| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Finidi George | ||
| Date of birth | 15 April 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Retired | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1989 | Calabar Rovers | ? | (?) |
| 1990 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | ? | (?) |
| 1991–1993 | Sharks | ? | (?) |
| 1993–1996 | Ajax | 85 | (18) |
| 1996–2000 | Real Betis | 130 | (38) |
| 2000–2001 | Mallorca | 31 | (5) |
| 2001–2003 | Ipswich Town | 35 | (7) |
| 2004 | Mallorca | 14 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1991–2002 | Nigeria | 62 | (6) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Finidi George (born 15 April 1971 in Port Harcourt) is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a right winger.
After making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League – he played several years in Spain with Real Betis, also having a brief spell in England before retiring.
Finidi was an important member of the Nigerian team during the 1990's, appearing in two World Cups.
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After playing for three different clubs in his country, Finidi arrived at AFC Ajax in 1993, alongside 17-year old compatriot Nwankwo Kanu. His impact with the Amsterdam side was immediate, as he scored four times in 27 games to help it win the Eredivisie title, which was also achieved in the following two seasons; additionally, as a starter, he appeared in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the 1994–95 edition against A.C. Milan.
In 1996, Finidi moved to Spain and signed for Real Betis, where he scored in double digits in nearly every season, with the Andalusians finishing fourth in his first year, which also brought a Copa del Rey final loss against FC Barcelona (2–3 after extra time), where he scored.
After Betis' 2000 top flight relegation, Finidi stayed one more year in Spain with RCD Mallorca, after which he joined Premier League side Ipswich Town, managed by George Burley,[1] for £3.1 million.[2] He scored twice in a 3–1 win against Derby County at Portman Road, but underperformed overall, with the club also suffering relegation; he was released from contract in June 2003.
In November 2003, 32-year Finidi underwent a trial at former club Mallorca,[3] following which he signed with the Balearic Islands team,[4] helping it finally finish in 11th position, after constantly battling relegation. He retired from the game in the summer.
In mid-November 2010, Finidi returned to Betis as its director of international football. He continued, however, to live in Palma de Mallorca, where he had relocated to after his retirement.[5]
Finidi made his debut for Nigeria in 1991, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso, providing three assists for Rashidi Yekini and scoring once in a 7–1 win. He helped the national team win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia, and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.
Finidi represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups, 1994 and 1998.[6] In the former, held in the United States, as the national team won its group and exited in the round of 16 against eventual finalists Italy, he scored against Greece in a 2–0 win, proceeding to mimick a urinating dog whilst celebrating.[7]
In the 1998 tournament in France, Finidi also played in all the matches, with Nigeria meeting the same fate, at the hands of Denmark. He had already vowed to quit international football prior to the competition,[8] and gained a total of 62 caps.
Finidi's younger brothers, Iginaware and Celestine, were also footballers. The former was killed during crowd problems in a match.
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