The Fascinating Story of Cody Gakpo: From Athletic Roots to Football Stardom

As a child, Cody developed a habit of sitting in the ZZ section of the Phillips PSV stadium, ensuring he was among the first to get a seat. This allowed him to have a direct view of football superstars like Patrick Kluivert, Mark van Bommel, and Arjen Robben as they entered and exited the pitch.

This football-based article delves into the comprehensive biography of Cody Gakpo. He was born to a Togolese footballer father and a Belgian rugby player mother, who met and fell in love in Togo, West Africa. Gakpo grew up in a sports-oriented family, inspired by his parents’ athletic backgrounds. His childhood habit of sitting in the stadium’s ZZ section reflects his desire to be close to football legends, a journey shaped by the guidance of Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Our Cody Gakpo Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Johnny Gakpo (Father), Ank Gakpo (Mother), Family Background, Brothers (Sydney and Ducferre), Girlfriend (Noa van der Bij), etc.

This article about Gakpo also explains his Togolese Family heritage, how his Dad met his Mum, his Dad’s migration from Togo to Europe, Ethnicity, Religion, etc. More so, the Eindhoven Striker’s Personal Life, Lifestyle, Net Worth, and Salary Breakdown.

Preamble:

Our version of Cody Gakpo’s Bio begins by unveiling notable events of his boyhood years. Next, we’ll explain Cody’s Togolese heritage, including his difficult road to fame years. Finally, we’ll tell how the Dutch Winger, a student of Ruud van Nistelrooy rose to become one of the best footballers in his country.

We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as you read Cody Gakpo’s Biography. To begin going that, let’s show you this gallery that tells a story of his boyhood years down to the moment he achieved a national team. Indeed, Cody Gakpo has come a long way in his amazing soccer journey.

Yes, everyone knows Gakpo is a Baller who uses his dribbling skills and speed to take on defenders until he finds the space to score.

This is one aspect of his game where he stands out – a feat that has earned him a place on the Dutch national team.

Despite the great things the Dutch Forward does for soccer, we found a knowledge gap in his enquiries. The truth is, not many football fans have read a detailed version of Cody Gakpo’s Biography, which is very exciting. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Cody Gakpo Childhood Story:

For starters in his Biography reading, his ball skills earned him the special nickname “EinTovenaar.” And his Full name is Cody Mathès Gakpo.

The Dutch Winger was born on the 7th day of May 1999 to his Father, Johnny Gakpo, and Mother, Ank Gakpo, in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Cody Gakpo was born to a Dutch Mum and a Togolese Dad. The Winger is one among two brothers born to the marital union between Johnny and Ank – his Dad and Mum. Now, let’s introduce you to Cody Gakpo’s parents, persons who gave him the spirit of goodness.

Growing-Up Years:

Cody spent his childhood days alongside his older and younger brothers. Sidney Gakpo is the first son and oldest in the Gakpo family. On the other hand, Ducferre (nicknamed Duc) is Cody Gakpos’ brother – the last-born child and youngest in the family.

In the photo below, you can hardly recognize the identity of the Gakpo brothers because they look very identical. Now, let’s help you out. From the left, we have Cody, the man with whom this Biography is centred about. Big brother Sidney is on the right, and Ducferre is in the middle.

During our research, we found that Cody Gakpo’s sister is non-existent. More interestingly, the two brothers of the Dutch winger (Sydney and Duc) are also professional footballers. Sydney (as of 2022) plays his football at RPC Eindhoven. On the other hand, Duc Gakpo (as of 2022) is on an internship at PSV.

Have you noticed that Sidney, Cody, and Duc stole their father’s genes? Yes, all Gapko brothers grew up at their home in Stratum. Now, where is Stratum?… This place is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant, which forms one of the seven boroughs of Eindhoven.

Cody Gakpo Early Life:

From the onset, the homegrown soccer star was destined to wear the PSV shirt. Cody was born and raised an Eindhovener. He was a boy who was passionate about two things in his childhood. The first is going to the PSV’s Phillips Stadium as a child – where he took a strategic position. The second is defeating his brothers and friends on FIFA while using the PSV team.

