Celestine Babayaro

Football player infobox
playername = Celestine Babayaro


fullname = Celestine Hycieth Babayaro
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|8|29
cityofbirth = Kaduna
countryofbirth = Nigeria
height = height|meters=1.76
currentclub = Free Agent
position = Left Back / Left Midfielder
clubnumber =
youthyears = 1994
youthclubs = Plateau United
years = 1994–1997 1997–2005 2005–2007 2008
clubs = Anderlecht Chelsea Newcastle United Los Angeles Galaxy
caps(goals) = 075 (8) 132 (5) 047 (0) 000 (0)
nationalyears = 1995–2004
nationalteam = Nigeria
nationalcaps(goals) = 026 (0)
pcupdate = 20:13, 10 June 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:48, 06 May 2007 (UTC)

Celestine Hycieth Babayaro (born August 29, 1978 in Kaduna) is a Nigerian footballer who plays left-back and is currently a free agent, most recently on trial at Portsmouth.

Career

Chelsea

Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side Plateau United, before moving to Belgium giants R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1994, and eventually would make a name for himself, quickly gaining first-choice status although still a teenager. Babayaro was purchased by Chelsea F.C. in April 1997 for £2.25m million - a club record paid for a teenager at the time.fact|date=August 2008 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 managed to play over 200 games for the London side. His acrobatic celebrations with backflips were a highlight and loved by the Stamford Bridge faithful. The signing of Wayne Bridge saw Babayaro start only four English Premier League games for Chelsea in 2004-05 - their Premiership winning year.

Newcastle

In January 2005, he left Chelsea 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 a 2-1 win over Liverpool, then-Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder revealed that just 12 hours before kick-off, Babayaro had called him saying his younger brother David had died from tuberculosis. Despite this, Babayaro insisted he would still play and put in a solid performance which earned him praise from Newcastle manager and fans. This fine form continued into United's 3-1 away victory against Zulte Waregem, in the UEFA Cup. [ [http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~979304,00.html Brave Baba's secret sorrow] ]

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. [ [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/tm_headline=bye-bye-babayaro%26method=full%26objectid=20229434%26siteid=72703-name_page.html Bye Bye Babayaro] ]

Recent Activity

On 21 January 2008, Babayaro came to an agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy to join them on a three-year contract, effective immediately. [ [http://mlssoccernews.blogspot.com/2008/01/babayaro-to-la-galaxy.html MLS Soccer News - Transfers | Trades | Signings | Rumors: Babayaro to LA Galaxy ] ] With this move, he re-joined Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit, whom he played for during his time at Chelsea. On March 3, he was surprisingly waived by the Galaxy after playing only 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly. The reason for this unexpected release is so far unknown. President of LA Galaxy said "After a period of evaluation, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the club and the player to part ways,” Alexi Lalas, the team’s president and general manager, said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that it did not work out, but Ruud and our technical staff are hard at work putting together this team and difficult decisions have to be made." [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-spw-soccer7mar07,1,1631712.story | title=Babayaro doesn't last with Galaxy | publisher=Los Angeles Times | accessdate=2008-02-05] During pre-season 2008, Babayaro trained with Portsmouth F.C. at the invitation of manager Harry Redknapp and with a view to the player signing for the FA Cup holders [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&fm_type=&fm_string=&fm_article_page_num=&qs_articleid=1330&qs_media=html&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=2 | title=New Season, Same Hunger] On 14 August 2008 Redknapp revealed that he would not offer Babayaro a contract at Portsmouth [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Babayaro-no-go-but-Jordi.4389328.jp | title=Babayaro a no go but Jordi has a chance]

International career

After being part of the victorious Nigerian team at the Under-17 World Championships in Japan (1993), Babayaro made his international senior 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. He was also Nigeria's captain at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and took part in the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup.

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, he has not played for the national team ever since.

Personal

*Babayaro's brother, Emmanuel, a goalkeeper, was also part of Nigeria's 1996 Olympics gold medal winning team.
*Babayaro is the youngest player to play in the UEFA Champions League.
*Babayaro is good friends with Rap mogul Fergal Hunter

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=10529|name=Celestine Babayaro