Taye Taiwo facts for kids
Taiwo playing for Marseille in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Taye Ismaila Taiwo | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Gabros | ||
| 2004 | Lobi Stars | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2011 | Olympique de Marseille | 192 | (17) |
| 2011–2013 | Milan | 4 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | → Dynamo Kyiv (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Bursaspor | 27 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | HJK Helsinki | 32 | (6) |
| 2017 | Lausanne | 13 | (0) |
| 2017 | AFC Eskilstuna | 9 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | RoPS | 60 | (2) |
| 2020 | Doxa Katokopias | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Palm Beach Stars | ||
| 2021–2022 | Sant'Angelo | ||
| 2022 | SalPa | 6 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2004–2012 | Nigeria | 54 | (8) |
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Taye Ismaila Taiwo (born April 16, 1985) is a retired Nigerian footballer. He played as a defender, usually on the left side.
Taiwo started his career in Nigeria with Gabros International and Lobi Stars. He then moved to France to play for Marseille. There, he had a very successful time, winning the French league (Ligue 1) and two League Cups. After Marseille, he joined the Italian club Milan. However, his career didn't go as well after leaving France.
Contents
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career for Nigeria
- Personal Life
- Honours and Awards
- Images for kids
- See also
Club Career Highlights
Starting in Nigeria: Gabros and Lobi Stars
Taye Taiwo was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He began his football journey in Nigeria with local clubs Gabros International and Lobi Stars.
Big Move to Marseille: French Success
On January 10, 2005, when he was 20, Taiwo moved to France. He signed a three-year deal with Marseille. He was brought in to replace a famous player, Bixente Lizarazu.
First Games and Early Challenges
Taiwo made his first appearance for Marseille on March 12, 2005. The team won 2-1 against RC Lens. At first, he faced some challenges and competition for his spot. But he soon started playing more games. By the end of the 2004-05 season, he had played four matches.
Winning the Intertoto Cup and More Goals
In the 2005-06 season, Taiwo stayed with Marseille despite rumors of him leaving. He scored his first goal of the season in a UEFA Intertoto Cup match. He helped Marseille win the Intertoto Cup. He also scored his first league goal for the club against Lyon. Taiwo played a big part in helping Marseille reach the Coupe de France Final, where they unfortunately lost. He played 50 games that season, scoring four goals.
Continued Strong Performances
Taiwo kept playing well in the 2006-07 season. He scored his first goal of the season against Bordeaux. He also scored in the UEFA Cup and against Toulouse. He helped Marseille reach another Coupe de France Final. Again, they lost in a penalty shootout. He played 47 games and scored four goals that season.
Champions League Debut and Team of the Year
For the 2007-08 season, Taiwo was still a key player. He made his UEFA Champions League debut against Beşiktaş. He scored his first Champions League goal against Beşiktaş too. He also scored against rivals Paris Saint-Germain. He even captained the team for the first time. Taiwo was so good that he was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He played 40 games and scored five goals.
Reaching 100 Games and More Awards
In the 2008-09 season, Taiwo played his 100th game for Marseille. He continued to be a regular starter. He scored his first goal of the season against Saint-Étienne. He helped the team reach the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. For the second time, he was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He played 52 games and scored four goals.
Winning the League and League Cup
The 2009-10 season was a big one for Marseille and Taiwo. He helped the team win the Coupe de la Ligue Final against Bordeaux. He also scored a great goal against Lyon. Most importantly, Marseille won the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 18 years. Taiwo played 37 games and scored three goals.
Final Season in France and More Trophies
In his last season with Marseille (2010-11), Taiwo continued to shine. He captained the team and helped them win the Trophée des Champions. He scored some impressive goals, including a long-range shot against Sochaux. He scored the only goal in the Coupe de la Ligue final against Montpellier, helping Marseille win another trophy. He played 41 games and scored five goals. He was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the third time. After this successful period, Taiwo decided to leave Marseille for a new challenge.
Moving to Italy: AC Milan
On May 9, 2011, Milan confirmed that Taiwo would join them. He made his debut for Milan on September 24, 2011. However, he didn't play as much as he hoped, often being on the bench. He made eight appearances for Milan.
