AFCON 2025
Sulley Muntari’s talent was never in doubt. He ranks unarguably as one of the finest midfielders Ghana has ever produced in its football history. Muntari had almost everything: pace, power, passing range, tackling ability, and an eye for goal, among other enviable qualities. Even though Sulley Muntari faced criticisms for picking up cards too often due to his energetic style of play, he contributed immensely to the teams he played for during the peak of his career.
The Ghanaian midfielder had a very successful career for both clubs and his country, spanning nearly two decades, with a focus on Europe, where he featured for the two Milan clubs, Inter and AC, between 2008 and 2015. His time at Inter Milan was the most memorable as he helped the Nerazzurri win major honours, including the UEFA Champions League under Jose Mourinho.
Sulley Muntari had a short spell in England and won the FA Cup with Portsmouth alongside two Nigerian legends: John Utaka and Kanu Nwankwo, before making a move to Italy in the summer of 2008.
Muntari’s time with the national team of Ghana, the Black Stars, was a bittersweet experience until he retired in 2014. He was an important player for Ghana, but couldn’t just nip his shenanigans in the bud despite his immense talent. He was often suspended from the team and, on some occasions, banished, especially at major tournaments.
Nevertheless, Sulley Muntari was a joy to watch during his active days. He was a handful for opponents as he covered every blade of the grass: getting into tackles, ball recoveries, and providing mid and long range passes, scoring bangers, and of course getting cards – both colors on some occasions.
This post takes a dive into the background of Sulley Muntari, his career trajectory, achievements, controversies, net worth, and family, among other information worthy of note.
Sulley Muntari Background
Suleyman Ali “Sulley” Muntari was born on 27 August 1984 in the Ashanti region of Ghana. He is the older brother of Muntari Muniru, who played for Tambov between 2019 and 2020. Sulley Muntari started playing football for the youth team of Liberty Professionals and was part of Ghana’s team at the 2001 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, where the Black Starlets lost 3-0 to the host in the final. He went on trial at Manchester United after the tournament and was impressive, according to reports, but ended up at Udinese, where his career in Europe started.
Career Path
Udinese and Portsmouth
Sulley Muntari started his European career with Udinese in 2001. He initially played within the club’s reserve squad before making a transition to the senior team. Muntari made his first-team debut on 6 November 2002, in a match against AC Milan. Over the subsequent seasons, his role within the team grew significantly as he made 23 appearances in his second full season and 33 the following season.
While Muntari’s talent was undeniable, his stint at Udinese was marked by a certain indiscipline, notably resulting in three red cards in 16 matches during the 2006–07 campaign. After five formative seasons in Italy, Muntari embraced a new challenge as he left Udinese for the English Premier League to join Portsmouth, where he teamed up with two Nigerians: Utaka and Kanu.
Portsmouth
Muntari joined Portsmouth on 30 May 2007 for a club-record fee of approximately £7.1 million, fulfilling his stated ambition to play in English football. He quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the team’s midfield throughout his debut season.
Sulley Muntari made his Premier League debut in a 2–2 draw with Derby County. On 29 September, he was instrumental in a historic 7–4 victory over Reading, contributing a goal and an assist. His composure in converting a stoppage-time penalty sealed a match that set a record as the highest-scoring game in Premier League history, a performance widely praised for its demonstration of both skill and tenacity.
Muntari continued to be a crucial player for Portsmouth under veteran English manager Harry Redknapp. He scored crucial goals, including a long-range strike against Birmingham City and a brilliant brace in a victory away at Aston Villa.
Sulley Muntari’s influence extended to the Portsmouth FA Cup run, where he coolly converted the winning penalty at Old Trafford to defeat Manchester United and secure a place in the semi-finals. This campaign culminated in Muntari starting in the 2008 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where he helped secure a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City. Muntari’s impressive outing at the club that season didn’t go unnoticed as Inter Milan came calling.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan showed serious interest in Sulley Muntari as a solution to their injury-hit midfield, with coach Roberto Mancini pushing for the deal. Despite the rumours, Muntari opted for Portsmouth that summer. Following Macini’s departure, José Mourinho reignited the chase after missing out on Frank Lampard. A personal call from Mourinho sealed it—Muntari eagerly agreed to join without thinking twice. Portsmouth’s Harry Redknapp fought to keep his star player, but by late July, Muntari made the €14 million switch to Inter, donning the number 20 shirt once worn by Álvaro Recoba.
