Ali Jarrah is a former Ghanaian professional footballer who was a member of the Ghana team that won the

FIFA U-17 World Cup The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to U-17 in 1991 and to its current name in 2007, is the annual world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by ''Fé ...

in 1991 and came in second in 1993.

Football career

Jarrah played at both international and club levels in the position of goalkeeper and was part of the 1991 Ghana U-17 team that won the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was the starting goalkeeper for the 1993 Ghana U-17 team that came in second in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup. During his club career, Jarrah played in the Ghana Premier League for Accra Hearts of Oak S.C., the oldest surviving Ghanaian professional football club, where he received many accolades. In 1993, he received offers to join both

Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is a professional Football club (association football), football club based in Liverpool, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Founded in ...

and FC Köln and was called up by the

Ghana national football team The Ghana national football team represents Ghana in men's international Association football, football. The team is named the Black Stars after the Black Star of Africa in the flag of Ghana. It is governed by the Ghana Football Association, t ...

. However, before leaving for Germany, he suffered an injury in a Ghana Premier League match against Asante Kotoko S.C. that permanently ended his career. Due to complications resulting from his injury, Jarrah was temporarily paralyzed in September 1993.

Later life

Following the end of his playing career, Jarrah began working as a football coach and trainer. He has both coached and advocated for individuals with disabilities in sports. Currently, Jarrah runs a goalkeeper training academy in Accra that has received recognition from the Ghana Football Association. He regularly engages in football commentary, including for the Ghanaian Times, ModernGhana and GhanaWeb.

Personal life

Jarrah describes the day that he learned of the severity of his injury as "the worst day in his life." He has been open about the personal and mental health struggles that he experienced following his career-ending injury. Jarrah has also described feeling neglected after the end of his professional career.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jarrah, Ali Living people Ghanaian men's footballers Year of birth missing (living people) Ghana men's international footballers Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. players Men's association football goalkeepers