Do you know?… Cody formed the habit of being among the first persons to get a seat at the popular ZZ section of Phillips PSV stadium. By getting a seat at this section, the young boy got a direct view of the football Superstars when they walked in and out of the pitch. Young Cody (back then) came face to face with the likes of Patrick Kluivert (father to Justin Kluivert), Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben.

As a child, almost everything Gapko used (including his duvet) had PSV written on it. This PSV attraction also goes to the room he and his brothers shared. In his room, Sydney’s and Duc’s room, there were lots of PSV posters and football magazines hanging on the wall.

Cody Gakpo Family Background:

The very first thing to know about the household of the Eindhoven winger is the fact that everyone is an Athlete. Starting with Cody Gakpo’s Father, he was a former footballer with Togo. Johnny Gakpo was a good footballer who started playing football with the youths of Togo.

As a professional, Gakpo’s Dad played for the Togolese national team. Research has it that Johnny also featured for the PSV’s second team. Sadly, Cody did not experience much of his Dad’s career. Johnny was 34 and had already retired from his football career – at the time his son was born.

Cody Gakpo’s Mother is also an Athlete (now retired). Our research shows that Ank Gakpo is a retired Dutch rugby international. Just like his Dad, Cody doesn’t know much about his Mum’s rugby career.

However, he once got excited to see an old Dutch newspaper article where his Mum made the headlines. In that paper, Ank Gakpo reportedly scored in an important rugby match. Together, Ank and Johnny raised a successful sports family. 

Both of Gakpo’s parents once worked full-time in order to make ends meet. Fortunately, that is now over, and he now supports them financially. Thanks to their son, Ank and Johnny do not work as hard as they did before.

From the onset, both of Cody Gakpos’s parents agreed on something. To groom their boys to preserve the family’s sports background. Thankfully, Ank and Johnny Gakpo succeeded in that. They are glad that their children (Sidney, Cody, and Ducferre) are all professional Athletes.

How did Cody Gakpo’s parents meet?

It all started when his Dad, Johnny, fell in love with his Mum in his birth country, Togo. The truth is that Gakpo’s parents met in Togo, West Africa. They met while Ank was on vacation in Togo. Following their meeting, one thing led to another, and both lovers agreed they were destined for each other.

For football reasons, Johnny, Cody Gakpo’s Dad, earlier had an intention to move abroad. He did not move directly to the Netherlands but first to France. About 30 years ago, Johnny Gakpo changed his mind and decided to move to the Netherlands to chase two things.

The first Cody Gakpo’s father chased is love, and the second is his football career. Initially, Johnny played for PSV’s amateur branch before finally quitting football at the age of 34. Most importantly, he fulfilled his biggest wish by making Ank become his wife.

Cody Gakpo Family Origin:

First things first, the Eindhovener has two nationalities, meaning he is a citizen of two countries. Aside from being a Dutch citizen, Cody Gakpo is of Togolese descent. The Winger has West African blood in him through his Father, (Johnny Gakpo), who has Togolese ancestry.

In our research shows that Oirschot, in the Netherlands, is where Cody Gakpo’s mother comes from. This place, where Ank comes from, is a small town in the south of the Netherlands. Now, here is a map that’ll help you understand the roots of the Eindhoven native.

It is pertinent to state that the Dutch winger is not a Ghanaian, as asked by some fans with the query – Where is Cody Gakpo originally from? His Ancestry (through his father, Johnny) is only tied to Togo. Put simply, Cody Gakpo Ghana’s origin is nonexistent. However, the Eindhovener is a West African.

Cody Gakpo’s Ethnicity:

Statistics show the winger joins about 731,444 Dutch people who are reported to have African ancestry. Cody Gakpo identifies with the Afro-Dutch or Black Dutch ethnic group, which comprises Dutch citizens with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. As of 2022, the winger is the most popular Dutch footballer of Togolese descent.

Cody Gakpo Education:

The Football Winger is a product of Van Maerlantlyceum secondary school. Cody Gakpo’s school address is PO Box 1151 5602 BD Eindhoven. Even after graduation and despite his busy soccer schedule, the footballer (up to this day) still finds time to engage in a few of the school’s initiatives.

