Anthony Baffoe

Anthony Baffoe (born 25 May 1965 in Bad Godesberg, Bonn, West Germany) is a business manager and former Ghana international footballer. As the son of a Ghanaian diplomat, Baffoe grew up near to the former West German capital of Bonn and made a name for himself in the 1980s in the Bundesliga, becoming a real crowd favourite for 1. FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Club career

The much-travelled Baffoe played for clubs on four different continents. He spent the majority of his career in the German First and Second Bundesliga, starting in 1983 at 1. FC Köln at 18 years of age before moving across the border to join French side FC Metz nearly 10 years later. Baffoe was one of the first recognized black player to appear in the German Bundesliga. After 74 German top flight appearances for Köln and Düsseldorf merely he played for a further seven clubs, including spells in Hong Kong and Caracas.

International career

Baffoe was the first Ghanaian expatriate-player to play for the Black Stars. He was capped 16 times for Ghana, notably at 1992 and 1994 African Cup of Nations.

Retirement

After his playing career Baffoe used his broad popularity to set up and front a new TV magazine show devoted to youth football. He was successful on German television in various sport programmes and is the regular host of Viasat One's Uefa Champions League show in Ghana. After a few years, the former defensive utility man evolved into a well-known representative of the African continent and his home country of Ghana.

Managerial career

Currently Baffoe occupies several functions for the African Football Confederation (CAF), as well as for FIFA. He is a member of FIFA and CAF Football Committees. He also serves as a Match Commissioner and General Coordinator for CAF and FIFA sanctioned tournaments. In February 2006 he was named "Director for International Relations" for the Ghana national football team. He is the founder and General Secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana. In that capacity is in close contact with the FIFPro Players’ association and works in collaboration with the Ghana Football Association.

Baffoe is a FIFA Ambassador for campaign against racism, a FIFA ambassador for SOS Children's Village and an ambassador for Play Soccer Ghana.

Personal life

Baffoe is married to Kalsoume Sinare, one of Ghana's finest actresses and they both have three children, Shaquille, Boukeem and Keisheira. Baffoe is the brother of German actress Liz Baffoe, who is famous for her role in the German TV series Lindenstraße.