Mubarak Wakaso has not only been one of the most tenacious midfielders in football, but he has also been a shining example of resilience, exactly what it means to be driven, and what I would say is to never give up. Coming from Tamale, Ghana and reaching some of the best leagues in the world, Mubarak Wakaso’s journey is one of sacrifice, hardship and success. He is a role model for future athletes and says loud and proud that when you work hard and are dedicated to something, anything is possible.
Early Life: Tough beginnings in Tamale
Mubarak Wakaso was born on July 25, 1990 and is the fifth child (boy) from a family of twelve children in Tamale; see him as the fifth. Wakaso grew up in the Northern Region of Ghana and described his upbringing as “tough.” Wakaso was taught to be disciplined, the importance of being a community member, and how to love football. He is Dagomba, and they are a Muslim community, and they accepted and embraced fully my culture and heritage, and I always give them exactly what I have; and I will say the values that I got will also be the values of what my family taught me and what my culture taught me to achieve success.
Playing football in his early schooling in Tamale were the first building blocks to becoming a footballer, but it wasn’t until he moved to Obuasi that his love began to blossom. Competing and showing off his skills in school tournaments and more local community tournaments, such as the Milo Games, began to catch the attention of some scouts, who offered him exposure and then, soon after, offered him his first trial to become a professional footballer.
Family: His Backbone
There is much truth to the expression, “behind every successful athlete is a strong support network,” and Wakaso’s strong rocks are his family. Wakaso is married to Nabuza Wakaso, and together they have five children: Abdul Aziz, Zaifa, Insan, Farihan and Mustapha. He shows his enormous love for his family through his tattoos, which symbolize his connection to his loved ones.
Although he lost his father, Wakaso is still very connected to his mother, Hajia Kande, who has always encouraged him through his journey in football. The family is his inspiration and will always keep him grounded, reminding him of where he came from even though he is an international footballer.
The Football Journey: From Tamale to the World
Wakaso started his football career in a serious manner at the Ashanti Gold Academy in Obuasi, which he joined at the age of just 12 years old. His natural talent and hard work soon saw him progress to the senior team of Ashanti Gold Sporting Club, and over the next three years he developed his craft, establishing himself as one of the most exciting midfield talents.
CLUB CAREER: A GLOBAL JOURNEY
Wakaso’s professional journey spanned continents while showcasing his adaptability and talent, as seen here:
- Elche CF (Spain)
In 2008, he signed a five-year contract with Elche CF and made his entry into European football. After a difficult start, with some ups and downs, it ended up being a crucial educational experience that prepared him for the demands of top-level football.
- Villarreal CF (Spain)
In 2011, Wakaso joined Villarreal’s B team and made his debut in La Liga; after performing well with the B team, he was presented with bigger opportunities.
- RCD Espanyol (Spain) Signing with Espanyol on a 4-year contract, Wakaso became a permanent member of Espanyol, starting 23 league matches in his first season and cementing his reputation as a reliable midfielder
- Rubin Kazan (Russia) & Celtic (Scotland) Making his move to Rubin Kazan in 2013, Wakaso was quickly loaned to Celtic. He marked his debut with Celtic in the UEFA Europa League with a great goal and was not undermined by the pressure of a big transaction and match; it is clear he has a special ability for delivering big-match performances.
- Panathinaikos (Greece) Wakaso played at a high-level both domestically and in European competitions while at Panathinaikos, becoming an even more established reliable and versatile player
- Deportivo Alavés (Spain) Returning to La Liga, Wakaso signed with Alavés and showed the promise of what could be a big season through strong outings, including a wonderful goal against Girona FC.
- China & Belgium After his long career in Europe, Wakaso took the somewhat different step of travelling to Asia to play for Jiangsu Suning and Shenzhen F.C. in China. He also played briefly with KAS Eupen in Belgium to showcase his ability to adapt to different styles of play and culture. International career: A proud Ghanaian warrior, Wakaso’s achievements with the Ghanaian men’s national team are legendary. Wakaso has been a core member of the Black Stars since his debut in 2012, where he was proud to represent Ghana at this level.
