Ade Akinbiyi
Akinbiyi in 2009
Personal information
Full name Adeola Oluwatoyin Akinbiyi[1]
Date of birth (1974-10-10) 10 October 1974[1]
Place of birth Hackney, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Senrab
1991–1993 Norwich City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1997 Norwich City 49 (3)
1994 → Hereford United (loan) 4 (2)
1994 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 7 (4)
1997–1998 Gillingham 63 (28)
1998–1999 Bristol City 47 (21)
1999–2000 Wolverhampton Wanderers 37 (16)
2000–2002 Leicester City 58 (11)
2002–2003 Crystal Palace 24 (3)
2003 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (2)
2003–2005 Stoke City 59 (17)
2005–2006 Burnley 39 (16)
2006–2007 Sheffield United 18 (3)
2007–2009 Burnley 70 (10)
2009 Houston Dynamo 14 (0)
2009–2010 Notts County 10 (0)
2013–2015 Colwyn Bay 2 (0)
Total 505 (136)
International career
1999 Nigeria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Adeola Oluwatoyin Akinbiyi (born 10 October 1974) is a football coach and former professional footballer.

As a player he was a forward who notably played in the Premier League for Norwich City, Leicester City and Sheffield United, as well as in Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo. He has had a much-travelled career with many different clubs with transfer fees totalling more than £11.5 million during his career, including being Leicester City's record signing (at £5.3 million) at the time.[3] He also played in the Football League with Hereford United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Gillingham, Bristol City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Stoke City, Burnley and Notts County. Born in England, Akinbiyi qualified to play for the Nigeria national team through his parents, and earned one cap for Nigeria in 1999.

In 2013 he was appointed as player-coach at non-league side Colwyn Bay. He remained with the club for several seasons before taking up a sports consultancy role in Africa.

Club career

Early career

Akinbiyi began his career as a trainee at Norwich City, where he worked his way up into the first team in 1992. He made his début on 3 November 1993 as a substitute against German club Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. The match ended 1–1, meaning that Norwich won the second round tie 3–2 on aggregate and went on to face Inter Milan, who eliminated them.[4] He was loaned to Hereford United and Brighton & Hove Albion before completing a £250,000 move to Gillingham in 1997.[5] He scored 29 goals in 67 league and cup games for the Gills and was quickly transferred to newly promoted First Division side Bristol City for £1.2 million.[6]

Big money moves

Akinbiyi's stock continued to rise and after scoring 21 goals for Bristol City in the 1998–99 season, Wolverhampton Wanderers paid a club record £3.5 million for him in September 1999 in an attempt to replace Robbie Keane. He played only one season at Molineux, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 16 goals but Wolves just missed out on a playoff place.

Ten months after arriving at Wolves, he departed to Premier League club Leicester City for £5.5 million,[7] a decision he would later regret.[8] Brought in as a replacement for Emile Heskey (who left for Liverpool for £11 million), he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only 11 goals in 58 league appearances.[6]

His spell at Leicester hit rock bottom in a 4–1 defeat at home to Liverpool. He missed four easy chances, including a miss from six yards in the last minute. He was booed by Leicester fans whose patience with Akinbiyi had run out.[9] Soon after, he scored his first league goal of the season in a crucial 1–0 win at home to Sunderland,[10] which prompted him to say that "hopefully this will start a flood of goals for me".[11]

Leicester transferred Akinbiyi to Crystal Palace for £2.2 million in February 2002.[12] On arrival he took the surprisingly high number 55 shirt, adding a very small plus sign between the numbers to signify his preferred shirt number, 10, which was already taken. Having scored just one goal in 14 league and cup appearances,[10][13] he was loaned out to Stoke City in 2003.[14] He scored twice – the second goal coming in the last game of the 2002–03 season,[13] when the Potters beat Reading 1–0 to retain their second tier status.[15] He later joined on a permanent basis, on a free transfer in September 2003.[16] He scored ten goals in 2003–04 and won the Player of the Year award.[17][18] In 2004–05, Akinbiyi scored seven goals in 30 matches and was subject to bids from Sheffield United.[19][20][21][22] All of Sheffield United's offers were turned down by Stoke but an offer from Burnley was accepted.[23]

Burnley

Akinbiyi completed a £600,000 move to Burnley in February 2005, but marked his debut by getting sent off within two minutes for head butting Sunderland player George McCartney. After netting 16 times for the Clarets,[6] he moved to Sheffield United for a then club record £1.75 million in January 2006.[24]

