PLAYER'S PROFILE;RABIU AFOLABI
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rabiu Afolabi | ||
| Date of birth | 18 April 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Osogbo, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre Back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team
|
Retired | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997 | NEPA Lagos | ||
| 1997–2003 | Standard LiĆØge | 89 | (2) |
| 2000–2001 | Napoli | 3 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | Austria Wien | 60 | (1) |
| 2005–2009 | Sochaux | 123 | (5) |
| 2009–2011 | Red Bull Salzburg | 62 | (4) |
| 2011–2012 | Monaco | 14 | (1) |
| 2013 | SĆønderjyskE | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 353 | (13) | |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2010 | Nigeria | 20 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Afolabi soon left his home country by moving to Belgium to Standard LiĆØge after impressing at the 1997 edition of the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup. Once he made a move to Belgium, Afolabi immediately fell in love with the style of play.[1] In the 1997–1998 season, he played in three matches in the Eerste Klasse, of which two in the first team. Standard, however, played a poor season and finished 9th place in the table. In the next season he played in 26 league games, scored a goal and with LiĆØge finishing in sixth place in the league. Standard has also played in the final of Cup of Belgium, losing 1–3 to Lierse S.K. In the 1999/2000 season Standard finished fifth place; Afolabi made 24 appearances scoring 1 goal.
Having become a regular player at Standard LiĆØge, Afolabi signed for Italian Serie A side Napoli on loan ahead of the 2000–2001 season. At Napoli, he failed to break into the first team, in part due to injuries. When fit, he played in the club's reserves.
After half a season in Italy, he returned to Liege. After the 2001–2002 season he was named the best defender in Belgium, Standard finished fifth. The next season was not as successful: Afolabi played only 14 league matches, Standard completed the season in the 7th position.
Austria Wien
In 2003, Afolabi decided to move to an Austrian club Austria Wien on a free transfer.[2] He made his debut for the club in the Austrian Supercup, which Wien won 2–1 against FC KƤrnten. Five days, he made his league debut for the club, again versus FC KƤrnten, in a 2–1 loss. In his first season, Afolabi played a total of 33 matches.In summer 2004 interest for was reported from Marseille, as well as other clubs. He played in 27 league games in the 2004–05 season, all from the first until the last minute, and scored one goal in a 3–0 win away match against FC Wacker Tirol. Austria finished third place, just behind rival Rapid Wien and Grazer.
The following season, Afolabi played in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup tournament with Austria Wien, until the club was elimination by Italian side Parma. Like last season, the club also won the Austrian Supercup.
Sochaux
After the 2004–05 season, some Austria Wien players were linked a move away from clubs. Among them was also Afolabi, who joined Sochaux for a €2 million transfer fee. In his Ligue 1 debut on 13 August 2005 he came on as a substitute for youngster JĆ©rĆ©my MĆ©nez. Sochaux won the away match against Nice 2–1 but Afolabi was sent off in the 87th minute of the match. Towards the end of the season, Afolabi scored his first goal, on 6 May 2006, in a draw at home to Troyes. The club finished in 15th place.Afolabi spent four seasons at Sochaux. In his time there, he earned one title, the 2006–07 Coupe de France. He later stated that winning the cup was the greatest moment of his career.[1]
Red Bull Salzburg
Afolabi in a match during his time at Salzburg
On 7 November 2010, he made his 100th Austrian Bundesliga match having made 60 appearance for FK Austria Wien and 40 for Red Bull Salzburg). In December, it was reported that Salzburg were looking to transfer Afolabi in the winter transfer window.[7] After his second season in Salzburg, his contract was not renewed.
Monaco
Following his release from Salzburg, Afolabi was linked with German side Eintracht Frankfurt but on 31 August 2011, he returned to France joining recently relegated Monaco on a free transfer, agreeing to a two-year contract with the club.[8] On 19 September 2011, he scored his debut goal in a 1–0 victory over against Arles-Avignon.[9] Over time, he featured less and less at Monaco and after one year at the club, it was announced he had left the club by mutual consent with one year of his contract remaining.[10]SĆønderjyskE and retirement
Before Afolabi's arrival in sonderjyske,he turned down offers from burnley and sunderland in england.Afolabi went on trial at Danish Superliga club SĆønderjyskE, with a view of earning a contract.[11] On 13 March 2013, he eventually signed with the club for the rest of the 2012–13 season.[12]On his debut for SĆønderjyskE, a match against Silkeborg IF on 28 March 2013, Afolabi helped his team to a 5–0 victory over its bottom-table rivals. He was named as one of the best players on the field. Having played three matches he fractured a rib and was substituted during a match against Midtjylland. Afterwards, it was announced he would be out for between three and four weeks.[13] Following his return, he went on to make five appearances in total helping the club survive relegation and finishing in eighth place. At the end of the season, the club remained keen on keeping him by offering him a new contract.[14] However, Afolabi chose to leave the club after three months there.[15]
After leaving Denmark, he announced his retirement and the intent to pursue a career in football management and scouting, having earned a certificate.[
Tags:
Biographies
Sports
0 comments