Joseph Yobo

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Joseph Yobo

Yobo playing for Fenerbahçe in 2012
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Phillip Yobo[1]
Date of birth (1980-09-06) 6 September 1980[1]
Place of birthKono, Nigeria
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current clubNorwich City
Youth career
1996–1997Michellin-Harcourt
1997–1998Standard Liège
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1998–2001Standard Liège46(2)
2001–2003Marseille23(0)
2001→ Tenerife (loan)0(0)
2002–2003→ Everton (loan)24(0)
2003–2012Everton196(8)
2010–2012→ Fenerbahçe (loan)69(2)
2012–Fenerbahçe22(1)
2014–→ Norwich City (loan)0(0)
National team‡
2001–Nigeria95(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:12, 19 January 2013 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 December 2012

Joseph Phillip Yobo (born 6 September 1980) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a centre back for Norwich City on loan from Fenerbahçe. He is the captain of the Nigerian national team, for which he has 95 caps, making him the most capped Nigerian player ever.

Early years

Yobo left Nigeria to join Standard Liège in 1998. He made his first team debut in 2000, and went on to appear 46 times. In 2001, he was bought by Marseille.[3]

Club career

Everton

Yobo playing for Everton against Arsenal.

Soon after making his debut, Yobo was loaned to Tenerife. After around nine months, Yobo returned to Marseille, before joining Everton, again on loan, in July 2002. A £1 million fee was required to register the player, and he became the first signing of David Moyes.[4] An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled,[5] with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4 million.[2] [6]

Yobo became one of the most consistent players in the Everton squad, and was one of only seven players in the entire league to play every minute of every game throughout the 2006–07 season; his teammate Joleon Lescott also being an ever-present throughout the season.

The delay, in 2006, in signing a new contract with Everton lead to rumours of a move to Arsenal,[7] but on 22 July, Yobo committed himself to Goodison Park until 2010. On 15 April 2007, Yobo became the record appearance holder for an overseas player at Everton, a record he held until early 2012.[8] For the UEFA Cup match against Larissa of Greece on 25 October 2007, Yobo was named as captain in the absence of Phil Neville and thus became the first African to captain the club. On 6 May 2009, Yobo scored his first goal of the season against West Ham United to seal a 3–1 win.

In the 2009–10 season, Yobo had to adjust to his new defensive partner, Sylvain Distin, after Joleon Lescott left and Phil Jagielka became injured. On 29 November 2009, he scored an own goal in Everton's 2–0 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Distin, Jagielka and John Heitinga were increasingly selected over Yobo, confining him to the bench.

Fenerbahçe

On 31 August 2010, Yobo signed a one-year loan contract with Fenerbahçe. Yobo played in 30 official matches and scored a goal, helping his team win the league title. On 6 September 2011, Fenerbahçe and Everton agreed on another loan deal for €700,000 and Yobo signed a one-year contract worth €2.35 million.[9] On 4 August 2012, he re-signed for Fenerbahçe once again, but this time on a permanent basis on a 3-year contract, after having played for Everton for 10 years.On 17 August Fenerbahçe against Torku Konyaspor and Yobo scored a goal in this match.[10]

Norwich City

On 30 January 2014, Yobo returned to England on loan at Norwich City for the remainder of the season with a view to a permanent move in the summer.[11]

International career

After making his debut in Spring 2001, the Nigerian international played in the Super Eagles' three matches[4] in Japan and South Korea, for the 2002 World Cup, and even provided the assist for his side's only goal of the tournament.[5] Yobo's play at international level has received positive reviews.[12] He was also part of the Nigerian squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, after which he assumed the Eagles' captaincy on the international retirement of Nwankwo Kanu.

He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and then went on to win the competition through beating Burkino Faso 1–0 and although starting as a substitute went on to lift the trophy.[13]

Personal life

In 2010, following a brief courtship, Yobo married former MBGN Adaeze Igwe in a midnight ceremony held in Jos.The couple wedded in a very low key ceremony barely three months after they met in December 2009.[14] However, it is known that they are said to be trying to hide their marital troubles from the press and general public.[15] The couple welcomed a baby boy named Joey Yobo April 2010.

