Rubin Okotie
Encyclopedia
Rubin Rafael Okotie is an Austria
n professional footballer currently playing as a Striker for Belgian first division side K. Sint-Truidense V.V., who hires him for 1 year from 1. FC Nuremberg.
The son of a Nigeria
n father and an Austrian mother, he spent the first four years of his life in the Spanish
city of Barcelona
. As a result of his multicultural background he is eligible to represent three countries at national level, namely Austria
, Nigeria and Pakistan
. Okotie identifies himself primarily as Austrian, stating that "I live there, it's where I have my friends, and I think of myself as Austrian" in an interview with FIFA
's website.
was on 5 August 2007 in a game against archrivals SK Rapid Wien
(0:0). His first goal came on 23 February 2008, against FC Red Bull Salzburg (3–1) in the Austrian Bundesliga. On 30 May 2010, he left Austria Wien and signed a three-year contract with German side 1. FC Nuremberg.
and has played for the country at under-19-level in the 2006 European championships in Poland
and under-20 level in the 2007 World Cup in Canada
. He scored twice at the latter tournament, helping his side reach the semi-finals.
Personal Honours
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n professional footballer currently playing as a Striker for Belgian first division side K. Sint-Truidense V.V., who hires him for 1 year from 1. FC Nuremberg.
The son of a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n father and an Austrian mother, he spent the first four years of his life in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
city of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. As a result of his multicultural background he is eligible to represent three countries at national level, namely Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
, Nigeria and Pakistan
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
. Okotie identifies himself primarily as Austrian, stating that "I live there, it's where I have my friends, and I think of myself as Austrian" in an interview with FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
's website.
Club career
His Austrian Bundesliga début for Austrian giants FK Austria WienFK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
was on 5 August 2007 in a game against archrivals SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
(0:0). His first goal came on 23 February 2008, against FC Red Bull Salzburg (3–1) in the Austrian Bundesliga. On 30 May 2010, he left Austria Wien and signed a three-year contract with German side 1. FC Nuremberg.
International career
Currently a member of the Austria Under-21 sideAustria national under-21 football team
The Austria national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Austria and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association....
and has played for the country at under-19-level in the 2006 European championships in Poland
2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 Final Tournament was held in Poland between 18 July and 29 July 2006. The top three teams in each group qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players born after 1 January 1987 were allowed to participate in this competition.-Qualifications:There were two...
and under-20 level in the 2007 World Cup in Canada
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
. He scored twice at the latter tournament, helping his side reach the semi-finals.
Honours
National Youth Teams- U-19 European Championship2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 Final Tournament was held in Poland between 18 July and 29 July 2006. The top three teams in each group qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players born after 1 January 1987 were allowed to participate in this competition.-Qualifications:There were two...
: Third 2006 - U-20 World Cup2007 FIFA U-20 World CupThe 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
: Fourth 2007
Personal Honours
- Austria's Best Sportsteam of the YearAustrian Sportspersonality of the yearThe Austrian Sports Personality of the Year is chosen annually since 1949. Recordholders are Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Hermann Maier . In 1978 and 1979 the Austrian national football team was named Austrian Sports Team of the Year...
: Austria U-20 2007