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'''Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor''' (born 13 October 1986 in [[Erdington]],<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/12/sfnsmi112.xml Telegraph.co.uk]</ref> [[Birmingham]]) is an English [[footballer]] who plays for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] of the [[Premier League]]. He is of half-[[Nigerian]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Agbonlahor undecided on Nigeria|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6430879.stm |work= |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2007-03-08 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref> and half-[[Scottish]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Scots consider Agbonlahor call|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6738707.stm |work= |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2007-06-10 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref> descent. Agbonlahor is a product of [[Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy|Aston Villa's Academy system]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gabriel Agbonlahor commits to Aston Villa|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2326247/Gabriel-Agbonlahor-commits-to-Aston-Villa.html |work= |publisher=[[The Telegraph]] |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref>
'''Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor''' (born 13 October 1986 in [[Erdington]],<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/12/sfnsmi112.xml Telegraph.co.uk]</ref> [[Birmingham]]) is an "English" [[footballer]] who plays for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] of the [[Premier League]]. He is of half-[[Nigerian]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Agbonlahor undecided on Nigeria|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6430879.stm |work= |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2007-03-08 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref> and half-[[Scottish]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Scots consider Agbonlahor call|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6738707.stm |work= |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2007-06-10 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref> descent. Agbonlahor is a product of [[Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy|Aston Villa's Academy system]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gabriel Agbonlahor commits to Aston Villa|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2326247/Gabriel-Agbonlahor-commits-to-Aston-Villa.html |work= |publisher=[[The Telegraph]] |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-17 }}</ref>


==Early career==
==Early career==

Revision as of 16:13, 31 December 2008

Gabriel Agbonlahor
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Imuetinyan Agbonlahor
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Striker, Right winger
Team information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Number 11
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:59, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor (born 13 October 1986 in Erdington,[1] Birmingham) is an "English" footballer who plays for Aston Villa of the Premier League. He is of half-Nigerian[2] and half-Scottish[3] descent. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy system.[4]

Early career

Agbonlahor was first noticed playing for local side Great Barr Falcons[5], where his quick pace brought him success as a young teenager. He was spotted by boyhood team Aston Villa.

In the 2002–03 season, playing his first season for the Aston Villa Academy, Agbonlahor notched an impressive nine goals in 18 appearances. He followed this up with a tally of 35 goals in 29 games in the 2003–04 season[6], a feat which was comparable to Darius Vassell's 38 goals in the 1997–98 season. With Agbonlahor showing promise for the Youth team, he made more of an impact for the Reserves in the 2004–05 season, although he still bagged 18 goals in 22 games to bring his youth record to 71 appearances and 62 goals.

He made a good impression for Aston Villa's Youth team in 2005 at the U-20 International Football Challenge in Adelaide, Australia. Agbonlahor netted in the opening match, a 2–0 victory over AIS, before scoring in the 2–2 draw against A.C. Milan—which Aston Villa won on penalties—and once in the 4–1 demolition of Tokyo Verdy. He subsequently scored two goals in the final against Team S.A, in a match that was won 5–0.

Agbonlahor made 37 appearances for the reserves between 2003 and 2006, scoring 19 times, most notably a hat-trick against American goalkeeper Tim Howard in a 3–0 defeat of Manchester United Reserves. He also captained an Aston Villa team in the 2006 HKFC Philips Lighting International Soccer Sevens, he was named "Player of the Tournament" as Aston Villa finished runners-up to Urawa Red Diamonds.

His first taste of first-team action came in October 2005 when he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for two months, being signed by Paul Sturrock to cover for his striker injuries.[7]

Aston Villa

2005–06 season

Agbonlahor was given his Premiership debut on 18 March, 2006, against Everton at Goodison Park. He scored on his debut after 63 minutes, although Villa went on to lose the match 4–1.[8]

2006–07 season

In five pre-season games of the 2006–07 season, Agbonlahor netted four goals in five games for Aston Villa. After netting a quick double salvo against Walsall (the first a near-post header, the latter a close range finish) in a 5–0 victory.[9] Agbonlahor also netted in the second match of Aston Villa's tour against NEC Nijmegen, which turned out to be a consolation goal, in a 2–1 victory for NEC Nijmegen.[10]

Agbonlahor started the season on the right wing in Martin O'Neill's new look Villa side, and would be part of the team that managed a get a point from the first Premiership game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium.[11] Agbonlahor's first goal of the season came at home against Charlton Athletic, in a 2–0 win.[12] On 30 September, Agbonlahor scored a crucial equaliser against Premiership champions Chelsea just before half-time, heading in Liam Ridgewell's cross with a glancing header to earn Villa a hard-earned 1–1 draw.[13]

