Rabiu Afolabi facts for kids
Afolabi with RB Salzburg in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 April 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Osogbo, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997 | NEPA Lagos | ||
| 1997–2003 | Standard Liège | 89 | (2) |
| 2000–2001 | → Napoli (loan) | 0 | (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 | SønderjyskE | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 353 | (13) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000–2010 | Nigeria | 20 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Rabiu Afolabi, born on April 18, 1980, is a former professional footballer from Nigeria. He was a strong defender who played as a centre-back. He played for several clubs in Europe and also represented the Nigerian national team.
Contents
Rabiu Afolabi's Football Journey
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Rabiu Afolabi was born in Osogbo, Nigeria. He began his football career in his home country, playing for a team called NEPA Lagos.
Playing in Belgium and Italy
Afolabi soon moved to Europe to play for Standard Liège in Belgium. He joined them after showing his skills at the 1997 Meridian Cup. He quickly liked the way football was played in Belgium.
In his first season, 1997–98, he played in three matches for Standard Liège. The team finished 9th in the league that year. The next season, he played in 26 league games and scored one goal. Standard Liège finished sixth in the league and also reached the final of the Belgian Cup. In the 1999–2000 season, Standard finished fifth, and Afolabi played in 24 matches, scoring one goal.
After becoming a regular player at Standard Liège, Afolabi went to Italy to play for Serie A team Napoli on a loan for the 2000–01 season. However, he faced some injuries and did not play for the main team. He mostly played for the club's reserve team.
After half a season in Italy, he returned to Standard Liège. In the 2001–02 season, he was named the best defender in Belgium. Standard Liège finished fifth that year. The next season was not as good for him, as he played in only 14 league matches.
Time in Austria with Austria Wien
In 2003, Afolabi moved to an Austrian club called Austria Wien. He joined them for free. He played his first game for the club in the Austrian Supercup, which Austria Wien won 2–1. Five days later, he played his first league game. In his first season, Afolabi played in 33 matches.
In the summer of 2004, other clubs, including Marseille, showed interest in him. In the 2004–05 season, he played in 27 league games, playing every minute of each match. He scored one goal in a 3–0 win against FC Wacker Tirol. Austria Wien finished third in the league that season.
The next season, Afolabi played in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup tournament with Austria Wien. They were eventually knocked out by an Italian team, Parma. Just like the previous season, the club also won the Austrian Supercup.
Playing for Sochaux in France
After the 2004–05 season, Afolabi moved to Sochaux in France. Sochaux paid about €2 million to sign him. He made his debut in the French league, Ligue 1, on August 13, 2005. He came on as a substitute in a match that Sochaux won 2–1. However, Afolabi was sent off (given a red card) near the end of the game. Towards the end of the season, on May 6, 2006, he scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Troyes. Sochaux finished 15th in the league that year.
Afolabi played for Sochaux for four seasons. During his time there, he won one major trophy, the 2006–07 Coupe de France (French Cup). He later said that winning this cup was the best moment of his football career.
Returning to Austria with Red Bull Salzburg
After leaving Sochaux in 2009, Afolabi returned to Austria. He signed a two-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg. He quickly became a regular player in the team's central defense. In February 2010, he scored an important winning goal against their rivals Rapid Wien. This goal helped Red Bull Salzburg stay on track to win the championship, which they eventually did.
On November 7, 2010, Afolabi played his 100th match in the Austrian Bundesliga. He had played 60 games for FK Austria Wien and 40 for Red Bull Salzburg. After his second season with Salzburg, his contract was not renewed.
Short Time at Monaco
After leaving Salzburg, Afolabi moved back to France. On August 31, 2011, he joined Monaco, a team that had recently been relegated to a lower league. He signed a two-year contract with them. On September 19, 2011, he scored his first goal for Monaco in a 1–0 win. Over time, he played less and less for Monaco. After one year, he left the club by agreement, even though he still had one year left on his contract.
Playing in Denmark and Retirement
After being without a club for eight months, Afolabi went to try out for a Danish team called SønderjyskE. On March 13, 2013, he signed with the club for the rest of the 2012–13 season.
In his first game for SønderjyskE on March 28, 2013, Afolabi helped his team win 5–0. He was praised as one of the best players on the field. After playing three matches, he got a rib injury during a game. He was out for about three to four weeks. When he returned, he played five more games, helping the club avoid being relegated to a lower league. At the end of the season, the club wanted him to stay and offered him a new contract. However, Afolabi decided to leave after three months.
After leaving Denmark, Rabiu Afolabi announced that he was retiring from playing football. He said he wanted to work in football management and scouting, as he had earned a certificate for it.
Playing for Nigeria
Afolabi played a very important role for Nigeria's youth teams. In the 1999 African Youth Championship, he scored two goals from defense in the semi-final against Cameroon. Nigeria finished second in that tournament, losing to Ghana in the final.
He then became the captain of Nigeria's under-20 team in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was held in Nigeria.
On June 17, 2000, Afolabi played his first full international match for the Nigerian national team. It was a qualifying match for the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Sierra Leone. He was also part of the Nigerian squads that played in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
How Rabiu Afolabi Played
Rabiu Afolabi was known as a strong and tall central defender. He was very good at heading the ball and had a powerful shot. He was also a versatile player, meaning he could play in different positions, like a fullback or a defensive midfielder. When his team had set pieces (like corner kicks or free kicks), he was dangerous because he could score goals.
Fun Facts About Rabiu Afolabi
- His name, Afolabi, means "Born into wealth."
- In Nigeria, his nickname was "Robocop" because of his strong, steady movements on the field.
- In 2011, Afolabi started a charity called "The Rabiu Afolabi Educational Foundation." He began by donating 50,000 special books, worth about $20,000, to public primary and secondary schools in his home state of Osun State.
Fun Facts About Rabiu Afolabi
- His name, Afolabi, means "Born into wealth."
- In Nigeria, his nickname was Robocop because of his strong, steady movements.
- In 2011, Afolabi started a charity called "The Rabiu Afolabi Educational Foundation." He began by giving 50,000 special books, worth about $20,000, to schools in his home state of Osun State.
See also
In Spanish: Rabiu Afolabi para niños