Sheffield United

Akinbiyi scored on his debut for the Blades against Derby County, and endeared himself to fans by scoring in his first Steel City derby at Hillsborough.[25] After winning promotion,[26] Akinbiyi made only five appearances for the Blades in the Premier League in 2006.[27] It was also reported that he was involved in a training ground bust-up with teammate Claude Davis in October 2006 following a 2–0 defeat against Everton in which Davis had been sent off.[28]

Return to Burnley

Akinbiyi was soon resold to Burnley in January 2007 for a fee of £650,000 with a further £100,000 to be paid in the summer of 2007.[29] His second debut for the Clarets was more successful, scoring a goal against top flight Reading in the FA Cup.[27]

During the rest of the 2006–07 season, Akinbiyi was not as successful as during his first spell at Turf Moor, scoring three goals.[27] This was attributed by Steve Cotterill to Akinbiyi having spent too much time in the weights room at Sheffield United and as a result being too bulky.[30] He was given the number nine shirt for the 2007–08 season but found himself behind Andy Gray and Robbie Blake as a first choice striker. After going back to Burnley, Akinbiyi lacked consistent form, finding goals harder to come by. His hard work and endeavour made him a firm fans' favourite.[31] During the 2008–09 season, his regular position on the bench was taken by youngster Jay Rodriguez, a player who he had been mentoring.[31] However, Akinbiyi regained his place on the bench in the fifth round of the League Cup against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and in the 69th minute he scored to make the game 1–1 and take it into extra time.[32] Burnley won 5–4 on penalties. While at Burnley, Steve Cotterill, Burnley's then manager, banned him from the gym.[30] "I wasn't playing at Sheffield so the only thing I was doing was weights. We didn't even have reserve games and it was something to do. I put on a bit too much muscle and I lost about a yard of pace", he said. "I try to stay away from the weights room now. I'm sort of addicted."

Houston Dynamo

On 26 March 2009, Akinbiyi was reported to be in talks about a move to the United States to join Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo.[33] On 30 March, Akinbiyi was officially unveiled as a Houston player.[34] He made his MLS debut on 3 May, as a late substitute in a game against New England Revolution.[35]

To make room on the roster for Luis Ángel Landín, the club's first Designated Player, the Dynamo released Akinbiyi on 20 August 2009.[36]

Notts County

After his release by Houston, Akinbiyi agreed terms with League Two side Notts County.[3] He made his debut on 17 October 2009 in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United, coming on as a substitute for Lee Hughes in the 82nd minute.[37]

On 10 May 2010 ,it was announced that he had been released by Notts County along with seven other players.[38]

Free agent (2010–2013)

In January 2011, after eight months without a club, Akinbiyi was on the verge of joining Newport County in the Conference National. He had been training with Premier League club Stoke City, and was recommended to Newport by Stoke's Newport-born manager Tony Pulis; Pulis had been Akinbiyi's manager at Stoke between 2003 and 2005.[39] However, Newport subsequently pulled out of the deal.

Akinbiyi spent the next two years as a free agent.

Colwyn Bay

Having been without a club for three years, he was widely assumed to have retired from football by the time of his signing for Conference North side Colwyn Bay, as player-coach on 25 July 2013.[40] He left Colwyn in January 2015.[41]

International career

Born in Hackney, London[1] to Nigerian parents, Akinbiyi qualified to play internationally for Nigeria, and through his birthplace for England. He was called up on three occasions for Nigeria, playing once in 1999 against Greece in Kilkis, Central Macedonia.[42]

