Michael Obiku facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Edirin Obiku | ||
| Date of birth | 24 September 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Warri, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Feyenoord Rotterdam (Feyenoord Soccer School coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1987 | Flash Flamingoes | 29 | (13) |
| 1987–1989 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | 40 | (28) |
| 1989–1992 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 69 | (33) |
| 1992–1996 | Feyenoord | 71 | (23) |
| 1994 | → Helsingborg (loan) | 14 | (9) |
| 1996–1997 | Mallorca | 26 | (14) |
| 1997–1998 | Avispa Fukuoka | 25 | (9) |
| 1998–1999 | AZ | 13 | (2) |
| 1999–2000 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 21 | (14) |
| Total | 308 | (145) | |
| International career | |||
| 1988–1993 | Nigeria | 5 | (1) |
| 1988 | Nigeria Olympic | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007– | Sparta Rotterdam (youth) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Michael Edirin Obiku, also known as Mike Obiku, is a famous retired Nigerian football player. He was born on September 24, 1968, in Warri, Nigeria. Mike played as a striker, which means he was a player who focused on scoring goals. Today, he works as a coach at the Soccer Schools for Feyenoord Rotterdam, a well-known football club.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Mike Obiku started his football journey in Nigeria with a team called Flash Flamingoes. After that, he moved to another strong Nigerian team, Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Success in Cyprus and the Netherlands
Mike then moved to Cyprus, where he became a very successful player. His talent caught the eye of Jorien van den Herik, who was the chairman of the Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam. Mike joined Feyenoord and helped them win some big titles:
- The Dutch Eredivisie (the top football league in the Netherlands) in 1993.
- The KNVB Cup (a major football cup competition in the Netherlands) in 1994 and 1995.
After his time in the Netherlands, Mike Obiku made history by becoming the first Nigerian player to play in the J1 League in Japan.
Returning to Anorthosis Famagusta
In 1999, Mike returned to Cyprus and rejoined his favorite team, Anorthosis Famagusta F.C.. He scored 13 goals and helped them win the Cypriot Championship for the fourth time in a row! Fans of Anorthosis Famagusta still remember him as one of the best players ever to play for the club and in Cyprus. They even gave him the nickname "Black Diamond" because of his amazing skills and goals.
Mike's Memorable Moments
Mike Obiku was known for his exciting celebrations after scoring a goal. He would often take off his shirt, throw it on the ground, and dance around it!
Once, during a match against Willem II, he got so excited that he jumped into the fences around the pitch. He accidentally injured his hands on the barbed wire but kept playing after getting some quick treatment.
One of his most famous moments happened on March 8, 1995. He scored a "golden goal" in the KNVB Cup quarter-finals against Ajax Amsterdam, who were big rivals. Ajax was a very strong team that year, but Mike's fantastic solo effort helped Feyenoord win that important match.
Playing for His Country
Mike Obiku also played for the Nigerian national team. He represented his country in the 1988 African Cup of Nations. He also played in two matches to qualify for the World Cup and participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics for 12 minutes. His last international match for Nigeria was in April 1993 against Ethiopia.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Obiku para niños
