Funso Ojo
Ojo in training with PSV in 2011
Personal information
Full name Funso-King Ayorinde Ojo[1]
Date of birth (1991-08-28) 28 August 1991[2]
Place of birth Antwerp, Belgium[2]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 14
Youth career
Olse Merksem
–2004 Germinal Beerschot
2004–2008 PSV Eindhoven
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 PSV Eindhoven 11 (0)
2011 → VVV-Venlo (loan) 8 (0)
2012–2013 Beerschot AC 24 (1)
2013–2014 Royal Antwerp 8 (0)
2014–2015 FC Dordrecht 32 (0)
2015–2017 Willem II 60 (0)
2017–2019 Scunthorpe United 80 (3)
2019–2022 Aberdeen 56 (1)
2021 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 23 (0)
2022– Port Vale 48 (3)
International career
2006 Belgium U15 4 (0)
2006–2007 Belgium U16 16 (0)
2007 Belgium U17 5 (0)
2010 Belgium U20 1 (0)
2011 Belgium U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:53, 17 December 2023 (UTC)

Funso-King Ayorinde Ojo (born 28 August 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Port Vale, where he is also vice-captain.

A Belgium under-21 international, Ojo began his career with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, making his debut in the Eredivisie in May 2009. He played on loan at VVV-Venlo during the 2010–11 campaign, but was allowed to leave PSV and returned to Belgium to play for Beerschot in June 2012. He joined hometown club Royal Antwerp in August 2013, and signed with Dutch Eerste Divisie side FC Dordrecht in February 2014. He helped Dordrecht to win promotion out of the play-offs at the end of the 2013–14 season, and though the club were relegated the following season, Ojo remained in the Eredivisie after signing with Willem II in June 2015. He spent two seasons with the club, making 60 top-flight appearances, before he moved to England to play for Scunthorpe United in July 2017. He was sold to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen for a fee of around £125,000 in July 2019. He spent three seasons with Aberdeen, though spent the second half of the 2020–21 season on loan at Wigan Athletic. He returned to England on a permanent basis after joining Port Vale on a free transfer in June 2022.

Club career

PSV

Ojo with PSV in August 2011

Funso-King Ayorinde Ojo was born in Antwerp on 28 August 1991 to parents of Nigerian origin.[2] He joined the PSV Eindhoven Academy from Germinal Beerschot in the 2004–05 season.[3] He made his debut for the first-team at the age of 15, when head coach Ronald Koeman played him in a friendly against amateur side HVCH on 19 May 2007.[3] He was called up by Huub Stevens to the substitute bench for a competitive fixture in the 2008–09 season.[3] Ojo played his first Eredivisie match for PSV on 5 May 2009 against Willem II.[4][5] Ojo signed a contract extension four months later, which would keep him at the Philips Stadion until summer 2010, after he impressed manager Fred Rutten.[6]

Having featured just twice for PSV in the first half of the 2010–11 season, Ojo joined VVV-Venlo on loan on 8 January 2011. However, he struggled to break into the starting eleven under head coach Wil Boessen, much to Ojo and Rutten's frustration.[7] PSV signed Georginio Wijnaldum in June 2011, though Ojo would still manage to make a further ten appearances in the 2011–12 campaign.[2][8]

Beerschot

On 16 April 2012, Ojo rejoined Belgian Pro League club Beerschot AC (formerly called Germinal Beerschot) on a free transfer, signing a four-year contract.[9] Manager Adrie Koster said that he had gained technical skill in the Netherlands but would need to develop physical attributes to succeed in the Belgian leagues.[10] On 1 September, he scored his first career goal in a 2–0 win at KV Mechelen.[11] However, he rarely featured in the second half of the 2012–13 season due to injury and a falling out with new manager Jacky Mathijssen. He became a free agent after the club entered bankruptcy in May 2013; he came close to joining Italian club Chievo, though the deal did not end up being completed.[12][13] Ojo claimed that Mathijssen "did everything to break me down and blacken me and it worked".[14]

Antwerp

On 29 August 2013, Ojo signed a two-year contract with Belgian Second Division club Royal Antwerp after impressing manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during a trial spell.[15] He played eight games at the start of the 2013–14 season before being dropped to the reserves, and, in December Hasselbaink confirmed that Ojo was no longer welcome at the Bosuilstadion after being unwilling to play for the youth team.[16]

Dordrecht

Ojo returned to the Netherlands and joined Eerste Divisie side FC Dordrecht. Dordrecht qualified for the promotion play-offs at the end of the 2013–14 season and Ojo scored one of the goals in a 5–3 aggregate victory over Sparta Rotterdam to secure promotion into the top-flight.[17] He signed a new one-year contract in June 2014.[18] Ojo underwent ankle surgery in February 2015 to remove a piece of floating bone and was ruled out of action for the rest of the 2014–15 season.[19] He had struggled with his ankle injury since the start of the campaign, which would prove to be a poor one for the club as Ernie Brandts's side would go on to be relegated out of the Eredivisie after finishing in last place.[20]

