Player Profile

The ‘Prince of Goals’ has emerged from an extraordinary season to book his place in Ghana’s World Cup squad. He signed for Hoffenheim on a free transfer in June 2009, but after just a few months at the club they informed him that they would be cancelling his contract after discovering he had a heart complaint.

Tagoe was swift to deny the claims and demanded that the club undertook a second opinion. In October, the German FA announced after thorough medical examinations that the striker was free to continue his playing career with the club. He finally made his Hoffenheim debut in January and went on to play 13 matches this season, although he failed to complete a full 90 minutes.

Internationally, he was a surprise call up to the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations squad and has been in and out of the squad since. He played eight qualifying matches for this World Cup, but missed out on this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament due to the ongoing saga with his heart complaint.

His club career began at Ghanaian side, Hearts of Oak, before he went to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad Jeddah, followed by spells at United Arab Emirates outfit Al-Shaab and then Al-Ettifaq, another Saudi club. Primarily a striker, he can also be used as a winger due to his pace.