Agbonlahor also provided cup heroics in 2006, scoring an extra-time injury time winner to beat Leicester City 3–2 at the Walkers Stadium.[14] The following game, he scored a consolation effort in Villa's first loss of the season, on 28 October, ten games in.[15]

Agbonlahor completed his run of scoring against the 'big teams', when he added Manchester United to a list of his victims that included Chelsea and Liverpool. Villa were beaten 3–1 in the game at Old Trafford.[16] Agbonlahor then scored deep into injury time in the following game, against Watford on 20 January, to end a Villa winless run that stretched back to 11 November.[17]

Agbonlahor had played every minute of Aston Villa's campaign in 2006–07, until he was replaced by Patrik Berger, in the 2–0 away fixture against Reading, on 10 February, 2007. The following match was the first of the season that Agbonlahor did not start—he instead appeared from the bench, replacing new Villa signing Shaun Maloney. Manager Martin O'Neill suggested that Agbonlahor, who had been playing out of position on the right wing for much of the season, had done superbly, and being dropped from the first 11 was in order to rest him, and alleviate growing crowd pressure.

Following this break, Agbonlahor went on a scoring spree. He scored from the right-wing against Everton on 2 April, to gain Villa a valuable point.[18] Following this match, Agbonlahor signed a new-four year contract at Aston Villa.[19] The following Saturday, in the absence of John Carew, he was moved back to his natural position at centre forward and again found his name on the scoresheet.

Agbonlahor made it three in a row on Easter Monday, again scoring an equaliser, adjudged to have crossed the line by Assistant referee Dave Richardson.

2007–08 season

Agbonlahor also scored the vital second goal in the match between Aston Villa and Chelsea on 2 September, in which Villa won 2–0.[20][21] Agbonlahor scored the winning goal in the 86th minute of the Birmingham Derby, 60 seconds after saving the ball on the line from a Liam Ridgewell shot. After 13 games, Agbonlahor was the clubs top goal scorer, with six Premier League goals. On 7 December it was announced that Agbonlahor had won the Barclays Premier League Player of the month award and Manager Martin O'Neill had won the Manager of the month award for the same month.[22]

On 12 April, 2008, Agbonlahor scored the fourth goal against Derby County in a 6–0 victory at Pride Park in the Premier league.[23] In the Birmingham derby on 20 April 2008, he scored the fifth and final goal in the 5–1 victory.[24]

2008–09 season

On 15 August 2008, Aston Villa announced that Agbonlahor had signed a new four-year deal, tying him to the club until 2012.[25]

Following his contract extension, on 17 August, 2008, Agbonlahor scored a "perfect" hat-trick (scoring a goal with his head, right foot and left foot) against Manchester City in Villa's opening game of the 2008-2009 season at Villa Park. The three goals were netted in the space of seven minutes, making it the second fastest hat-trick in the history of the Premier League. He was later named man of the match due to this performance which led to a 4-2 victory.[26]

Early in the season he began to form a successful strike partnership with team-mate John Carew, this demonstrated in the Premier League away games against West Bromwich Albion[27] and Wigan Athletic[28] where both players scored in both games and provided assists. On 3 November, Agbonlahor was at the centre of a controversy with Newcastle United's Joey Barton when, during the match, Barton appeared to brush his fingers on Agbonlahor's face. It later emerged that Barton's attack might have been race-orientated, but, after careful consideration by both Aston Villa and the FA, no further action was taken.[29][30] On 8 November, it emerged in some national newspapers that the reason Agbonlahor decided not to pursue legal action against Barton was because he "felt sorry" for him.[31][32] On 15 November, he scored once and played a part in the other goal, when Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.[33] He scored a brace against Bolton Wanderers on 13 December.[34]

International career

On 20 September 2006, Agbonlahor was pencilled in as a player in the Nigeria U-20 team for the match against Rwanda. He turned down the chance, whilst not ruling out playing for the country in the future.[35] He has since pledged his future to England.[36]

On 28 September 2006, Agbonlahor received his first call-up to the England U21 squad, and won his first U21 cap as a substitute against Germany U21s, on 6 October.

Agbonlahor was then omitted from the England's U-21 Championship squad, by manager Stuart Pearce, on 30 May 2007, as a result of missing the England U21 training camp in Spain. David Bentley, also included in the England first team lineup, took his place.

Agbonlahor was later recalled to the side by Pearce, in September 2007,[37] netting his first goal for the U-21s, by scoring the second in a 3–0 victory, over Montenegro U-21.

