Manny Duku Explained

Manny Duku
Full Name:Immanuelson Kwadwo Opoku Duku
Birth Date:28 December 1992
Birth Place:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height:1.88 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Hednesford Town
Youthclubs1:Legmeervogels
Years1:2010–2012
Clubs1:Legmeervogels
Years2:2012–2014
Clubs2:Abcoude
Years3:2014–2015
Clubs3:Breukelen
Years4:2015
Clubs4:VV Eemdijk
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2015
Clubs5:Chesham United
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2015
Clubs6:Hemel Hempstead Town
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2015–2017
Clubs7:Kings Langley
Caps7:44
Goals7:7
Years8:2017
Clubs8:Banbury United
Caps8:12
Goals8:2
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Hayes & Yeading United
Caps9:39
Goals9:33
Years10:2018–2019
Clubs10:Cheltenham Town
Caps10:11
Goals10:1
Years11:2018
Clubs11:Barnet (loan)
Caps11:6
Goals11:3
Years12:2019
Clubs12:Halifax Town (loan)
Caps12:12
Goals12:3
Years13:2019
Clubs13:Torquay United
Caps13:15
Goals13:0
Years14:2020
Clubs14:Hayes & Yeading United
Caps14:7
Goals14:4
Years15:2020–2021
Clubs15:Raith Rovers
Caps15:20
Goals15:5
Years16:2021–2022
Clubs16:Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Caps16:20
Goals16:0
Years17:2022
Clubs17:Havant & Waterlooville
Caps17:18
Goals17:7
Years18:2022–2023
Clubs18:York City
Caps18:27
Goals18:4
Years19:2023
Clubs19:Manchester 62
Caps19:6
Goals19:6
Years20:2024
Clubs20:Maidstone United
Caps20:6
Goals20:0
Years21:2024
Clubs21:Wealdstone
Caps21:9
Goals21:2
Years22:2024–
Clubs22:Hednesford Town
Caps22:0
Goals22:0
Club-Update:13:10, 10 May 2024 (UTC)

Immanuelson Kwadwo Opoku Duku (born 28 December 1992) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Hednesford Town.

Club career

Born in Amsterdam, Duku started his career with Legmeervogels. He was on trial with the reserve team of Eredivisie side Heerenveen[1] at the age of 18 in 2011, before enjoying spells in the lower leagues with Legmeervogels, Abcoude, Breukelen and VV Eemdijk. He left for England to join Oxford City on a trial basis in 2015, despite not playing a minute of football for his new club, VV Eemdijk.[2]

Following his first pre-season in England, Duku opted to join Chesham United over Oxford and went on to only appear four times for the Buckinghamshire-based side before making the switch to Hemel Hempstead Town.[2] After just a sole appearance in an FA Trophy tie against Eastbourne Borough,[3] Duku went on to enjoy spells with Kings Langley and Banbury United before joining Southern League side Hayes & Yeading United prior to the 2017–18 campaign.[4]

On 26 July 2018, Duku agreed to deal to join League Two side Cheltenham Town on a two-year deal.[5] On the opening day of the 2018–19 campaign, he went on to make his Football League debut during Cheltenham's 1–0 home defeat to Crawley Town.[6] Duku joined Barnet on loan in October 2018 until the end of the calendar year.[7]

In February 2019 he joined FC Halifax Town on loan for a month.[8] On 12 June 2019 it was announced that Duku will join National League club Torquay United.[9] On 9 December 2019, it was announced his contract was cancelled by mutual consent so he could return to the Netherlands with his young family. Later in an interview with Dutch website "Voetbalzone", the player contradicted this, saying this was only a statement of the club, not himself.[10] Early the following year, Duku re-joined Hayes & Yeading on 1 January 2020.[11]

On 3 August 2020, Duku signed a one-year contract with Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers.[12]

On 16 June 2021, Duku signed for fellow Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a one-year deal.[13] He left the club by mutual agreement in January 2022.[14]

On 3 February 2022, Duku signed for National League South side Havant & Waterlooville.[15] He left the club at the end of the season.[16]

In July 2022, Duku joined newly promoted, York City in the National League.[17] He scored his first goal for the club on his debut in a friendly against Middlesbrough.[18] He was released after one season with the club.[19] Upon the expiry of his contract, Duku moved to Gibraltar to join Manchester 62.[20]

In January 2024, Duku returned to England, signing for National League South side Maidstone United.[21] In March 2024, Duku signed for National League club Wealdstone.[22] He scored twice in ten games before being released at the end of the season.[23]

