Denis Odoi
Denis Frimpong Odoi is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Dutch side NAC Breda. A right-footed full-back who can play on both sides, he is nicknamed the Professor because of his maturity and discipline on the field of play. Born in Belgium, and a one-time representative of the Belgium national team, he represents the Ghana national team.
Club career
Oud-Heverlee Leuven
Born in Leuven, Belgium, Odoi began playing football when he was five years old, leading to join K. Stade Leuven and played there for five years. When Odoi was ten years old, he moved to join Anderlecht. However, Odoi said: "When I was almost eleven, Anderlecht came to get me. That was great, but the transfers from Kessel-Lo, where I live, to Anderlecht and back were not without obstacles, I remember. Traveling went a lot smoother when Genk incorporated me a few years later." During his time at Genk, he met Steven Defour and became good friends with him. After a year spent at Genk, Odoi joined Oud-Heverlee Leuven when he was eighteen years old and joined the club, citing "a lot more chance to play there".Odoi progressed through the ranks at Oud-Heverlee Leuven and played for a reserve team for two years. Following this, he was promoted to the first team and made his Oud-Heverlee Leuven debut on 28 April 2007 against Royal Antwerp, starting a match and played 80 minutes before being substituted, in a 1–0 win. Odoi went on to make four appearances for the club. At the start of the 2007–08 season, Odoi appeared in the first two matches before being substituted at half time during a 2–1 loss against Tubize on 30 August 2007and didn't play for two months. It wasn't until on 14 October 2007 when he returned to the starting line–up, in a 4–0 win against K.V. Kortrijk. Odoi's return was short–lived when he played 71 minutes before being substituted, in a 4–0 loss against Overpelt-Lommel and didn't play for the next four matches. He then returned to the starting line–up against Eupen on 18 November 2007, playing the whole game, in a 2–0 win. Since returning to the starting line–up, Odoi became a first team regular for the side. In the Round of 16 of Beker Van Belgie against Germinal Beerschot, he played 120 minutes and missed a penalty in the shootout, resulting in Oud-Heverlee Leuven's elimination. Despite facing suspensions and injury, Odoi continued to remain in the first team for the rest of the 2007–08 season. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make twenty–four appearances in all competitions.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Odoi continued to remain in the first team for Oud-Heverlee Leuven. He then scored two goals in two matches between 13 September 2008 and 21 September 2008 against K.V. Red Star Waasland and Olympic Club Charleroi Farciennes. Odoi started in every match until he was suspended for one match for picking up five yellow cards. Odoi returned to the starting line–up against Eupen on 22 November 2008 and helped the side win 2–1. However, his return was short–lived when he was once again suspended. Since returning from suspended, Odoi continued to regain his first team place for the side. It wasn't until on 1 April 2009 when he scored his third goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against R.F.C. Tournai. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Odoi went on to make thirty–five appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
Sint-Truiden
In July 2009, Odoi left Oud-Heverlee Leuven to join Sint-Truiden, signing a three–year contract with the club.Odoi made his Sint-Truiden debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Standard Liège in the opening game of the season. He then started in the next matches for the side, playing in the left–back position. This lasted until Odoi received a red card for a second bookable offence in the 83rd minute, in a 1–0 win against K.V. Kortrijk on 19 September 2009. After serving a one match suspension, he returned to the starting line–up, in a 1–0 win against Westerlo on 26 September 2009. Once again, Odoi was sent–off for the second time this season, for a straight red card in the 82nd minute, losing 4–1 against Germinal Beerschot on 7 November 2009. After serving a one match suspension, he returned to the starting line–up, and helped Sint-Truiden kept a clean sheet, in a 2–0 win against Standard Liège on 29 November 2009. Despite being suspended twice, Odoi continued to regain his first team place for the side, rotating in the left–back position and midfield position. Despite facing suspension, he helped Sint-Truiden finished fifth place to qualify for the Championship play–offs. During a 3–1 loss against Cercle Brugge on 21 March 2010, Odoi was subjected of ‘Odoi janet' chant from the supporters of the opposition team. Odoi helped the side finish fourth place in the Championship play–offs, resulting in them qualifying for the Testmatches Europa League. However in the Testmatches Europa League, he played in both legs against Genk, as Sint-Truiden lost 5–3 on aggregate. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Odoi made thirty–nine appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Odoi was linked a move away from Sint-Truiden, as Standard Liège wanted to sign him. But he ended the transfer speculation by signing a five-year deal, keeping him until 2015. At the start of the 2010–11 season, Odoi kept two clean sheets between 20 August 2010 and 28 August 2010 against Standard Liège and K.V. Mechelen. Since the start of the 2010–11 season, he continued to regain his first team place, rotating in the defender and midfield positions. This lasted until Odoi was sent–off for a second bookable offence, in a 3–0 loss against Zulte Waregem on 6 November 2010. After serving a one match suspension, he continued to remain involved in the first team for the side. His performance continued to attract interests from clubs, both from Belgium and outside Belgium, but ended up staying at Sint-Truiden. However in a 2–0 loss against Anderlecht on 5 February 2011, he was sent–off for another second bookable offence and said his fourth red card since joining the club was 'the darkest day of his life'. After serving a one match suspension, Odoi returned to the starting line–up against Charleroi on 19 February 2011, as Sint-Truiden lost 1–0. After being suspended for the third time this season, he returned to the starting line–up against Cercle Brugge on 9 April 2011, as the club drew 1–1. Odoi then scored his first goal of the season, as well as, setting up Sint-Truiden's second goal of the game, in a 2–1 win against K.V. Mechelen. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Odoi made thirty–four appearances and scoring once in all competitions. For his performance, he was awarded by the club's supporters for Player of the Season and the club's Team of the Year.