In 2021, Cody joined the students of Van Maerlantlyceum secondary school in promoting reading awareness – in an event tagged #readingoffensive. Regarding Cody Gakpo’s education, results from our research show he attended his elementary and primary schools in his birthplace, Eindhoven.

Career Buildup:

Cody’s path to becoming a professional footballer commenced at the age of four. Even at that young age, it was evident to everyone that he had the natural talent to excel in sports. Little Gakpo (at four) began playing football with EVV Eindhoven, a neighbourhood soccer team. Sometimes, he does play soccer at his home in Stratum, where he and his brothers grew up.

Cody Gakpo Biography – Football Story:

By the age of six, Johnny and Ank were happy to see their son passing PSV trials and enrolling with their academy. We have proof that shows Cody Gakpo began his career on solid footing. In this photo, he was part of the F1 team of PSV, who were crowned champions in the 2007-2008 season.

Some of the kids you see in the picture above still remain Cody’s closest friends to date. One of them is Jordan Teze, who is positioned on Gakpo’s left side. Another, Armando Obispo, is at the front. Do you know?… all three football players have now made their professional debut for the PSV first team.

From the onset, young Cody started as an attacker who liked to score and led his team to win championships. Back in the day, his PSV youth team used to score a few hundred goals to win tournaments. Sometimes, a match would end 20-0, and Gakpo would score half of those goals.

It is pertinent to state that one man was responsible for Cody’s early football success. He is no other than Twan Scheepers, his first trainer who helped him a lot in his youth. Twan wasn’t just a trainer but Gakpo’s best friend. The friend coach helped him and other youngsters a lot in football and also mentally.

Road to Fame Story:

When Mathès (his middle name) was very young, he excelled in kids’ competitions and didn’t really run into any career problems. But when Vody Gakpo hit puberty, things began to get very complex with him. Suddenly, he was faced with an array of problems and was no longer the striker who could score ten goals in a single match.

Starting from the age of nine, Gakpo met new footballers (better strikers) who stood out more than him. At that stage, everyone felt their star boy was lagging behind in terms of performance. So when Cody Gakpo tried to push his body beyond the limit, the unfortunate happened.

At a very young age, young Gakpo began to have terrible injuries. First, the youngster tore his calf muscle and was hospitalized twice because of the severity of the injury. After his recovery, Gakpo again broke his ankle and did not play football for a whole three months.

Because of pressure to beat the competition after returning from injury, poor Gakpo saw himself struggling at school. During those early teenage years, the boy witnessed more trainers who gave him rigorous training. The likes of Michael Lameij and Eric Addo toughen him up with their training.

Among all persons that positively influenced his teenage career, the most influential is Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Manchester United Legend has known Gakpo since he was 14.

In fact, Ruud took him as his boy and student, teaching him how to become a better finisher. Thanks to that, the youngster’s performance improved, and he helped his club win this important youth trophy.

Cody Gakpo Biography – Rise to Fame Story:

On the 25th of February 2018, the family of the footballer celebrated him becoming a professional. After becoming a pro, Cody Gakpo began to seek ways to further improve his performance. At this time, the youngster also prayed for luck as regards avoiding injuries.

Again, Cody learned a lot (especially tactically) from his manager, who is the Ex-Dutch Legend Mark van Bommel. The two first met in person when he was 15, and despite van Bommel’s resignation from PSV, Cody kept a good relationship with him.

In the 2019–20 season, his much-anticipated breakthrough in the Eredivisie finally came. This was when Gakpo began to score goals for the senior team (including winning a trophy).

He found his name on the scoresheet – alongside other young wingers like Donyell Malen and Noni Madueke. Behold his early senior career success – winning the Eredivisie and the Johan Cruyff Shield.

Senior Career Rise:

Following the departures of Malen to Dortmund and Denzel Dumfries to Inter Milan, Cody Gakpo became PSV’s biggest danger man. Usually deployed on the left wing, he became the Winger who formed a knack for cutting inside on his right foot. And then moving speedily to attack and score all sorts of goals. No wonder Ajax Defenders never liked him.

