Celestine Babayaro

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Celestine Babayaro
Personal information
Full name	Celestine Hycieth Babayaro
Date of birth	August 29, 1978 (1978-08-29) (age 29)
Place of birth	Kaduna, Nigeria
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Left Back
Youth clubs
1994	Plateau United
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994–1997 1997–2005 2005–2007 2008	Anderlecht Chelsea Newcastle United LA Galaxy	075 (8) 132 (5) 047 (0) 000 (0)
National team2
1995–2004	Nigeria	026 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:13, 10 June 2007 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 20:48, 06 May 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team Competition

Celestine Hycieth Babayaro (born August 29, 1978 in Kaduna) is a Nigerian footballer who plays left-back and is currently a free agent after being released by LA Galaxy.

[edit] Club Career

Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side, Plateau United before moving to Belgium and Brussels outfit, Anderlecht in 1994 and made a name for himself through his performances for Nigeria in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where the African nation won the golden medal.

He was purchased by Chelsea in April 1997 for £2.25m million - a club record paid for a teenager at the time. During his time there, the team won the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2000, and reached the FA Cup finals in 2002. He faced competition from Graeme Le Saux during his seven-year spell, but played over 200 games for Chelsea. His acrobatic celebrations were a highlight and loved by the Stamford Bridge faithful. The signing of Wayne Bridge saw Babayaro start only four Premier League games for Chelsea in 2004-05 - their Premiership winning year.

In January 2005, Babayaro left Stamford Bridge to join Newcastle United where he established himself as first choice left back.

In September 2006, Babayaro was given a three match ban by the Football Association for slapping Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt in the face while Liverpool took a corner. The slap wasn't seen by the referee but later videos showed Babayaro punch the Dutchman in the face. Babayaro accepted the allegations and apologised to Kuyt.

On 10 February 2007 after the 2-1 win over Liverpool, then Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder revealed that just 12 hours before kick off, Babayaro had called Roeder saying his younger brother, David Babayaro, had died from tuberculosis. Despite this, Babayaro insisted he would still play and put in a solid performance which earned him praise from Newcastle fans and particularly by Roeder. This fine form continued into United's 3-1 victory against Zulte Waregem.^[1]

Due to his many injury problems it was mutually decided on 10 December 2007, that Babayaro should be released from his contract with immediate effect and a compensation figure was agreed.^[2]

On 21 January 2008 Babayaro came to an agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy to join them on a three year contract, effective immediately.^[3] Babayaro, with this move, he re-joined Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit, whom he played for during his time at Chelsea. On 3 March 2008 Babayaro was surprisingly waived by the Los Angeles Galaxy after playing only 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly.^[4]

[edit] International career

Celestine Babayaro made his international debut in the Afro-Asian Championship in 1995, against Uzbekistan. The following year he was part of the Nigeria Olympic gold medal winning team at the Atlanta 96 football event, making the tournament's all-star team. After missing the entire 1997/98 Premier League season with a knee injury, Babayaro recovered just in time to make the France 98 squad. Babayaro was Nigeria's captain at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and took part in the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was however part of the victorious Nigerian team at the Fifa World Under 17 Championships in Japan- 1993, which would probably be regarded as his International debut.

Babayaro was part of Nigeria's squad for the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia, but was controversially sent home, alongside Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali for indiscipline. Although never officially announcing his retirement from international football, Babayaro has not played for Nigeria ever since.

[edit] Notes

• One of Babayaro's brothers was also a professional footballer. Emmanuel Babayaro, a goalkeeper who was also in Nigeria's 1996 Olympic Gold Medal winning team.
• Babayaro is well known for the unique backflips he performs after each goal he scores.
• Babayaro is the youngest player to play in the UEFA Champions League

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Celestine Babayaro career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Nigeria squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Oparaku • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Uche • 6 West • 7 Finidi • 8 Adepoju • 9 Yekini • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 W. Okpara • 13 Babangida • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Okafor • 17 Eguavoen • 18 Oruma • 19 Iroha • 20 Ikpeba • 21 G. Okpara • 22 Baruwa • Coach: Milutinović

v • d • e Nigeria squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Shorunmu • 2 Yobo • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Okoronkwo • 6 West • 7 Ikedia • 8 Adepoju • 9 Ogbeche • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Udeze • 15 Justice • 16 Sodje • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Akwuegbu • 19 Ejiofor • 20 Obiorah • 21 Utaka • 22 Enyeama • 23 Opabunmi • Coach: Onigbinde