John Mensah, a former professional football player from Ghana, was born in Obuasi, Ghana, on November 29, 1982.
He was a center-back who excelled in the physicality, aerial skill, and leadership areas of the field.
Before joining Italian Serie A team Chievo Verona in 2000, Mensah began his professional career with Ghanaian club Great Olympics. He was loaned out to a number of clubs in Italy due to his difficulty getting playing time, including Modena, Cremonese, and Genoa.
Mensah was acquired by French Ligue 1 club Rennes in 2006, where he established himself as one of the top defenders in the division and became a regular. Up until 2008, he was a member of Rennes, making 54 games and tallying three goals.
Mensah became the most expensive African footballer at the time in 2008 when he signed with English Premier League team Sunderland for a rumored £8 million cost. His stay at Sunderland, however, was hampered by injury issues, and he only made 27 appearances in his three seasons there.
Before going back to Ghana to play for his childhood team, Asante Kotoko, in 2013, Mensah spent a brief time with the French club Lyon. In 2017, he gave from playing football professionally.
Mensah made his debut for the Ghanaian national team in 2001. He played an important part in helping his team keep a clean sheet against Germany in the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where they advanced to the quarterfinals. He played 86 times for Ghana and registered one goal.
Mensah is renowned for his charitable initiatives in Ghana off the field. He founded the John Mensah Foundation, which aims to give disadvantaged children in Ghana access to healthcare and education.
Source: newsthemegh.com