Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Sports

15 facts about Yakubu Aiyegbeni as he retires from professional football.

Former Super Eagles, Portsmouth & Everton striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has retired from professional football after 2 decades in the game. The Yak as fondly called hung his boots today November 22nd, his 35th birthday.
“I would like to officially announce my retirement from professional football today,” he told SkySports.
“Firstly, I would like to thank God for the career I have had. I would like to thank the entire Nigerian Football Federation and my Nigerian national team-mates for all the memorable years I had playing for the Super Eagles. I would also like to thank all the football clubs I played for. The managers, all club staff, owners, fellow players and my dearest family and friends who immensely supported me throughout my career.
“When I started my career at Julius Berger in Nigeria all those years ago (1997) I could only have dreamt of the success that was to follow years after. Also playing in England especially helped me grow as a player and as a person so much that I am now settled here. I feel the time is right for me to now focus on the next chapter in my life.”

FACTS ABOUT THE PLAYER

  1. He was born in Benin, Edo State.
  2. He retires as Nigeria’s 3rd highest scorer.
  3. His nickname was ‘The Yak’
  4. The Yak scored 21 goals in 57 appearances for Nigeria.
  5. He is the first African player to get a hat-trick in the Champions League, against Greek giants Olympiakos.
  6. He has featured in 250 English premiership games with 96 goals.
  7. He played for 14 different clubs namely; Julius Berger, Gil Vicente, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Kfar Saba, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Guangzhou R&F, Al-Rayyan, Reading, Kayserispor, Coventry City
  8. He scored 17 Premier League goals in the year Blackburn were relegated (2011/2012)
  9. He is the second highest African goalscorer in Premier League history
  10. He represented Nigeria at four African Cup of Nations finals, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the football at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
  12. The Yaks started his career with Julius Berger FC in Lagos as a teenager
  13. Yakubu helped Portsmouth win the 2002–03 Division 1 title, scoring at a rate of one goal every two games (7 in 14 matches).
  14. He scored his first Premier League goal in his second match, opening a 1–1 draw versus Manchester City on 23 August 2003
  15. He Portsmouth’s highest ever scorer in the Premier League, with nine more than their second-highest scorer Benjani Mwaruwari.
  16. He finished his first season with 15 Premier League goals to his name, and 21 goals in all competitions for Everton. He achieved his highest goal tally for a single season, and also became the first Everton player since Peter Beardsley to net 20 goals in a season

Thank You for all the beautiful memories, The Yak!
 
Additional information from Wikipedia

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Sports

Yakubu Aiyegbeni's contract terminated after 69 minutes of football.

Ex Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has mutually ended his contract with English championship side, Coventry City after making only three appearances. The former Everton player joined the club in February on a deal until the end of the season but after 69 minutes of football, the club  have terminated the deal; no thanks to a knee injury he sustained towards the end of February when his side played  against Swindon.
 “The club would like to wish Yakubu all the best for the future.” A club statement read.
Who knows his next destination?

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Sports

Yakubu Aiyegbeni joins Coventry City

Talk about a Nigerian footballer who is relentlessly optimistic, Yakubu Aiyegbeni comes to mind.
English side, Coventry have announced the signing of the former Nigeria international until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old who made  482 appearances and scpred 220 goals in his club career will wear the number 22 jersey at his new club.
 
“We’re pleased to have secured the signing of Yakubu, who brings vast experience and a terrific goal record,” the coach 
“His professional career speaks for itself, having scored consistently at the highest level of English football, and will act as a superb role model for the younger players.
“He is astute on the ball, has clear quality and presence, and we’ll continue to work on his match fitness as we prepare for the final 16 games of this season.” Coventry coach, Russell Slade told Coventry’s official website.
The Yak, as fondly called has had spells in Everton, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and recently at Turkey outfit, Kayserispor.