Willem II

Ojo remained in the Eredivisie after signing with Willem II. He became a key first-team player for Jurgen Streppel in the 2015–16 season, playing a total of 38 games.[2][21] Willem II finished in the relegation play-off places, but would beat both Almere City and NAC Breda to successfully retain their top-flight status. He featured 29 times in the 2016–17 season, though struggled for form during the latter campaign.[2][21] He turned down the offer of a new contract and instead decided to move on.[22]

Scunthorpe United

On 18 July 2017, Ojo signed a three-year contract with English League One club Scunthorpe United.[23] He had been scouted by Lee Turnbull.[22] Ojo quickly became a key player for Graham Alexander's "Iron", forming an excellent midfield partnership with Neal Bishop, and his absence due to injury was blamed for three consecutive defeats in December.[24] He played 47 games across the course of the 2017–18 campaign, scoring two goals, helping United to qualify for the play-offs.[25] He played both legs of the 4–2 aggregate play-off semi-final defeat to Rotherham United.[26][27] He came close to a move to Wigan Athletic, though Wigan and Scunthorpe failed to come to a deal.[22] Manager Stuart McCall said that injuries and the team's poor form reduced his effectiveness in the 2018–19 season, and after relegation was confirmed Ojo looked to leave Glanford Park.[28]

Aberdeen

Ojo was linked with a transfer to Scottish club Hibernian in June 2019.[29] Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom stated that Ojo could leave Scunthorpe on a free transfer after they were relegated to League Two, but the proposed transfer collapsed after Heckingbottom claimed Scunthorpe "changed their mind, backtracked and made it really difficult".[29] Later in the summer, Scunthorpe accepted offers of around £125,000 from Hibernian and Aberdeen.[30] Ojo moved to Aberdeen, signing a three-year contract with the club.[31] Manager Derek McInnes said that the move was decided for footballing reasons rather than money as the financial aspect of the contracts were identical.[32][33] Ojo said that "we talked about football and other things and he [McInnes] touched something in me", adding that the city, state-of-the-art training ground and prospect of European football had convinced him to go with Aberdeen.[34][35] He played 16 Scottish Premiership games in the 2019–20 season and also featured four times in the early rounds of the UEFA Europa League.[36] He made seven starts and six substitute appearances in the first half of the 2020–21 campaign.[37] On 28 January 2021, Ojo joined English League One side Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[38] He made 23 appearances for Leam Richardson's "Latics", helping the club to finish one point above the relegation zone.[37]

In summer 2021, Aberdeen accepted bids from Salford City and Wrexham, though Ojo considered seeing out his contract with Aberdeen and then retiring from the game and returning to Belgium.[39][40] On 20 November, Ojo was sent off for only the second time in his career after receiving a yellow card for reacting to a Dundee United supporter who pushed him as he went to retrieve the ball from the crowd at Tannadice.[41] The supporter was arrested and later sentenced to community service after admitting assault.[42] Ojo impressed manager Stephen Glass in the first half of the 2021–22 campaign, playing at full-back, attacking midfield, defensive midfield and out wide.[43] However, he was not retained by new manager Jim Goodwin and left Pittodrie at the end of his contract in June 2022.[44]

Ojo playing for Port Vale (August 2022)

Port Vale

On 28 June 2022, Ojo joined English League One club Port Vale, with director of football David Flitcroft stating that: "we think that Funso is the type of player that can conduct and orchestrate them [his teammates] on the pitch".[45] Ojo started nine of the club's first ten league games of the 2022–23 campaign, before being sidelined with what manager Darrell Clarke described as "quite a bad hamstring" injury at the end of September.[46] Ojo returned to the substitutes bench on 26 December and scored his first goal at Vale Park on 24 January 2023, in a 2–1 defeat to Derby County.[47][48] Four days later, he was voted as the club's player of the match in a 0–0 draw at Cheltenham Town.[49] On 25 March, he scored a "wonderful" goal from 25 yards (23 m) to help secure a 2–2 draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.[50] He was sent off for violent conduct on Good Friday in stoppage-time of a 3–0 defeat at Accrington Stanley.[51] He was named as the club's PFA Community Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season for his efforts at becoming more environmentally friendly.[52]

Andy Crosby appointed Ojo as the club's new vice-captain in July 2023, behind club captain Nathan Smith.[53] Ojo signed a new contract the following month which would keep him at the club until June 2026.[52] On 11 November, he played as a sweeper in a 1–1 draw at Lincoln City, showing composure as he adapted well to the change of role.[54] He was injured the following month, however, as a hamstring injury saw him sidelined for several weeks.[55]

International career

Ojo was capped by Belgium from under-15 to under-21 level, winning his first and only under-21 cap as a late substitute in a Iceland on 1 September 2011.[56]

Style of play

Ojo is a versatile midfielder who links defence and attack by winning the ball and passing it on to more creative teammates.[57] He has good intelligence, fitness and technical ability.[58][59] Scunthorpe United manager Stuart McCall said that he was best utilised as a defensive midfielder, though can also play as a box-to-box midfielder.[28]

Personal life

Ojo is a trained physical instructor and is also involved in real estate.[60][21] He is married.[22] He entered a not guilty plea to a charge of assault for an incident that took place following a Scottish Premiership match at Tannadice Park in November 2021.[61] Ojo admitted he had "squared-up" to an opposition fan, and was fined £400 after being found guilty of pushing the man and knocking his glasses off, though the punch Ojo had thrown was ruled to have been in self-defence.[62][63]

Speaking in February 2023 as part of the English Football League's Green Football Weekend, Ojo was reported to have saved more than 500 kg of CO2 emissions from about 260 green activities, following his choice to change his lifestyle and switch to a plant-based diet.[64]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
PSV Eindhoven 2008–09[2] Eredivisie 1000—0010
2009–10[2] Eredivisie 3000—1[lower-alpha 1]040
2010–11[2] Eredivisie 2000—1[lower-alpha 1]030
2011–12[2] Eredivisie 5020—3[lower-alpha 1]0100
Total 110200050180
VVV-Venlo (loan) 2010–11[2] Eredivisie 8000—3[lower-alpha 2]0110
Beerschot 2012–13[2] Pro League 24110—00251
Antwerp 2013–14[2] Belgian Second Division 8000—0080
Dordrecht 2013–14[2] Eerste Divisie 13000—4[lower-alpha 2]1171
2014–15[2] Eredivisie 19010—00200
Total 320100041371
Willem II 2015–16[2] Eredivisie 32020—4[lower-alpha 2]0380
2016–17[2] Eredivisie 28010—00290
Total 600300040670
Scunthorpe United 2017–18[25] League One 41220103[lower-alpha 3]0472
2018–19[65] League One 39100001[lower-alpha 4]0401
Total 803201040873
Aberdeen 2019–20[36] Scottish Premiership 16030104[lower-alpha 1]0240
2020–21[37] Scottish Premiership 11000101[lower-alpha 1]0130
2021–22[66] Scottish Premiership 30120106[lower-alpha 5]0391
Total 5613030110731
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2020–21[37] League One 230000000230
Port Vale 2022–23[67] League One 282001000292
2023–24[68] League One 20141411[lower-alpha 4]0293
Total 483415110585
Career total 35081819127140311