With a formidable partnership with Mario Gotze, Eran Zahavi, and Carlos Vinicius, Gakpo became PSV’s best player in the 2021/2022 season. Do you know?… He helped his team to win the 2022 KNVB Cup trophy by scoring the winning goal for PSV (a 2–1 win) over Ajax.

Erik ten Hag was the coach who tasted one of the biggest defeats (cup finals) at Gakpo’s hands. Because of that, Ajax failed to have a continuous trophy-winning spree. When Man United employed Erik ten Hag, the former Ajax coach demanded Tyrell Malacia (a boy who had caused him damages in the past). As well as a Cody Gakpo move (That Eindhoven goal king).

Despite the huge transfer speculation, the Gakpo decided to remain with PSV because of loyalty to Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Winger is not the only youngster who is loyal to the Dutch Legend. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s influence is attracted the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite (CB), Ki-Jana Hoever (RB), Sávio (RW), Xavi Simons (AM) etc., to the club.

2022 FIFA World Cup:

At the time of writing Cody Gakpo’s biography, he was optimistic about putting up a great show at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Like many football youngsters, the Dutch Winger sees the World Cup tournament as an opportunity to show his worth to Europe’s biggest clubs.

Without question, Gakpo is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in his Dutch generation. He, alongside other big names like Wout Weghorst, Luuk de Jong, Arnaut Danjuma, etc, joins the vast array of attacking options Louis van Gaal has for his Dutch side. The rest, as we say of the Eindhoveners’ Biography, is now history.

Noa van der Bij – Cody Gakpo Girlfriend:

There is a saying that behind every successful Dutch Forward comes a glamorous WAG. In the case of Cody Gakpo, there is a beautiful lady who stole the keys to his heart. She is no other than the Noa van der Bij. Now, let’s introduce you to Cody Gakpo’s Girlfriend.

Aside from cheering him from the stands and being his wife in the making, let’s tell you more facts about Cody Gakpo’s Girlfriend. Before we start, please know that she is a lady who is not just hard-working but possesses both beauty and brains.

Who is Noa van der Bij?

First, Cody Gakpo’s Girlfriend was born on the 1st day of July 1999. By implication, she is one month and three weeks younger than her boyfriend. Noa was born in the Netherlands, and her nationality is Dutch. Although she hardly discloses information about her parents, our research shows Cody Gakpo’s girlfriend has an older sister named Noortje.

Regarding her education, Noa van der Bij is a university graduate. Cody Gakpo’s girlfriend studied management studies at Avans University of Applied Sciences. This is a Dutch high-ranked vocational university with over 30,000 students studying 40 courses in 18 institutes. Following her graduation, she began to work part-time as a hostess.

When did Noa van der Bij and Cody Gakpo begin dating?

Once upon a time, a photo of the lovebirds appeared on their Instagram accounts at Christmas of 2022. From that moment going public, it became clear that the PSV star had found himself a girlfriend. In an interview, Gakpo revealed that he had known Noa van der Bij (as friends) way before their relationship went public.

Judging from their Instagram photos, Noa van der Bij and Cody Gakpo enjoy a good life together. Judging by how these two Dutch love birds are taking their relationship, it is clear that a great Dutch wedding could be the next formal thing.

Personal Life:

Who is Cody Gakpo?

First things first, he is always proud of his Togolese family roots. As of 2022, Cody Gakpo has never been to Togo. We hope he decides to do that soon, as Inaki and his brother, Nico Williams did (during their memorable visit to Ghana – for the first time).

As a footballer, Gakpo never seriously considered playing for the country of his ancestry. Recently, the Togolese federation emailed him twice, asking him to come and join their youth team. Joining the African country’s football would have been a thing of delight for one of her greatest footballers – the person of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Despite not responding to the emails, Cody Gakpo respects the country and is proud of his Togolese heritage. In fact, the gentle Winger once revealed that his African descent positively affected his upbringing.

Furthermore, Gakpo is known for his diligent care of his body. The winger has prioritized proper nutrition, hydration, and ample rest. Having experienced significant injuries during his youth career, the Dutch star has become keenly aware of the importance of various factors, particularly his diet, in maintaining his fitness and well-being.

Regarding his workout routine, Cody is someone who does lots of strength training. His aim is (which is similar to Taiwo Awoniyi) to get wider and stronger, and he is very happy with the way his body is going. Again, the Baller (like Trevoh Chalobah) is the type who loves fashion and wants to start his clothing line.