Anderlecht
Following a transfer speculation over his future at Sint-Truiden, it was announced on 29 April 2011 that Odoi joined Anderlecht, signing a four–year contract for a reported 1.5 million euros transfer fee. Upon joining the club, he said: "When I started playing football as a little boy it was never really the intention to become a professional and look where I am now. I already played with the youth in Anderlecht and then left of my own accord, because the chance to make the first team was not really realistic at the time. I hope to have a chance now." Odoi also rejected a move from Standard Liège in favour of joining Anderlecht, which he later revealed that Roland Duchâtelet was the reason of his refusal to join Standard Liège.Odoi made his Anderlecht debut in the opening game of the season against former club, Oud-Heverlee Leuven, where he started the match, only to be sent–off in the 33rd minute for professional foul, as they lost 2–1. Following the match the club unsuccessfully appealed his sending off, a three match suspension. He then played in both legs of the UEFA Europa League Play–Offs Round against Bursaspor, as the club won 4–3 on aggregate to progress to the group stage. After serving a three match suspension, Odoi returned to the starting line–up against Gent on 18 September 2011 and helped the side keep a clean sheet, in a 1–0 win. Since returning to the first team from suspension, Odoi found himself in a competition with Marcin Wasilewski over the right–back position and Guillaume Gillet over the left–back position. As a result, he found himself in and out of the starting line–up, resulting in him being placed at the substitute bench. Manager Ariël Jacobs evaluated his performance in February, saying: "I'm not in the habit of talking about individual performance, but I do in the case of Denis. I think he played a good game. He played with little nerves and like the Odoi we always know: defend when necessary, try to participate in the game when possible. He's also grown in the game." By April, Odoi received more playing time, as he helped Anderlecht win the league. Despite suffering from injury later in the 2011–12 season, Odoi went on to make twenty–six appearances in all competitions.
At the start of the 2012–13 season, Odoi started the season well when he helped Anderlecht beat Lokeren 3–2 to win the Belgium Super Cup. Odoi became a first team regular for the side in the first month to the season. He then played a role, assisting four times: which one occurred in the UEFA Champions League third round in both legs against FK Ekranas, and another one in the league against Cercle Brugge and RAEC Mons. This lasted until Odoi suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out for two months. It wasn't until on 3 November 2012 when he returned to the first team from injury, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, in a 4–1 win against Mechelen. Since returning to the first team, Odoi found himself placed on the substitute bench throughout the 2012–13 season. As a result, he was expected to leave Anderlecht at the January transfer window but ended up staying at the club. It wasn't until on 16 January 2013 when Odoi made his return to the starting line–up against Gent in the second leg of the Beker Van Belgie quarter–finals, winning 1–0. However in the second leg of the Beker Van Belgie semi–finals against Genk, he played throughout 120 minutes and missed the penalty in shootout, resulting in the club's elimination. By mid–March, Odoi made three starts for the side, playing in the right–back position. However, he was sent–off for a straight red card in the 32nd minute, in a 1–1 draw against Club Brugge on 14 April 2013. Following the match, Odoi served a one match suspension. On the last match of the Pro League play-off, he was not included in the squad, as the club drew 1–1 against title contender against Zulte Waregem, which gave Anderlecht the title. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Odoi made twenty–one appearances in all competitions.