Efe Sodje
Sodje with Bury in 2009
Personal information
Full name Efetobore Peter Sodje[1]
Date of birth (1972-10-05) 5 October 1972
Place of birth Greenwich, London, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Stevenage Borough 116 (9)
1997–1999 Macclesfield Town 83 (6)
1999–2000 Luton Town 9 (0)
2000 → Colchester United (loan) 3 (0)
2000–2003 Crewe Alexandra 97 (3)
2003–2005 Huddersfield Town 67 (5)
2005–2006 Yeovil Town 25 (3)
2006 → Southend United (loan) 1 (0)
2006–2007 Southend United 36 (2)
2007–2008 Gillingham 13 (0)
2008 → Bury (loan) 16 (1)
2008–2013 Bury 182 (15)
2013 → Barrow (loan) 9 (0)
2013–2014 Macclesfield Town 6 (0)
Total 663 (44)
International career
2000–2004 Nigeria 12 (1)
Managerial career
2008–2013 Bury (conditioning)
2013–2015 Macclesfield Town (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Efetobore Peter "Efe" Sodje (born 5 October 1972) is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for several English football league clubs. He represented Nigeria in the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup.[2]

Sodje began his career at Stevenage Borough and later played for Luton Town, Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Yeovil Town, Southend United, Gillingham, Bury, Barrow and Macclesfield Town in two spells.

Career

Early career

Sodje began his career playing for Stevenage Borough in the Conference National, who he had signed for ahead of the 1994–95 season.[3] Prior to signing for Stevenage, Sodje had unsuccessful trials at both Wimbledon and Luton Town.[3] He featured in Stevenage's reserve side throughout August 1994, waiting for his international clearance to come through before making a first-team appearance.[3] He eventually made his debut on 27 September 1994, starting in Stevenage's 1–0 defeat at Welling United.[4] Sodje made a total of 33 appearances during the 1994–95 campaign,[5] scoring once in a 5–0 win over Yeovil Town, a game in which he came off the substitutes' bench to score.[6] Sodje remained at Stevenage the following season, helping the club win the Conference National title, however they would be denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities. During the season, he made a total of 49 appearances, scoring five goals, four of which came in the league.[7] Sodje's third season at Stevenage was his best in goalscoring terms; he scored 7 times in 55 games in all competitions[8] as Stevenage finished the season in third place, beaten to the title by Macclesfield Town.[8] Sodje left Stevenage at the end of the season to join newly promoted Football League side Macclesfield Town.[3] He had made 138 appearances for Stevenage during his three-year spell with the side, scoring 13 goals.[3]

Sodje scored on his Football League debut, which was also Macclesfield Town's first game in the League. He played 83 times and scored 6 goals for Macclesfield Town before he left to join Luton Town in 1999; there, he made only 9 appearances and was loaned out to Colchester United for part of the 1999–2000 season. Sodje made three appearances for Colchester before returning to Luton.

Sodje moved to Crewe Alexandra in 2000, where he made 97 league appearances over three seasons. His first goal for Crewe came in their 4–2 win over Portsmouth on 8 December 2001. During his time at Crewe Sodje was called up to the Nigeria squad for the first time in his career, and played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan.

Huddersfield Town

Sodje joined then Division 3 side Huddersfield Town, where he was made captain. His Town debut came in their 2–1 win over Derby County in the first round of the League Cup on 12 August 2003. His league debut came in their 2–2 draw with Boston United on 16 August. He scored his first goal for the Terriers came in their 2–0 home win over Boston United in January 2004. In his first season with the Terriers he helped them to the Division Three Play-off title.

Sodje was also voted into the PFA PFA Players' Division Three team of the season for the 2003–04 season[9]

Southend United

Sodje left Southend following their relegation from the Championship in the 2006–07 season.[10]

On 10 July 2007, he joined League One side Gillingham on a two-year deal,[11] and made his debut in the 1–0 away defeat to Cheltenham Town on 11 August. In February 2008 he joined Bury on loan until the end of the season,[12] and was transfer listed on 5 June 2008.[13]

Bury

It was announced on 1 July 2008, that his contract had been terminated by Gillingham.[14] Sodje was signed by Bury on a two-year contract as a player-coach, on 3 July 2008. At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, he was named 2nd vice-captain by Alan Knill after Ryan Lowe. In May 2011 he signed a new two-year contract extension.[15]

He made his 500th league appearance in January 2012 playing for Bury in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic.[16]

Return to Macclesfield Town

In June 2013 Sodje returned to Macclesfield Town as assistant manager to John Askey; Sodje also registered himself as a player for the Silkmen.[17] He left the club for undisclosed reasons in November 2015.[18]

International career

Although born in England Sodje like his brother Sam represented Nigeria at international level. He was part of the squad that finished second to Cameroon in the 2000 African Cup of Nations.

