Ade Akinbiyi
Encyclopedia
Adeola Peter Oluwatoyin "Ade" Akinbiyi (born 10 October 1974) is a professional footballer.
Akinbiyi has had a much-travelled career with many different clubs with transfer fees totalling more than £11.5 million during his career, including being Leicester City
's record signing (at £5.3 million).
Born in England
, Akinbiyi qualifies to play for the Nigeria national football team
through his parents, and earned one cap
for Nigeria.
, where he worked his way up into the first team in 1992. He made his début on 3 November 1993 as a substitute against German giants Bayern Munich
in the UEFA Cup. The match
ended 1–1, meaning that Norwich won the second round tie 3–2 on aggregate and went on to face Inter Milan, who eliminated them.
He was loaned to Hereford United
and Brighton & Hove Albion
before completing a £250,000 move to Gillingham
in 1997. He scored 29 goals in 67 league and cup games for the Gills and was quickly transferred to newly-promoted Division One
side Bristol City
for £1.2m.
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
paid a club record £3.5million for him in September 1999 in an attempt to replace Robbie Keane
. He played only one season at Molineux
, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 16 goals but Wolves just missed out on a playoff place.
Ten months after arriving at Wolves, he departed to Premier League club Leicester City
for £5.5 million, a decision he would later regret. Brought in as a replacement for Emile Heskey
(who left for Liverpool
for £11 million), he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only 11 goals in 58 league appearances and Leicester were relegated in bottom place at the end of his second season at Filbert Street
.
His was subsequently transferred to Crystal Palace
£2.2m in February 2002. On arrival he took the surprisingly high number 55 shirt, adding a very small plus sign between the numbers to signify his preferred shirt number, 10, which was already taken. Having scored just one goal in 14 league and cup appearances, he was loaned out to Stoke City
in 2003. He scored twice – the second goal coming in the last game of the 2002–03
season, when the Potters beat Reading
1–0 to retain their second tier status. He later joined on a permanent basis, on a free transfer.
in February 2005, but marked his debut by getting sent off within two minutes for head butting Sunderland
player George McCartney
. After netting 16 times for the Clarets, he moved to Sheffield United
for a then club record £1.75 million in January 2006.
, and endeared himself to fans by scoring in his first Steel City derby
at Hillsborough
. After winning promotion, Akinbiyi made only five appearances for the Blades in the Premier League in 2006. It was also reported that he was involved in a training ground bust-up with team-mate Claude Davis
in October 2006 following a 2–0 defeat against Everton
in which Davis had been sent off.
in the FA Cup
.
During the rest of the 2006–07
season, Akinbiyi was not as successful as during his first spell at Turf Moor
, scoring three goals. This was attributed by Steve Cotterill
to Akinbiyi having spent too much time in the weights room at Sheffield United and as a result being too bulky. He was given the number nine shirt for the 2007–08
season but found himself behind Andy Gray and Robbie Blake
as a first choice striker. After going back to Burnley, Akinbiyi lacked consistent form, finding goals harder to come by. His hard work and endeavour made him a firm fans' favourite. During the 2008–09 season, his regular position on the bench was taken by youngster Jay Rodriguez
, a player who he had been mentoring. However, Akinbiyi regained his place on the bench in the fifth round of the League Cup
against Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge
and in the 69th minute he scored to make the game 1–1 and take it into extra time. Burnley won 5–4 on penalties. While at Burnley, Steve Cotterill, Burnley's then manager, banned him from the gym. "I wasn’t playing at Sheffield so the only thing I was doing was weights. We didn’t even have reserve games and it was something to do. I put on a bit too much muscle and I lost about a yard of pace", he said. "I try to stay away from the weights room now. I’m sort of addicted."
to join Major League Soccer
club Houston Dynamo
. On 30 March, Akinbiyi was officially unveiled as a Houston player. He made his MLS debut on 3 May, as a late substitute in a game against New England Revolution
.
To make room on the roster for Luis Ángel Landín
, the club's first Designated Player, the Dynamo released Akinbiyi on 20 August 2009.
. He made his debut on 17 October 2009 in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United
, coming on as a substitute for Lee Hughes
in the 82nd minute.
On 10 May 2010 it was announced that he had been released by Notts County along with seven other players.
In January 2011, after 9 months without a club, Akinbiyi was on the verge of joining Newport County
in the Conference National
. He had been training with Premiership Stoke City
and was recommended to Newport by Stoke's Newport-born manager Tony Pulis
. However, Newport subsequently pulled out of the deal.
, London
to Nigerian parents, Akinbiyi qualified to play internationally for , and through his birthplace for . He was called up on three separate occasions for , playing once in 1999 against in London
.
Akinbiyi has had a much-travelled career with many different clubs with transfer fees totalling more than £11.5 million during his career, including being Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
's record signing (at £5.3 million).
Born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Akinbiyi qualifies to play for the Nigeria national football team
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
through his parents, and earned one cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Nigeria.
Early career
Akinbiyi began his career as a trainee at Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, where he worked his way up into the first team in 1992. He made his début on 3 November 1993 as a substitute against German giants Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
in the UEFA Cup. The match
Bayern Munich v Norwich City
Bayern Munich vs Norwich City was a first leg match in the 1993–94 UEFA Cup second round, played on 20 October 1993. The match was won by Norwich City, who beat Bayern Munich 2–1....
ended 1–1, meaning that Norwich won the second round tie 3–2 on aggregate and went on to face Inter Milan, who eliminated them.
He was loaned to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
before completing a £250,000 move to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in 1997. He scored 29 goals in 67 league and cup games for the Gills and was quickly transferred to newly-promoted Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
for £1.2m.
