THE 21st CENTURY ONLINE AWARDS NOMINEES FOR BEST FOOTBALL [SOCCER PLAYER] OF THE DECADE [CENTURY].

Stephen Leroy Appiah

Date of birth - 24 December 1980 (age 40)

Place of birth - Accra, Ghana

Height - 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Position(s) - Midfielder

[defensive midfielder] - ghana.

Stephen Leroy Appiah (/ˈæpiɑː/AP-ee-ah; born 24 December 1980) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer

who played as a midfielder. Appiah was a member of the Ghana national team, which he has represented at the youth, Olympic, and senior levels. He captained Ghana at their World Cup debut in 2006 and was a member of their squad for the 2010 World Cup.

Stephen Appiah's case is very significant as he made his Black Stars debut the very day he celebrated his 16th birthday on 24 December 1996. The Ghana legend who also rose to become the captain of the Black Stars made his debut when Ghana played Benin in a four nations tournament in Cotonou. Appiah replaced then skipper Abedi Pele in the 80th minute after Ghana had taken a commanding 2-0 lead.

Captain

He first took over the armband when Ghana faced Slovenia in a friendly fixture and would go on to lead the team to secure a historic first-time qualification for the World Cup in 2006. "When I was offered the captaincy, I said 'no'. I thought [goalkeeper] Richard Kingson was the most experienced in the team at the time so I said he should lead the team.

"But Kingson tapped me and told me to accept the role and that he and the other senior players would support me.

"After that, I called [former Black Stars captain] Abedi Pele and informed him. He offered me advice and told me I was a born-leader so I shouldn't be afraid but it would be difficult because not everybody will accept my decisions.

"I also called [Samuel] Osei Kuffour, Akonnor and others to seek their blessings.

"I didn't win any trophies [with the national team]. People won trophies but their target was always to play in the World Cup. So far as we qualified for the World Cup it was successful. I would have also loved to win an Africa Cup of Nations." Stephen Appiah Captain Ghana to its first World Cup in 2006 and 2010 edition.

Caps

Stephen "Tornado" Appiah who led Ghana to its maiden World Cup appearance in 2006 and to the 2010 edition, had 67 caps and scored 14 international goals.

Curtesy The Caffe Fashion Blog Global "&" Universal.