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Entertainment

Yakubu Aiyegbeni joins Turkish Super League side Kayserispor

Embedded image permalink
Aiyegbeni
can explore sha! His is a tale of never say die. Months after he left Reading
FC, ex-Nigeria international, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has joined Turkish Super League
side Kayserispor.
The deal is for one year with a chance to extend if the club is
satisfied with his performance in his first year.  
The club hopes the team will benefit from Aiyegbeni’s wealth of experience having played in
England, Portugal, Israel, China and Qatar. The
32-year-old striker who netted 21 goals in 57 international appearances for
Nigeria will be presented to the media and public on Monday.

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Entertainment

Yakubu Aiyegbeni has been dumped by Reading FC.

‎Out-of-favour Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni is set to leave Reading FC at the end of the season. The club announced on its website that the contract of his and three others, Zat Knight, Danny Guthrie and Mikkel Andersen ‎will not be extended because the club would be signing more quality players to strengthen it’s squad.
The Nigerian international who joined the club in February  scored only one goal‎ in 7 matches. He’s  netted a total of 95 goals in the English Premier League during spells at Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.
“As we enter our third year out of the Premier League, the club’s owners recognise the need for Steve Clarke to freshen his squad ahead of the new campaign, and this is the beginning of that process,” an official club statement read.
“After a period of financial instability and with the Financial Fair Play regulations in place, the owners are also making a concerted effort to get back to the sensible wage principles that have long been the club’s trademark.

“Striking the right balance will be key to a sustainable model for success.”

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Entertainment

Yakubu Aiyegbeni named the highest paid Nigerian player.

Reading FC forward and former Super Eagles player, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has been named the highest paid Nigerian football. Occupying the second spot in the latest Nigerian footballers’ earners list is Levante’s Kalu Uche. They both earn over $2.5 million each year.

Highest earning Nigerian footballers

 

(1) Yakubu Aiyegbeni

(2) Kalu Uche

(3) Mikel Obi

(4) Obafemi Martins

(5) Emmanuel Emenike

(6) Brown Ideye

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Entertainment

IS MIKEL OBI ON STEPHEN KESHI'S LIST?

Stephen Keshi

There are speculations that Nigerian Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi may not include Chelsea’s Mikel Obi in his list of players playing in the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda.

Though Mikel has resumed training after seven weeks out with a muscle problem, the coach insisted that only fit players will be involved in the game.
“It’s very simple only fit players would be invited now. We have three major qualifiers, there is CHAN 2012, AFCON 2013 and the World Cup qualifiers, so we are just building and everyone would get a chance but right now only fit players will be invited”.

“My list will consist of only players who are in action every week.”

With this statement, would Mikel who has been absent in his club for weeks be included in Keshi’s list?
On whether Blackburn Rovers striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who has been given a back seat after he missed a sitter against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup would also feature, he said that, “There was no time I said Aiyegbeni was on my list. But if he makes it to the list, that means he deserves to be there,” said the coach.

However, those who top the list of call-ups include Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie, Obinna Nsofor, Efe Ambrose, Ike Uche, Taye Taiwo, Joel Obi, Brown Ideye, Ekigho Ehiosun and Austin Ejide.

Source: MTN football

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Entertainment

YAKUBU AIYEGBENU EMERGES WORLD PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Nigerians, especially football lovers would never forget the name Yakubu Aiyegbeni, not even with his unforgiveable performance in the last world cup hosted by South Africa which saw his country Nigeria losing out of the game but rather than allow the setback to weigh him down, the 29 year old striker warmed his way back into the hearts of many.
Needless to say the Blackburn Rover has in the last few months been putting up spectacular performances, dispensing goals at any slightest opportunity.
His recent achievement is leading his Rovers club to a memorable 3-2 victory (against Manchester United) to end 2011.
The sky is just the stepping stone for Aiyegbeni who has just emerged goal.com‘s 137th World Player of the Week. We wish him the best of luck this new year.

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