Regarding who Cody Gakpo Idol is, look no further than Ruud van Nistelrooy and the late Diego Maradona. He has watched countless videos of them on YouTube, including that of Thierry Henry, whom he also sees as an Idol.

Cody Gakpo Lifestyle:

When it comes to the way the Eindhovener lives his life, one thing is certain. Gakpo is a complete antidote to showcasing the luxuries of Neymar and Paul Pogba. Count Gakpo IN when it comes to the need for nature’s peace to flow in him. Now, here is a glimpse of his holiday lifestyle together with his girlfriend, Noa van der Bij.

Now, it is clear that Ibiza is among Cody Gakpo’s favourite holiday destinations. As many summer holiday lovers know, this is one of the Mediterranean Sea’s popular Balearic islands. While there, Gakpo enjoys having a ride on Ibiza’s adventurous speed boat.

The video below gives you stunning and exclusive views of how Noa van der Bij and Cody Gakpo spent their summer on the coast of Ibiza.

Cody Gakpo Car:

The Dutch winger loves fast and luxurious rides – as shown below. From what it seems, Gakpo is a fan of BMW. We learned that in October 2021, he visited the popular Washin7 Eindhoven – Meerenakkerweg to get his car cleaned up.

Cody Gakpo Family Life:

Since his childhood, the Winger has always attached great importance to the relationship he has with his parents and siblings. Here in this Bio, we’ll tell you about the members of the Dutch Baller’s household, starting with the head.

Cody Gakpo Father:

Johnny once worked as a youth coach for PSV Eindhoven when his son was already there. Years ago, Cody got a weird response as to whether he resembled his Dad when it came to his football ability. Surprisingly, Johnny Gakpo said No! He shocked his son, telling him that his football ability was ten times better. That was a way to motivate Cody.

Also, a few years ago, a former coach (who knew Gakpo’s Dad) came to watch a match Cody participated in. Again, after the match, Cody asked the coach the same question. The coach replied that he DOES NOT have the same resemblance to his Dad in the field. That in fact, Johnny Gakpo, his Dad, played far better than him.

The truth is, Cody Gakpo’s Dad has his own way of motivating his son (even through his friends). By the time his son moved on to the PSG first team, Johnny (who got impressed with Cody’s performance) agreed that, finally, the boy surpassed him.

Johnny Gakpo is the typical example of a good parent who never wavered in his support for his three sons. Johnny not only helped his second son with everything he needed but also got involved in taking him everywhere.

Especially in difficult circumstances, Cody Gakpo’s Dad presence is always felt. Johnny never gets tired of motivating his son to perform to the best of his ability. To date, the Dutch winger has not reached a point where he and his Dad never grow tired of each other.

Cody Gakpo Mother:

As revealed by her son, Ank, his Mum is much more calmer than his Dad. She taught Cody the importance of not dwelling on the things he had done wrong – both on the pitch and in life (generally). Cody Gakpo’s Mother firmly believes that anything could happen at any point in life.

Together with Johnny, they both created the perfect balance in Cody’s life. Cody once revealed that his mother was important in a different way than his father. While his father tried to constantly push me to get the most out of his abilities, his Mum would take the rather calm approach.

Ank didn’t just do that for Cody but for Sydney and Ducferre – her other sons. Mrs Gakpo never forgets to emphasise to them the need to stay calm on the pitch. With her husband, Ank also drove her son to PSV and stood along the line at the most difficult times (those painful moments of his injury).

Cody Gakpo Brothers:

As footballers, they often play soccer and have fun training together. If they saw something in each other’s game that they thought could be done differently or better, the Gakpo brothers would discuss and practice it together. In this biography section, we’ll tell you more about them.

Sidney Gakpo:

While Cody and Ducferre are right-footed, he is the only left-footed footballer in the family. Sidney Gakpo was born on the 24th day of July 1993. The first son of Johnny and Ank is a very good footballer who plies his trade in both attacks and the midfield areas.