Sulley Muntari hit the ground running in his debut season, with a goal in the Italian Super Cup win over Roma via penalties. Muntari became a fan favorite with clutch moments, like netting the winner in the Derby d’Italia against Juventus—Inter’s first home victory over the Old Ladies in years. His famous backheel stunner against Napoli and a rocket against Atalanta capped a strong year, as he helped Inter Milan win the Scudetto-his first of two with the club.
Champions League success
Muntari switched to number 11 and played a pivotal role in Inter’s historic treble. He scored against Catania and Atalanta, provided assists in key wins, and featured in 27 league games. The Ghanaian midfielder was also instrumental in the Coppa Italia as he helped lift the trophy over Roma.
He played nine matches en route to the final against Bayern Munich, where he came off the bench to celebrate Inter’s first European crown in 45 years—making him the fourth Ghanaian to win it as Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Under Jose Mourinho, Muntari thrived, but the 2010-11 season brought frustration with Rafael Benitez at the helm of affairs. Muntari was dropped to the bench and grew restless, even storming off after being omitted from the squad to face Juventus.
Muntari featured at the FIFA Club World Cup, though mostly as a substitute, as Inter Milan beat TP Mazembe 3-0 in the final. Sulley Muntari’s desire to play regular football overshadowed his achievement, and his wish was granted in the winter transfer window of 2011 as he returned to England.
Loan spells: Sunderland and AC Milan
Sulley Muntari made a six-month move to the Premier League, joining Sunderland on loan from Inter Milan. He featured in several matches, including a game against Bolton, where he was initially credited with a goal that later turned out to be an own goal by the opposition.
Unfortunately, Sunderland didn’t sign him on a permanent deal, sending him back to Inter at the end of the season. Later that year, after a brief stint with Inter in the 2011-12 season, Muntari headed to rivals AC Milan on another loan. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut against Cesena and netting again versus Atalanta. He also scored a “ghost goal” against Juventus—where the ball clearly crossed the line but wasn’t awarded—leaving fans frustrated.
Permanent stay at AC Milan
AC Milan finished second in Serie A that year, just behind Juventus. Muntari’s loan turned permanent in July 2012 when he signed with Milan on a free transfer, committing until 2014. Unfortunately, a knee injury from a casual beach football game during the off-season sidelined him for much of the first half of the 2012-13 campaign.
He returned with flair, scoring a crucial goal against Barcelona in the Champions League, though Milan ultimately exited the tournament. Domestically, he added a goal in a dominant win over Pescara, but his season ended on a sour note with a two-match ban and a hefty fine after clashing with a referee during a heated game against Roma.
The 2013-14 season showcased Muntari’s talent and temper. He dazzled against Juventus with a brace, despite Milan’s narrow loss, and salvaged a draw against Roma with a late strike. However, a red card for striking an opponent in the derby against Inter earned him a three-match suspension. He bounced back to score in a victory over Sassuolo, helping Milan secure vital points.
Muntari extended his stay at Milan with a new two-year deal in June 2014. He started the 2014-15 Serie A strongly, scoring in the opener against Lazio and adding another in a win over Chievo. He left AC Milan at the end of the 2014-2015 season after a quite successful three-season spell, even though he didn’t win a trophy with the club.
Sulley Muntari went on to play for Ittihad FC, Pecara, Albacete, and Deportivo La Coruna as he rounded off his time playing for countries outside of the shores of his native land.
Return to Ghana: Accra Hearts of Oak
Sulley Muntari made a heartwarming return to football by signing a six-month deal with Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak after 18 months out of action. He revealed that his reason for coming back was entirely personal; he revealed that he agreed to play because his son wanted to be able to come to the stadium and watch his father play.
“I just did a few months with the local side-Hearts of Oak. My son wanted me to play. I didn’t play for almost three years, then my son decided to ask me to go and play. I did that, but now I’m done”, he told Sky Sports News in an interview.
Accra Hearts of Oak secured the iconic number 10 jersey for him, setting the stage for his emotional return to the pitch.
