaian
- Position
- Striker
- International Caps
- 45
- International Goals
- 12
Personal Details
- Full Name
- Matthew Amoah
- Children
- Eliott Amoah
Frequently Asked Questions
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