Kalif Alhassan
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kalif Alhassan | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Portland Timbers | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2010 | Liberty Professionals | ||
| 2010 | Portland Timbers (USL) | 6 | (2) |
| 2011– | Portland Timbers | 34 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2007 | Ghana U-17 | ||
| 2008 | Ghana U-20 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 18, 2012 | |||
Kalif Alhassan (born October 15, 1990 in Accra) is a Ghanaian footballer. He currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.
Career
Professional
Alhassan began his career with Ghana Premier League side Liberty Professionals in 2007, helping the club to the semifinals of the 2009 WAFU Club Championship.
In 2010, Alhassan signed with second division American club Portland Timbers of the USSF Division-2 Professional League in hopes of staying with the club for 2011 when they move to Major League Soccer, the top tier of the United States soccer pyramid.[1] In his first start for the Timbers, Alhassan scored in second-half stoppage time to give Portland a 1–0 victory over Puerto Rico Islanders.[2]
In 2011 Alhassan became the third player in Major League Soccer history to open his career with assists in each of his first three home games, all Timbers wins.[3] He scored his first MLS goal for the Timbers on the opening weekend of the 2012-2013 MLS season, chipping the ball over the Union goalkeeper to seal the Timbers' victory at 3-1. In addition to his goal, Alhassan assisted on another and earned the free kick which led to the equalizing goal. For his performance, Alhassan was named Player of the Week for week 1 of the 2012 MLS season, becoming the first Timbers player ever to win the award.[4]
International
Alhassan began his international career in 2007 with the Ghana U-17 national team. He debuted with the Ghana U-20 national team in 2008 although he did not make the squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, won by Ghana. In May 2008 Alhassan was also called into a camp with the Ghana national team for the 2009 African Nations Championship, again missing out on the final squad.
Personal
Kalif is the son of former Ghana international and two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner George Alhassan.
References
- ^ "Timbers sign Ghanaian midfielder Kalif Alhassan" (Press release). Portland Timbers. August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ^ "Portland 1, Puerto Rico 0: Alhassan's first goal is a winner". The Oregonian. Portland. September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ "Quotes & Notes: Timbers: 1, Union: 0". Portland Timbers. May 7, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ "Timbers player named MLS PotW for first time". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 14 March 2012.