Sydney Gakpo began his professional career with RPC Eindhoven on July 1st of, 2015. His professional career has taken him to VV Gestel and UDI’19/CSU before a return to RPC Eindhoven in the 2019/2020 season. Sidney has a less illustrious career than his younger siblings.

Ducferre Gakpo:

Popularly known as Duc, he is six years younger than Cody and has lots of talent. Ducferre Gakpo, as I write this biography, has yet to break into the PSV senior team. Similar to Sydney, Cody plays soccer a lot with Duc, and they both watch endless soccer videos.

Cody Gakpo’s Relatives:

According to the Dutch footballer, his grandfather once flew to the Netherlands from Togo a few years ago. Before his paternal granddad made that journey, Cody Gakpo and his brother had never met him in person before.

Following his Granddad’s visit, the footballer became more interested in knowing more about his other Togo relatives and his paternal family roots. In Cody’s words;

I would like to go there soon to get to know about Togo.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Cody Gakpo’s Biography, we’ll tell you facts you might not know about him. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

How rich is Cody Gakpo?

Payscale website reveals the average person from Eindhoven makes around €49,000 annually. Such a person would need 30 years and nine months to make Cody Gakpo’s annual salary with PSV. Now, here is how much the Dutch winger has made since you came here.

Cody Gakpo FIFA:

What does his 87 potential points say?… To start with, Cody Gakpo has the capacity to become one of the best Left Wingers in the world. His explosive movement stats is quite similar to Federico Chiesa, Portugal’s  Raphael Leao and Jadon Sancho. Gakpo, indeed, would be a good buy for career-mode lovers.

Cody Gakpo Religion:

As far as the winger is concerned, his belief in God is far more important than his football career. Cody Gakpo, like Jurrien Timber, is a devout Christian, persons who know the importance of having faith in God. Also like several religious footballers from other clubs, the Winger often goes to church. Gakpo sees the church as a place where he finds his peace.

The Dutch winger reads his Bible almost every day, prays every day, never misses church a lot and reads many books about faith. Denzel Dumfries, also a devout Christian, once gave him a book titled “Praying Is Believing.” Gakpo is a Christian who has studied the details of the faith for years.

In the course of this research, we found that Cody loves to have religious conversations with Memphis Depay. They sometimes interpret passages from the Bible that describe situations in their lives.

Doing that creates more friendship bonds between these two Dutch stars of Ghanaian and Togolese family origins. Gakpo also likes to have religious discussions with guys like Mohamed Ihattaren, who is a Muslim – from a different faith.

EndNote:

Nickname “EinTovenaar,” Cody Mathès Gakpo was born to Johnny Gakpo (his Dad) and Ank Gakpo (his Mum). He, the second child of his parents, spent his childhood days alongside an older brother, Sydney, and a younger brother, Ducferre Gakpo.

Mathès (his middle name) and his brothers spent most of their boyhood years at Stratum, a village in Eindhoven. Regarding where Cody Gakpo’s family comes from, our research shows his Dad is from Togo. On the other hand, Ank, his Mum, is from Oirschot, a village in the southern Netherlands.

The Baller, with Togolese family heritage (similar to Bradley Barcola), is a graduate of Van Maerlantlyceum secondary school. While growing up, Cody (like Nelson Semedo) loved playing FIFA. Most importantly, he loves to find himself at the ZZ section of Philips Stadium, where is watches his football heroes as they enter and leave the pitch.

It is pertinent to note that Cody Gakpo’s parents were once former Athletes. Starting with Johnny, his Dad, he is an ex-footballer with Togo. On the other hand, Ank Gakpo is a retired Rugby player, a woman who once made positive Dutch newspaper headlines. From an ethnic standpoint, the Eindhoven Winger is an Afro-Dutch.

Gakpo began his career with EVV Eindhoven in 2006 before progressing to PSV a year later. He, alongside Jordan Teze and Armando Obispo, were all part of a successful young PSV side that scored up to 20 goals in a match.

After further lows of his teenage academy years, Gakpo rose to become a professional in 2018. He achieved a meteoric rise with the Dutch team, which led to speculations on a Man United move – TeamTalk reveals. Gakpo, now a bonafide Orange, helped PSV win the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, and Johan Cruyff Shield, including individual honours.