Loan to Queens Park Rangers
In January 2012, Taiwo joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in England on loan. He quickly became a regular player there. He scored his first goal for QPR with a fantastic free kick against Sunderland. He helped QPR stay in the Premier League that season. He played 15 games and scored one goal for QPR.
Loan to Dynamo Kyiv
In July 2012, Taiwo moved to Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv on a one-year loan. He made his debut in August and helped the team keep a clean sheet. He became a regular starter and scored his first goal for the club in a cup match. He played 31 games and scored once for Dynamo Kyiv.
Playing in Turkey: Bursaspor
On July 5, 2013, Taiwo signed a three-year contract with Turkish team Bursaspor. He scored on his debut in a Europa League qualifying match. He quickly became a key player for Bursaspor. He scored his first league goal for them in November 2013. He played 37 games and scored three goals in his first season.
However, in his second season (2014-15), he didn't play any games. He faced some financial issues and left the club in April 2015.
Adventures in Finland: HJK Helsinki and RoPS
On August 23, 2015, Taiwo joined HJK Helsinki in Finland. He quickly became a regular player. In 2016, he had a great season, scoring nine goals in 34 games. He became a fan favorite and was named in the Veikkausliiga Team of the Year.
In March 2018, Taiwo joined another Finnish club, RoPS. He continued to play as a left-back and was a regular starter. He scored against his old club, HJK Helsinki. He played 32 games and scored one goal in 2018. In 2019, he captained RoPS for a while and scored another goal. He played 31 games that season.
Later Career Teams
After RoPS, Taiwo signed with Doxa Katokopias in Cyprus in July 2020 but didn't play any games. He then moved to the American club Palm Beach Stars. In December 2021, he returned to Finland for a third time, joining SalPa. He made eight appearances before leaving in June 2022.
International Career for Nigeria
Youth Team Success
In May 2005, Taiwo was called up to the Nigeria U20 squad for the FIFA World Youth Championship. He helped his team reach the final, scoring two goals in the tournament. Nigeria U20 lost 2-1 to Argentina U20 in the final. Taiwo was recognized as the third-best player in the tournament.
Playing for the Senior National Team
Taiwo made his debut for the senior Nigeria team on November 17, 2004.
Africa Cup of Nations Appearances
In January 2006, Taiwo played in the African Cup of Nations. He scored Nigeria's first goal of the tournament against Ghana. Nigeria finished third, winning a bronze medal. He also played in the 2008 and 2010 African Cup of Nations tournaments.
FIFA World Cup Debut
Taiwo helped Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He made his World Cup debut against Argentina. He played in two matches during the tournament.
Between 2004 and 2012, Taiwo played 53 games for Nigeria and scored 5 goals.
Personal Life
Taye Taiwo is married to Nimota, and they have two children. He is a Muslim. When he moved to France, he learned to speak French fluently. He also learned some Ukrainian during his time in Kyiv.
Honours and Awards
Marseille
- Ligue 1: 2009–10
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2009–10, 2010–11
- Trophée des Champions: 2010
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
Nigeria
- Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2006
Individual Awards
- CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year: 2006
- CAF Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
- Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
- Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: May 2017
- Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2016, 2018
Images for kids
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Taiwo playing for Marseille in 2008
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Taiwo drinking a water bottle during a match for Marseille in 2005.
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Taiwo training for Marseille prior to a match.
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Taiwo celebrating with teammates following Marseille's win over Bordeaux in the Coupe de la Ligue Final.
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Taiwo (third right) celebrating with teammates following Marseille's win over Bordeaux in the Coupe de la Ligue Final.
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Taiwo having a prep talk with teammate Philippe Mexès during a match between Milan and Siena on 17 December 2011.
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Taiwo training for Dynamo Kyiv in 2012.
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Taiwo about to play for Dynamo Kyiv prior to a match in 2012.
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Taiwo playing for Bursaspor in 2014.
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Taiwo playing for Bursaspor in 2014.
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Taiwo playing for RoPS in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Taye Taiwo para niños