He was also part of the Nigeria squad that went to the 2002 FIFA World Cup making two appearances against Argentina and England. Sodje played 12 times,[19] scoring once in a 2–1 friendly win against Republic of Ireland in 2002.

Personal life

Born in Greenwich, London, his family originate from Warri, in Delta State, Nigeria.[20] Sodje is the eldest of four brothers who all play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam, Akpo (the youngest of the four) have both played alongside Efe. He played alongside Akpo at Huddersfield Town and he has represented Nigeria at international level with Sam. Steve, who plays semi-professionally has never played a Football League game. Another brother, Bright, used to play rugby league and rugby union. His nephew Onome Sodje has also played professionally in England.

Sodje is famous for wearing a do-rag, something he started doing in 1994 at the request of his mother.[21] The headband often has the words "Against All Odds".

In September 2017, Sodje (along with his brothers Stephen and Bright) was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraud, having siphoned off money from a charity, the Sodje Sports Foundation.[22]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Macclesfield Town 1997–98 Third Division 413202010463
1998–99 Second Division 423414000504
Total 836616010967
Luton Town 1999–2000 Second Division 90301010140
Colchester United (loan) 1999–2000 Second Division 3000000030
Crewe Alexandra 2000–01 First Division 310203000360
2001–02 First Division 362403000432
2002–03 Second Division 291312020362
Total 9639180201154
Huddersfield Town 2003–04 Third Division 434102010474
2004–05 League One 281001010301
Total 715103020775
Yeovil Town 2004–05 League Two 6200000062
2005–06 League One 191202010241
Total 253202010303
Southend United (loan) 2005–06 League One 1000000010
Southend United 2005–06 League One 121000000121
2006–07 Championship 241004000281
Total 362004000402
Gillingham 2007–08 League One 130101010160
Bury (loan) 2007–08 League Two 161000000161
Bury 2008–09 League Two 437101000457
2009–10 League Two 392101010422
2010–11 League Two 403211000434
2011–12 League One 412002000432
2012–13 League One 191211010232
Total 1821562602019617
Barrow (loan) 2012–13 Conference Premier 9000000090
Macclesfield Town 2013–14 Conference Premier 6000000060
Career total 5503528431010061939

    Honours

    Stevenage Borough[24]

    Macclesfield Town[25]

    Crewe Alexandra

    Huddersfield Town[26]

    Southend United[27]

    Bury

    Individual

    References

    1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
    2. ↑ "Efetobore Sodje biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture". manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Stevenage Player: Efetobore Sodje profile". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    4. ↑ "Welling United 1-0 Stevenage Borough, 1994-5". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    5. ↑ "Stevenage Borough 1994-5: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    6. ↑ "Stevenage Borough 5-0 Yeovil Town, 1994-5". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    7. ↑ "Stevenage Borough 1995-6: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    8. 1 2 "Stevenage Borough 1996-7: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    9. ↑ Sodje Makes PFA Team of Year, archived from the original on 6 April 2012
    10. ↑ "Hooper offered new Southend deal". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
    11. ↑ "Gills bring Sodje to Priestfield". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
    12. ↑ "Official Gillingham website". Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
    13. ↑ "Gillingham trio on available list". BBC Sport. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
    14. ↑ Official Gillingham website
    15. ↑ "Efe Sodje signs two-year contract extension at Bury". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
    16. ↑ "Latest News". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
    17. ↑ "Newsham becomes first new Gladiators signing of the summer | Non League Daily". nonleaguedaily.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    18. ↑ "Macclesfield Town FC confirm departure of Efe Sodje". Macclesfield Express. 27 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
    19. ↑ "Sodje, Efe". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
    20. ↑ "Sodje family". Archived from the original on 4 January 2010.
    21. ↑ "Sodje staying to Knill's delight". Prestwich Advertiser. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
    22. ↑ "Efe, Bright and Stephen Sodje jailed for fraud last September, court reveals". Sky News. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
    23. ↑ "Efe Sodje | Football Stats | No Club | Season 1997/1998 | 1996-2018 | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
    24. ↑ "Conference Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
    25. ↑ "Tier Four (League Two) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
    26. ↑ "Division Three (League Two) Play-off Finalists". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
    27. ↑ "Tier Three (League One) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
    28. ↑ "Individual Awards". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
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