Honours

Dordrecht

References

  1. ↑ "Intermediary Transactions". The Football Association. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Funso Ojo at Soccerway
  3. 1 2 3 "Funso Ojo set to make PSV debut in competitive match". www.psv.nl. 23 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Willem II in conversation with Funso Ojo" (in Dutch). Brabants Dagbald. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Willem II picks Funso Ojo away at Dordrecht" (in Dutch). AD.nl. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "PSV reach agreement with Funso Ojo". www.psv.nl. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Gefrustreerde VVV'er Ojo wil terug naar PSV". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). 3 March 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Kruyt, Bart (29 June 2011). "'Ik had Wijnaldum liever aan buitenlandse club verkocht'". Voetbalzone. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "PSV'er Funso Ojo naar Beerschot". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). 16 April 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "'Funso Ojo is een Nederlandse voetballer geworden'". Knack (in Dutch). 24 April 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Mechelen vs. Beerschot - 1 September 2012 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Funso Ojo du Beerschot au Chievo Verone". RTBF (in French). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Funso Ojo n'ira pas au Chievo". RTBF (in French). 12 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  14. ↑ Morren, Fabian (11 May 2013). "Ojo: "Beerschot moet mij nog een klein appartement"". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Official: Funso Ojo Pens Two - Year Deal At Antwerp:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Antwerp dumpt Funso Ojo en Papé Diakité definitief". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). 14 December 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Dordrecht vs. Sparta Rotterdam - 18 May 2014 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "Funso Ojo verlengt contract bij promovendus Dordrecht". hln.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "FC Dordrecht moet Ojo lang missen". nos.nl (in Dutch). 20 February 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "FC Dordrecht moet Funso Ojo missen". voetbal.com (in Dutch). 22 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "Tilbo exclusive: interview with Funso Ojo". Tilbo.com (in Dutch). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 4 The Official Matchday Programme of Port Vale FC 2022/23 Season - Issue 19 (PDF). 18 March 2023. p. 13. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Funso Ojo: Scunthorpe United sign Belgian midfielder on three-year contract". BBC Sport. 18 July 2017.
  24. ↑ Crute, Paul (11 December 2017). "Scunthorpe United manager Graham Alexander will not risk Funso Ojo". Scunthorpe Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "Scunthorpe United 2-2 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  27. ↑ Mitchell, Brendon (16 May 2018). "Rotherham United 2-0 Scunthorpe United (Agg 4-2)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  28. 1 2 Burns, Scott (16 July 2019). "McCall on Ojo's strengths and what Aberdeen can expect from their new signing". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  29. 1 2 Elgott, Jordan (28 June 2019). "Hibs end bid for Scunthorpe's Funso Ojo pursuit but close on Preston's Chris Maxwell". BBC Sport.
  30. ↑ Winton, Richard; White, Mike (11 July 2019). "Hibernian & Aberdeen have bids accepted for Scunthope's Funso Ojo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  31. ↑ Smith, Tyrone (14 July 2019). "Funso Ojo: Aberdeen complete £125,000 deal for midfielder". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  32. ↑ McKay, Gabriel (16 July 2019). "Funso Ojo Aberdeen move wasn't about money insists Derek McInnes". footballscotland. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Aberdeen FC - The Manager "it was not about money"". Aberdeen FC. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  34. ↑ Gun, David (15 July 2019). "Funso Ojo reveals reason he chose to sign with Aberdeen instead of Hibs". Evening Edinburgh News. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  35. ↑ Miller, Adam (15 July 2019). "New Aberdeen signing Funso Ojo reveals lengths Derek McInnes went to for deal". footballscotland. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  36. 1 2 "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  38. ↑ "Latics complete loan signing of midfielder Funso Ojo from Aberdeen". Wigan Athletic FC. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  39. ↑ Lindsay, Matthew (23 August 2021). "Funso Ojo: I feared my career was over when Aberdeen loaned me out - I was set to become a personal trainer". The National. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  40. ↑ Burns, Scott (24 August 2021). "Funso Ojo came close to giving up on football during Aberdeen spell in cold". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  41. ↑ Watt, Martin (20 November 2021). "Ojo red overshadows Aberdeen defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  42. ↑ Currie, Gordon; Brady, Jon (31 January 2022). "Dundee United fan who attacked Aberdeen's Funso Ojo during game dodges jail". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  43. ↑ Wallace, Sean (24 January 2022). "Aberdeen to open contract talks with Funso Ojo after January transfer window". Press and Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  44. ↑ "Funso Ojo and Dylan McGeouch to depart as Aberdeen start building for future". Press and Journal. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  45. ↑ "Port Vale sign Aberdeen midfielder Ojo". BBC Sport. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  46. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (1 October 2022). "Port Vale's Funso Ojo ruled out with hamstring injury". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  47. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (26 December 2022). "Port Vale team news vs Morecambe as Cass and Holden return". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  48. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (24 January 2023). "Port Vale 1, Derby 2 match verdict and ratings after late drama". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  49. ↑ "January Reels in Motion Player of the Month Nominations". www.port-vale.co.uk. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  50. ↑ "Vote for your Reels in Motion Player of the Month for March". www.port-vale.co.uk. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  51. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (7 April 2023). "Port Vale player ratings from woeful defeat at Accrington". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  52. 1 2 "Funso Ojo pens new contract". www.port-vale.co.uk. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  53. ↑ "Andy Crosby names his Port Vale captain and Vice-Captain". www.port-vale.co.uk. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  54. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (12 November 2023). "Old failings return as Port Vale are held at Lincoln City". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  55. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (4 January 2024). "Injury and transfer window update as Port Vale prepare for Charlton". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  56. ↑ "Funso Ojo". static.rbfa.be. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  57. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (29 June 2022). "Port Vale signing Funso Ojo talks style of play, his role and more". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  58. ↑ Crute, Paul (28 July 2017). "Scunthorpe manager Graham Alexander pleased with Funso Ojo". Scunthorpe Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  59. ↑ Alao, Seyi (16 July 2019). "Funso Ojo Backed To Succeed At Aberdeen". Latest Sports News In Nigeria. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  60. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (28 June 2022). "Port Vale sign versatile Belgian midfielder Funso Ojo". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  61. ↑ "Former Aberdeen player denies assaulting Dundee United fan". BBC News. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  62. ↑ "Funso Ojo: Former Aberdeen player punched Dundee United supporter". BBC News. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  63. ↑ Currie, Gordon (4 November 2022). "Aberdeen player took off rival fan's specs before punching him in the face". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  64. ↑ Lockwood, David (4 February 2023). "Green Football Weekend: What are clubs, players and fans doing?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Funso Ojo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  69. ↑ "Dordrecht vs. VVV - 11 May 2014 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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