Johnny and Ank Gakpo are the parents of Liverpool FC and Netherlands national team forward Cody Gakpo.
Their diverse backgrounds and unwavering support have played a crucial role in shaping their son’s successful football career.
Who is Johnny Gakpo?
Johnny Gakpo was born in Togo, West Africa, and has Ghanaian ancestry. As a young man, he played football professionally in Togo’s top division and even made one appearance for the Togolese national team.
Though his professional career did not reach the heights his son would later achieve, Johnny’s football background would prove influential in Cody’s development.
Initially planning to move to France, Johnny’s life changed when he met Ank while she was vacationing in Togo. Their connection led him to choose the Netherlands instead, where they would build their family together.
Today, Johnny focuses on charitable work in his home country. In the summer of 2023, he convinced Cody to join him on a humanitarian trip to Togo, where they distributed food to underprivileged children.
“It was my first time over there and it was amazing,” Cody told The Athletic. “A really nice experience as I was also able to see lots of my relatives.”
Who is Ank Gakpo?
Ank Gakpo (née van Bommel) brings her impressive athletic background to the family. She is a former rugby player who represented the Netherlands national team. Ank Gakpo once made headlines for her crucial role in helping the Dutch win an international match.
After her sporting career, Ank transitioned into education, working as a secondary school teacher in the Netherlands.
Her athletic experience and educational background helped provide a balanced perspective for her children’s development.
The Gakpo’s parenting style
The Gakpos raised their three sons—Sidney, Cody, and Ducferre—in the district of Stratum, just 2.3 kilometres from Eindhoven. Their parenting style emphasized athletic development and strong values.
Twan Scheepers, Cody’s former youth coach at PSV, praised their approach: “His parents are very solid, don’t do stupid things. The parents, family, friends, and Cody and his brothers did a great job not pushing him too much,” he told ESPN.
“They wanted to show that life is good. They are a religious family. I think that’s important and a big thing in the world.”
What is Cody Gakpo’s ethnicity?
The Gakpo household blended both Togolese and Dutch cultures. Cody has spoken about how this dual heritage influenced his upbringing:
“When I visited friends I always noticed that things were slightly different at our house,” he told PSV’s website. “The African upbringing is bit stricter. When I was young, I didn’t like that very much, but when I look back on it, it’s been really good. I am grateful to my parents for that.”
Where are Cody Gakpo’s parents today?
The Gakpo parents continue to support their three sons’ careers. While Cody has achieved the highest profile at Liverpool, Sidney plays football at RPC Eindhoven, and Ducferre has interned at PSV.
Johnny remains deeply connected to events in Togo and closely follows their national team’s performances.
Though Cody was eligible to represent Togo internationally through his father, he chose to play for the Netherlands, where he was born and raised.