In July 2024, Duku joined Northern Premier League Division One West side Hednesford Town.[24]

Personal life

Born in the Netherlands, Duku is of Ghanaian descent.[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chesham United2015–16[26] Southern League Premier Division40000040
Hemel Hempstead Town2015–16National League South001[27] 010
Kings Langley2015–16Southern League Division One Central15200152
2016–17Southern League Premier Division295104[28] 0345
Total4871040497
Banbury United2016–17Southern League Premier Division12200122
Hayes & Yeading United2017–18Southern League Division One East3933546[29] 25039
Cheltenham Town2018–19[30] League Two111100010131
Barnet (loan)2018–19National League63400011114
FC Halifax Town (loan)2018–19National League123000000123
Torquay United2019–20National League150100000160
Hayes & Yeading United2019–20Southern League Premier Division South7400000074
Raith Rovers2020–21Scottish Championship20510453 02810
Inverness Caledonian Thistle2021–22Scottish Championship200004210252
Havant & Waterlooville2021–22National League South1870000187
York City2022–23National League27411001[31] 2297
Career total235691458718527586

Notes and References

  1. https://www.vice.com/nl/article/vbndg3/manny-duku-amateurvoetbal-prof- Hoe spits Manny Duku via het amateurvoetbal prof werd in Engeland
  2. News: Hayes & Yeading's Dutch delight: Manny Duku, the red-hot record-breaker . 26 July 2018 . Non League Daily . 19 April 2018.
  3. News: Eastbourne Borough vs. Hemel Hempstead Town . 26 July 2018 . Soccerway . 12 December 2015.
  4. News: Manny Duku moves to Hayes & Yeading United . 26 July 2018 . Banbury United Official Site . 14 June 2017.
  5. News: NEW SIGNING: Immanuelson Duku . 26 July 2018 . Cheltenham Town Official Site . 26 July 2018.
  6. News: Cheltenham Town vs. Crawley Town . 13 August 2018 . Soccerway . 4 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Loan | Immanuelson Duku joins Barnet FC. www.barnetfc.com. 5 October 2018. 15 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210615185519/https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2018/october/loan--immanuelson-duku-joins-barnet-fc/. dead.
  8. Web site: Double Loan Signing.
  9. https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/cheltenham-town-striker-manny-duku-2970987 Cheltenham Town striker Manny Duku joins Torquay United
  10. Web site: Torquay United's mid-season 'shuffle' under way as striker Manny Duku departs. David. Thomas. 9 December 2019. DevonLive.
  11. HYUFC_Official . 1212312561607163905 . PLAYER NEWS 2 . . 1 January 2020.
  12. https://www.raithrovers.net/44576/manny-duku.htm Manny Duku
  13. Web site: Manny Duku signs for ICTFC. ICTFC. 16 June 2021. 3 July 2021.
  14. Web site: 2022-01-31. Manny Duku leaves ICTFC. 2022-02-03. ICTFC. en-GB.
  15. Web site: HWFC announce the signing of Manny Duku . Havant & Waterlooville FC . 3 February 2022 . 3 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Havant and Waterlooville Football Club confirm their official retained list. www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk. 6 June 2022. 9 June 2022.
  17. Web site: York City sign attacking duo Luke James and Manny Duku ahead of new season . 2022-07-11 . York Press . en.
  18. Web site: VAVEL.com . 2022-07-10 . York City 2-3 Middlesbrough: City fall short as Boro are victorious . 2022-07-11 . VAVEL . en.
  19. Web site: York City retained list for 2023/24 season. www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk. 10 May 2023. 11 May 2023.
  20. https://twitter.com/Man62FC/status/1674812259044937728 Signing Announcement
  21. https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/2024/01/23/deal-for-duku/
  22. https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/experienced-forward-duku-joins-the-club
  23. https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/retained-list-2024
  24. Web site: Hednesford Town Sign Manny Duku. www.hednesfordtownfc.com. 8 July 2024. 12 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Performance of Ghanaian Players Abroad: Yartey sparkles, Ache strikes as Antwi hits brace as 20 players score 23 goals abroad. 12 August 2019.
  26. News: Manny Duku Profile . Aylesbury United . 27 July 2018.
  27. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  28. One appearance in Southern League Cup, three in FA Trophy
  29. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances and two goals in Southern League Cup, one appearance in Southern League Division One East play-offs
  30. Web site: M. Duku: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 1 April 2023.
  31. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy