Joseph Yobo

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Joseph Yobo
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Ikpo Yobo
Date of birth	September 6, 1980
Place of birth	Kano, Nigeria
Nickname	Yobocop
Position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Everton F.C.
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1998-2001 2001-02 2002-	Standard Liège Olympique de Marseille Everton F.C.	48 (2) 23 (0) 106 (3)
National team**
2001-	Nigeria	23 (1)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 23 2005. ** National team caps and goals correct as of July 23 2005.

Joseph Ikpo Yobo (born September 6, 1980 in Kano) is a Nigerian football player currently with Everton F.C. He joined Everton on loan from Olympique Marseille in July 2002, with a £1M fee required to register the player, becoming the first signing of new manager David Moyes. An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled, with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4M.

Joseph's "libero" style of play has led to many questioning his maturity and concentration, at least in the blue of Everton, but for the national team he has shown outstanding composure and excellent leadership, important skills he appears to be lacking at Everton. However, many blues fans acknowledge Yobo's effortless grace on the ball, capable passing and excellent tackling skills and great pace and acceleration. He is often seen as a brilliant player who has yet to live up to his potential and remove the errors from his game.

Yobo had previously played for Standard Liège of Belgium as well as a loan spell at CD Tenerife.

Yobo has represented Nigeria since 2001. He was on the Nigerian roster at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played all three matches. At the 2006 African Cup of Nations he assumed the captain's role during the absence of Jay-Jay Okocha in the tournament's early stages, and has now assumed the captain's role full-time.

In 2006 delay in signing a new contract with Everton lead to rumours of a move to Arsenal, but on July 22 Yobo committed himself to Goodison Park until 2010.

[edit] External links

• http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=22826

	Nigeria squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Shorunmu | 2 Yobo | 3 Babayaro | 4 Kanu | 5 Okoronkwo | 6 West | 7 Ikedia | 8 Adepoju | 9 Ogbeche | 10 Okocha | 11 Lawal | 12 Ejide | 13 Afolabi | 14 Udeze | 15 Christopher | 16 Sodje | 17 Aghahowa | 18 Akwuegbu | 19 Ejiofor | 20 Obiorah | 21 Utaka | 22 Enyeama | 23 Opabunmi | Coach: Onigbinde

Everton F.C. - Current Squad
1 Wright | 2 Hibbert | 3 Naysmith | 4 Yobo | 5 Weir | 6 Arteta | 7 Van der Meyde | 8 Johnson | 9 Beattie | 10 Davies | 11 McFadden | 15 Stubbs | 16 Lescott | 17 Cahill | 18 Neville | 19 Valente | 21 Osman | 22 Vaughan | 23 Pistone | 24 Howard | 26 Carsley | 28 Anichebe | 30 Ruddy | 31 Hughes | 36 Boyle | 41 Viðarsson | Manager: Moyes