Kwame Karikari joins crazy number of clubs after leaving AIK

Ghanaian striker Kwame Karikari left Sweden in 2016.

Although it may not have been a success in AIK, many supporters of the black and yellow club will probably remember Karikari for his goal that took Gnaget to the Europa League.

And what a journey the 29-year-old made after that. Karikari plays today in his twelfth (!) Club after his time in AIK.

It was during the winter of 2011 that AIK officially finished with the Ghanaian Kwame Karikari. The striker is hardly the only player that Gnaget brought from Ghana. Only in the 2010s have players like Ibrahim Moro, Patrick Kpozo, Enoch Kofi Adu and Ebenezer Ofori been recruited from the African country.

Already during his debut season, Karikari made 18 appearances for AIK. At the age of 19, he managed to score two Allsvenskan goals and an assist.

The years passed and the striker had to test on a loan to Degerfors in the Superettan before returning to Gnaget. And the strongest memory in AIK he would get in 2013 – when the Swedish club qualified for the Europa League.

AIK had gone all the way to the last qualifying round, but they had lost the first meeting at home against CSKA Moscow. Before the return away, not many expected any success for AIK against the Russian big club.

But when the match was over, AIK had sensationally won 2-0 – and Kwame Karikari scored the first goal.

In the group stage, he would then score a goal away against PSV Eindhoven.

Karikari would then be loaned out to a Turkish club before signing for Halmstad a few years later.

But what has really happened to the striker since then?

Karikari has, to say the least, discovered the world in recent years. What clubs has he represented during his 29-year life? Join now, because this list is long.

Inter Allies (Ghana)
AIK (Sweden)
Degerfors (Sweden)
Balikerispor (Turkey)
Halmstad (Sweden)
Haugesund (Norway)
Stal Kamyanske (Ukraine)
Al Markhiya (Qatar)
Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan)

Al-Orooba (United Arab Emirates)
Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)
Hapoel Petah Tikva (Israel)
Enppi SC (Egypt)
FK Turon (Uzbekistan)
Nakhonratchasima Mazda FC (Thailand)

The latter club from Thailand, also called “Swat Cat”, is where Karikari is now housed. The team plays its matches in Nakhon Ratchasima in the eastern part of central Thailand. About 150,000 people live in the city, which is also called Korat.

Karikari joined this summer and so far he has managed to make three 90-minute matches in the Thai top league, but so far there have been no goals.

The striker has otherwise not made himself known for his goal production over the years – as his best listing was the 2013/14 season in Turkish Balikerispor. Then Karikari scored eleven goals and three assists in 23 games.

But he has at least experienced a lot. 15 clubs in 13 different countries – and Kwame Karikari is only 29 years old.