Yakubu Aiyegbeni

**Yakubu Aiyegbeni** Yakubu Aiyegbeni (born November 22, 1982) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who primarily played as a striker. He is widely recognized for his prolific goalscoring ability and his significant contributions to the Nigerian national team and several prominent clubs across European leagues, most notably in England. **Early Life and Career Start** Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Yakubu began his professional career with Julius Berger F.C. in the Nigerian Premier League. His talent quickly earned him a move abroad. He first gained international attention during his time playing in Israel for Maccabi Haifa, where he scored 31 goals in 64 league appearances and played a crucial role in the club's 2002–03 UEFA Champions League campaign, finishing as the competition's third-highest scorer with seven goals. **Career Progression in England** Yakubu's performances in the Champions League led to a loan move to English Premier League side Portsmouth in January 2003, which was later made permanent. He helped Portsmouth gain promotion to the Premier League and established himself as one of the league's most reliable strikers. After two successful seasons, he moved to Middlesbrough in 2005. His tenure there included reaching the 2006 UEFA Cup Final. In 2007, he moved to Everton for a club-record fee at the time. He later played for Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, and spent a successful spell on loan at Everton’s Merseyside rivals, Liverpool, in 2011, making history as the first Nigerian player to score for the club. He concluded his career with spells in China (Guangzhou R\&F) and Turkey (Kayserispor), before officially retiring in 2017. Yakubu is one of only three African players to score over 100 goals in the Premier League. **Major Achievements and International Career** A key figure for the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, Yakubu made 57 appearances and scored 21 goals, making him the third-highest goalscorer in Nigeria's history. He participated in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010) and represented Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. His club honors include winning the Israeli Premier League twice with Maccabi Haifa and winning the Championship with Portsmouth (First Division title). **Current Status** Since retiring from professional football, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has maintained a low-key profile but remains an influential figure in Nigerian football circles. He has occasionally participated in testimonial matches and commentated on the sport, particularly focusing on the development of Nigerian talent.