Big money moves
Akinbiyi's stock continued to rise and after scoring 21 goals for Bristol City in the 1998–99 season1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
paid a club record £3.5million for him in September 1999 in an attempt to replace Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
. He played only one season at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 16 goals but Wolves just missed out on a playoff place.
Ten months after arriving at Wolves, he departed to Premier League club Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
for £5.5 million, a decision he would later regret. Brought in as a replacement for Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey
Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Born in Leicester, Heskey started his career with hometown club Leicester City after progressing through their youth system, making his first team debut in 1995...
(who left for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
for £11 million), he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only 11 goals in 58 league appearances and Leicester were relegated in bottom place at the end of his second season at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
.
His was subsequently transferred to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
£2.2m in February 2002. On arrival he took the surprisingly high number 55 shirt, adding a very small plus sign between the numbers to signify his preferred shirt number, 10, which was already taken. Having scored just one goal in 14 league and cup appearances, he was loaned out to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in 2003. He scored twice – the second goal coming in the last game of the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season, when the Potters beat Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
1–0 to retain their second tier status. He later joined on a permanent basis, on a free transfer.
Burnley
Akinbiyi completed a £600,000 move to BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in February 2005, but marked his debut by getting sent off within two minutes for head butting Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
player George McCartney
George McCartney
George McCartney is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for West Ham United on loan from Sunderland. He began his youth career at Sunderland, moving to West Ham before returning to Sunderland at the start of Roy Keane's time at charge...
. After netting 16 times for the Clarets, he moved to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for a then club record £1.75 million in January 2006.
Sheffield United
Akinbiyi scored on his debut for the Blades against Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, and endeared himself to fans by scoring in his first Steel City derby
Steel City derby
The Steel City Derby is a local derby that takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the two professional football league teams based in the city of Sheffield, England...
at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
. After winning promotion, Akinbiyi made only five appearances for the Blades in the Premier League in 2006. It was also reported that he was involved in a training ground bust-up with team-mate Claude Davis
Claude Davis
Claude Davis is a Jamaican footballer who plays as a centre back. He currently plays for Crawley Town F.C. in English League Two.-Portmore United:...
in October 2006 following a 2–0 defeat against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in which Davis had been sent off.
Return to Burnley
Akinbiyi was soon resold to Burnley in January 2007 for a fee of £650,000 with a further £100,000 to be paid in the summer of 2007. His second debut for the Clarets was more successful, scoring a goal against top flight ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
During the rest of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, Akinbiyi was not as successful as during his first spell at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
, scoring three goals. This was attributed by Steve Cotterill
Steve Cotterill
Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
to Akinbiyi having spent too much time in the weights room at Sheffield United and as a result being too bulky. He was given the number nine shirt for the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season but found himself behind Andy Gray and Robbie Blake
Robbie Blake
Robert James "Robbie" Blake is an English footballer, currently playing for Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier League...
as a first choice striker. After going back to Burnley, Akinbiyi lacked consistent form, finding goals harder to come by. His hard work and endeavour made him a firm fans' favourite. During the 2008–09 season, his regular position on the bench was taken by youngster Jay Rodriguez
Jay Rodriguez
Jay Enrique Rodriguez is an English footballer who plays as a Striker . He currently plays for Burnley.-Early life:Rodríguez, of Spanish descent, was born in Burnley, Lancashire, the son of Enrique and Carol Rodríguez . He attended Heasandford Primary School and Barden High School in the town...
, a player who he had been mentoring. However, Akinbiyi regained his place on the bench in the fifth round of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
and in the 69th minute he scored to make the game 1–1 and take it into extra time. Burnley won 5–4 on penalties. While at Burnley, Steve Cotterill, Burnley's then manager, banned him from the gym. "I wasn’t playing at Sheffield so the only thing I was doing was weights. We didn’t even have reserve games and it was something to do. I put on a bit too much muscle and I lost about a yard of pace", he said. "I try to stay away from the weights room now. I’m sort of addicted."
Houston Dynamo
On 26 March 2009, Akinbiyi was reported to be in talks about a move to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to join Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
club Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
. On 30 March, Akinbiyi was officially unveiled as a Houston player. He made his MLS debut on 3 May, as a late substitute in a game against New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
To make room on the roster for Luis Ángel Landín
Luis Ángel Landín
Luis Ángel Landín is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays for Atlante of the Primera División de México.-Professional:...
, the club's first Designated Player, the Dynamo released Akinbiyi on 20 August 2009.
Notts County
After his release by Houston, Akinbiyi agreed terms with League Two side Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He made his debut on 17 October 2009 in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, coming on as a substitute for Lee Hughes
Lee Hughes
Lee Hughes is an English Footballer who plays for Notts County as a striker.-Non-League and West Bromwich Albion:On leaving Bristnall Hall High School, Oldbury in 1992 Hughes started playing semi-professionally in non-League football with Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference, as well...
in the 82nd minute.
On 10 May 2010 it was announced that he had been released by Notts County along with seven other players.
In January 2011, after 9 months without a club, Akinbiyi was on the verge of joining Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. He had been training with Premiership Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and was recommended to Newport by Stoke's Newport-born manager Tony Pulis
Tony Pulis
Anthony Richard "Tony" Pulis is a Welsh former football player and is currently the manager of Stoke City. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at the age of 19, followed by his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification...
. However, Newport subsequently pulled out of the deal.
International career
Born in HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Nigerian parents, Akinbiyi qualified to play internationally for , and through his birthplace for . He was called up on three separate occasions for , playing once in 1999 against in London
.
External links
- AdeAkinbiyi profile Burnley FC
- Ade Akinbiyi Flown from the Nest
- If it's January, it must be time to send for Ade Akinbiyi Times Online, 7 January 2007