He is the younger brother of former Nigeria international Albert Yobo. In July 2008, his younger brother Norum[16] was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and held for ransom. He was eventually released after 12 days on 17 July 2008.[17]

It was widely reported in the Nigerian media that Yobo went to T.B. Joshua for prayers after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.[18]

Charity work

In 2007, Yobo set up the Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation,[19] to help under-privileged children in Nigeria. As of 18 July 2007, he has handed out over 300 scholarship awards ranging from primary to university level. Yobo has started a football academy in the Ogoni region of Nigeria. He also runs football camps in Lagos.

Career statistics

As of 2 January 2014[20][21]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Belgium League Belgian Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01Standard LiègeJupiler League302–– ––302
France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total
2001–02Olympique MarseilleLigue 1230––––––230
Spain League Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
2001–02TenerifeSegunda División00––––––00
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2002–03EvertonPremier League240––20––260
2003–042821020––312
2004–052703030––330
2005–06291––1041342
2006–073821010––402
2007–08301––2070391
2008–09271––1020331
2009–10171––0061232
Turkey League Türkiye Kupası League Cup Europe Total
2010–11FenerbahçeSuper Lig30130––––331
2011–1239130––––421
2012–13180--––80261
2013–14111-––3051
Total Belgium 302–– ––302
France 230––––––230
Spain 00––––––00
England 22085012019225910
Turkey 87260--801002
Career total 3601211012027241314

[22]

Nigeria national team
YearAppsGoals
200170
2002120
200331
2004102
200560
200680
200740
2008102
200950
2010100
201162
201220
201350
201400
Total957[23]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 1 June 2003 Lagos National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Cameroon 1–0 3–0 Friendly
2. 31 January 2004 Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia  South Africa 1–0 4–0 2004 African Cup of Nations
3. 3 July 2004 Abuja Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria  Algeria 1–0 1–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4. 7 June 2008 National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone  Sierra Leone 0–1 0–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 15 June 2008 Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea  Equatorial Guinea 0–1 0–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6. 5 June 2011 Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Ethiopia 2–2 2–2 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification
7. 4 September 2011 Mahamasina Stadium, Antananarivo, Madagascar  Madagascar 0–1 0–2 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification
Correct as of 4 September 2011

Honours

Club

Fenerbahce

  • Turkish Süper Lig (1): 2010–11
  • Turkish Cup (2): 2011–12-2012-13

International

Nigeria

Individual

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 448. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jackson, Jamie (7 September 2003). "Yobo in power play". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
  3. ↑ "European Preview: Belgium Transfers". BBC. 15 August 2001. Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Everton complete Yobo chase". BBC. 9 July 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-20. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Joseph Yobo – Everton F.C. Player Profile". 
  6. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (28 November 2002). "Everton close in on Yobo's signature". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
  7. ↑ "Everton face Yobo contract delay". BBC. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
  8. ↑ Joseph Yobo on NigeriaNews
  9. ↑ "Everton kulübü oyuncusu Joseph YOBO nun 2011–2012 sezonunda kiralık olarak transferi konusunda oyuncu ve kulübü ile anlaşmaya varılmıştır. Anlaşma karşılığında Everton Kulübüne 700.000.avro kiralama bedeli, Joseph YOBO ya ise 2011–2012 sezonu için 2.350.000.avro garanti ücret ödenecektir.". Fenerbahçe SK (in Turkish) (Turkish Public Disclosure System (KAP)). 6 September 2011. 
  10. ↑ "Joseph Yobo completes move from Everton to Fenerbahce". 4 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Transfer window 2014: Norwich City sign Joseph Yobo on loan". BBC Sport. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014. 
  12. ↑ Oliver, Brian (22 January 2008). "Yobo and Toure provide light in the dark". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
  13. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2013. 
  14. ↑ Joseph Yobo’s Complicated Family Life of www.collegemarket.com.ng (21 of July, 2013
  15. ↑ Yobo weds Igwe
  16. ↑ "Everton offer Yobo assistance". 
  17. ↑ "Yobo's Brother Released". 
  18. ↑ Auf der Heyde, Peter (27 January 2010). "Sports Medicine – African Style". Monsters And Critics. 
  19. ↑ Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation
  20. ↑ "Joseph Yobo : Biography". 
  21. ↑ Joseph Yobo career stats at Soccerbase
  22. ↑ Joseph Yobo at National-Football-Teams.com
  23. ↑ http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/110406/Yobos_caps_putting_the_records_straight
  24. ↑ "Egypt dominates glo-caf awards". CAFonline.com. 

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Kanu		 Nigeria national football team captain
2010– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Norwich City F.C. – current squad
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