On 1 February, Agbonlahor was named in Fabio Capello's 23-man squad for the England National Team to play Switzerland in February 2008[38], although a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw from the game.[39]

Agbonlahor was also an unused substitute in England's respective 2-0 and 3-0 friendly victories against the U.S.A.[40] and Trinidad & Tobago[41] in May/June 2008.

On 15 November, 2008, he was called up to Fabio Capello's squad for the upcoming match against Germany in Berlin, joining three other Aston Villa players in the squad; Ashley Young, Curtis Davies and Gareth Barry. On 19 November he was named to start against Germany. He played for 76 minutes and received high praise from John Terry, who declared him in his post-match interview "a nightmare to play against".[42]

Career Statistics

All-Time Club Performance
Club Season England League FA Cup League Cup Europe International Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Aston Villa[43] 2008-09 17 9 0 0 1 0 7 1 1 0 26 10
2007-08 37 11 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 40 11
2006-07 38 9 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 42 10
2005-06 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Aston Villa Total 101 30 2 0 6 1 7 1 1 0 117 32
Sheffield Weds (loan) 2005-06 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Sheffield Weds Total 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Watford (loan) 2005-06 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Watford Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career Total 111 30 2 0 6 1 7 1 1 0 127 32
Last updated 16 December 2008.

Honours

Aston Villa:

FA Youth Cup

  • Runners Up (2003–04)

HKFC Philips Lighting International Football Sevens

  • Runners Up (2006)
  • Player Of The Tournament (2006)

International Football Challenge

  • Winners (2005)
  • Player Of The Series (2005)

Young Player Of The Season

  • Winner (2006–07)
  • Winner (2007–08)

Player's Young Player of the Season

  • Winner (2006–07)
  • Winner (2007–08)

Top Goalscorer

  • Winner (2006–07)

Premiership:

Player of the Month November

  • Winner (2007–08)

References

  1. ^ Telegraph.co.uk
  2. ^ "Agbonlahor undecided on Nigeria". BBC Sport. 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ "Scots consider Agbonlahor call". BBC Sport. 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "Gabriel Agbonlahor commits to Aston Villa". The Telegraph. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Speedy Agbonlahor quick to make his mark". The Guardian. 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "Gabriel Agbonlahor eyes Wembley and England team". The Times. 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ "Owls seal Agbonlahor loan switch". BBC Sport. 2005-10-28. Retrieved 2008-12-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ "Everton 4-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2006-03-18. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ "Villa thrash Walsall in friendly". BBC Sport. 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ "NEC Nijmegen 2 Villa 1". Birmingham Mail. 2006-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Aston Villa 2-0 Charlton". BBC Sport. 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ "Leicester 2-3 Aston Villa (aet)". BBC Sport. 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Sinnott, John (2006-10-28). "Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ McNulty, Phil (2007-01-13). "Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ McNulty, Phil (2007-01-20). "Aston Villa 2-0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "Aston Villa 1-1 Everton". BBC Sport. 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ "Agbonlahor signs new Villa deal". BBC Sport. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (2007-09-02). "Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2007-09-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Self, Janine (2007-09-03). "Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 0". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  22. ^ "Villa claim maiden Barclays Awards double" (PDF). Premier League. 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ "Derby 0-6 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ "Aston Villa 5-1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "Agbonlahor commits to Villains". Premier League. 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ Bevans, Chris (2008-08-17). "Aston Villa 4-2 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  27. ^ "West Brom 1-2 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  28. ^ "Wigan 0-4 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  29. ^ "Newcastle 2-0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  30. ^ "FA decides not to punish Barton". BBC Sport. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  31. ^ "No Barton complaint from Agbonlahor following racism allegations". The Guardian. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  32. ^ "Gabriel Agbonlahor exclusive: Why I let Joey Barton get away with loutish behaviour". The Mirror. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  33. ^ "Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2008-11-15. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  34. ^ "Aston Villa 4-2 Bolton". BBC Sport. 2008-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  35. ^ "Agbonlahor turns down Nigeria". BBC Sport. 2006-09-24. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  36. ^ "Gab: England for Me". Aston Villa F.C.'s official website. 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  37. ^ "Agbonlahor in England U21 squad". BBC Sport. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  38. ^ "Capello keeps Agbonlahor in squad". BBC Sport. 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  39. ^ "Wright-Phillips fit for England". BBC Sport. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  40. ^ "England 2-0 USA". BBC Sport. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  41. ^ "England 3-0 Trinidad & Tobago". BBC Sport. 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  42. ^ "Aston Villa's Agbonlahor and Young impress England captain Terry". Birmingham Mail. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  43. ^ "Gabriel Agbonlahor: Player Profile". Aston Villa F.C.'s official website. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-02-26.


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