Personal life

Akinbiyi has worked as a sports academy consultant and largely in both Nigeria and Ghana.[43]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Norwich City 1993–94[44] Premier League 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
1994–95[44] Premier League 1302010―160
1995–96[45] First Division 2230032―255
1996–97[46] First Division 1200020―140
Total 493206210585
Hereford United (loan) 1993–94[6] Third Division 42―――42
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 1994–95[6] Second Division 74―――74
Gillingham 1996–97[46] Second Division 197―――197
1997–98[47] Second Division 442121201[lower-alpha 2]04922
Total 63282120106829
Bristol City 1998–99[48] First Division 44191044–4923
1999–2000[49] Second Division 32–10–42
Total 47211054–5325
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1999–2000[49] First Division 371630––4016
Leicester City 2000–01[50] Premier League 37941002[lower-alpha 1]04310
2001–02[10] Premier League 2122011–243
Total 58116111206713
Crystal Palace 2001–02[10] First Division 142–––142
2002–03[13] First Division 1014000–141
Total 2434000–283
Stoke City (loan) 2002–03[13] First Division 42–––42
Stoke City 2003–04[17] First Division 30101010―3210
2004–05[19] Championship 2971000―307
Total 63192010―6619
Burnley 2004–05[19] Championship 104―――104
2005–06[25] Championship 29121032―3314
Total 39161032―4318
Sheffield United 2005–06[25] Championship 153―――153
2006–07[27] Premier League 30―21―51
Total 1830021―204
Burnley 2006–07[27] Championship 20211――213
2007–08[51] Championship 3981031―439
2008–09[32] Championship 1100041―151
Total 70102172―7913
Houston Dynamo 2009[52] Major League Soccer 14031―1[lower-alpha 3]0181
Notts County 2009–10[37] League Two 10010―00110
Colwyn Bay 2013–14[35] Conference North 2000―0020
2014–15[35] 0000―0000
Total 2000―0020
Career total 505136214271250564152

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[42]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 199910
Total10

Honours

Burnley

Notts County

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ade Akinbiyi". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. 1 2 "Notts County swoop for Akinbiyi". BBC Sport. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  4. ↑ Winter, Henry (2 November 2001). "On the Spot: Ade Akinbiyi". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Lee, David (2014). Triffic! Tony Pulis: His 40 Years in Football. Stoke-on-Trent: Provervial. p. 39.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Ade Akinbiyi at Soccerbase
  7. ↑ "Akinbiyi swaps Wolves for Foxes". BBC Sport. 25 July 2000.
  8. ↑ "Akinbiyi reveals Leicester regret". BBC Sport. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "Fowler returns to finishing school". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 22 October 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "First Ade patches up struggling Foxes". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 5 November 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Palace clinch Akinbiyi deal". BBC Sport. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "Deadline-day transfers". BBC Sport. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Akinbiyi keeps Stoke up". BBC Sport. 4 May 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "Stoke seal Akinbiyi deal". BBC Sport. 13 September 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Player Awards | Stoke City FC". www.stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  19. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  20. ↑ "Stoke reject Blades' Akinbiyi bid". BBC Sport. 21 January 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Stoke reject fresh Akinbiyi bid". BBC Sport. 25 January 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  22. ↑ "Blades increase bid for Akinbiyi". BBC Sport. 3 February 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Burnley beat Blades for Akinbiyi". BBC Sport. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  24. ↑ "Akinbiyi and Dyer move to Blades". BBC Sport. 26 January 2006.
  25. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  26. ↑ Sheffield United F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  28. ↑ "Akinbiyi and Davis resolve feud". BBC Sport. 27 October 2006.
  29. ↑ "Burnley re-sign Blades' Akinbiyi". BBC Sport. 1 January 2007.
  30. 1 2 "Ade hit with weights ban". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 30 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 July 2007.
  31. 1 2 "Ade Akinbiyi – An appreciation". Clarets Mad. Digital Sports Media. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  32. 1 2 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  33. ↑ Fallas, Bernardo (26 March 2009). "Dynamo close to signing veteran Akinbiyi". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  34. ↑ "Soccer for Success Day". Houston Dynamo. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  35. 1 2 3 Ade Akinbiyi at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  36. ↑ Major League Soccer Archived 20 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  37. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  38. ↑ "Notts County release eight out-of-contract players". BBC Sport. 10 May 2010.
  39. ↑ "Akinbiyi joins Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  40. ↑ "Football: the latest football news from across North Wales". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "Sinclair resigns after 5–0 defeat". Colwyn Bay. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  42. 1 2 Ade Akinbiyi at National-Football-Teams.com
  43. ↑ https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ade-akinbiyi-345b044b
  44. 1 2 Ade Akinbiyi at WorldFootball.net
  45. ↑ Akinbiyi, AO (Ade), English National Football Archive
  46. 1 2 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  49. 1 2 "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Ade Akinbiyi in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  52. ↑ "All-Time Statistics | Houston Dynamo". Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  53. ↑ "Burnley boss Coyle made sure Mahon, Akinbiyi received winner medals — Premiership News". Tribal Football. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  54. ↑ Notts County F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  55. ↑ "ANDYS STATS.CO.UK - Football statistics from England and Scotland". 9 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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