Muntari’s debut came in February 2022, but it was in the matches that followed that his impact was truly felt. In just his second appearance, he received a standing ovation from both sets of fans when he was substituted, a powerful testament to the respect he commands. His time at the club ended on a brilliant note as he helped the team lift the President’s Cup and then scored his first and only goal for the club from the penalty spot.
The fairy-tale conclusion to his playing days was sealed in June when he came on as a substitute in the Ghana FA Cup final, helping Hearts of Oak to a 2–1 victory over Bechem United. This match would unknowingly be the final appearance of his professional career. In his short stint with the club, Sulley Muntari made 15 appearances, scored one goal, provided two assists, and won two trophies.
Sulley Muntari officially announced his retirement from professional football in November 2022 after the domestic double.
Muntari and Ghana Black Stars
Sulley Muntari’s international career with Ghana was a compelling mix of brilliant talent and recurring controversy. He became a senior team regular in 2002 and was a key part of the squad that qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, his journey was immediately marked by turbulence; he was sent home from the 2004 Olympics for disciplinary reasons, which led to a very public feud with the Ghana Football Association and a short-lived retirement from international play—a move he quickly apologized for.
Despite this rocky start, Muntari’s quality on the pitch was undeniable. He had an outstanding performance at the 2008 African Cup of Nations on home soil, scoring several crucial goals, including a spectacular long-range winner against Guinea that was voted one of the best of the tournament. His exceptional performances earned him a place in the CAF’s Team of the Tournament, cementing his importance in the team.
World Cup drama
However, Muntari’s patterns of indiscipline continued to taint his service in the national team. He missed a friendly and snubbed a meeting with the coach, which excluded him from the 2010 African Cup of Nations, though he later issued a public apology.
His shenanigans followed him to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he reportedly insulted coach Rajevac and his teammates; management expelled him from the squad, only to reinstate him after captain Stephen Appiah interceded. In a pulsating and heartbreaking quarter-final against Uruguay, he scored a sublime goal to put Ghana ahead before the team suffered a painful elimination on penalties. A report later surfaced online about how a former Ghana Football Association Prseident “knelt” and begged for Muntari to be included in the squad for the World Cup.
Sulley Muntari featured at the 2014 World Cup, but his tournament ended in disgrace. The Ghana Football Association sent Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng home just hours before Ghana’s final group match against Portugal, and suspended them afterwards for disciplinary issues. Sulley Muntari’s dismissal was the result of an alleged physical assault on a member of the team’s administrative staff, Moses Armah.
Muntari’s international career was a struggle between incredible highs and self-inflicted lows. He was a player capable of creating something out of nothing, which won matches and also made fans fall in love with him, but he was more or less a box grenade that exploded one too many times in the colors of the national team. He scored 20 goals in 84 appearances for the Black Stars between 2002 and 2014.
Career Achievements
Portsmouth
- FA Cup: 2007–08
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2008–09, 2009–10
- Coppa Italia: 2009–10
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2008, 2010
- UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
Hearts of Oak
- Ghanaian FA Cup: 2021–22
- President’s Cup: 2022
Ghana U20
- African Youth Championship runner-up: 2001
- FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2001
Ghana
- Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2008
Individual
- CAF Team of the Year: 2008
- Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2008
- Calcio Trade Ball Lifetime Achievement Award: 2022
Sulley Muntari’s net worth
Sulley Muntari’s net worth is pegged at $5 million, according to an online source. The former Ghanaian midfielder played for top clubs during his active days, including Inter Milan and AC Milan.
Style of Play
Sulley Muntari is a tenacious and physically powerful midfielder, renowned for his aggressive, hard-tackling style of play. While he began his career as a left-back, he developed into a versatile and tactically intelligent ball-winner, capable of breaking down opposition plays with his immense energy. Although primarily known for his combative strength, he also honed his technical skills, becoming a solid passer with a powerful left-footed shot from distance.
Family: Who is Sulley Muntari’s wife?
Off the pitch, Muntari is a devoted family man and a devout Muslim. He married Ghanaian businesswoman Menaye Donkor in 2010, and the couple are proud parents to two children. His younger brother, Sulley Muniru, is also a professional footballer. Donkor confirmed the arrival of their second child in an interview on GhOneTV in September 2020.
Social Media
Sulley Muntari is quite active on Instagram with over 219K followers and 113K on X.
