Finidi George: Difference between revisions
Unduly removed one REF, but i do think this person (who also also "contributed" in Borja Valero, Vieirinha, etc), is not welcome unless it changes a lot. |
Add a bit on updation |
||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
After making a name for himself at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] in the [[Netherlands]] – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]] [[UEFA Champions League]] – he played several years in [[Spain]] with [[Real Betis]], also having a brief spell in [[England]] before retiring. |
After making a name for himself at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] in the [[Netherlands]] – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]] [[UEFA Champions League]] – he played several years in [[Spain]] with [[Real Betis]], also having a brief spell in [[England]] before retiring. |
||
Finidi was an important member of the [[Nigeria national football team|Nigerian team]] during the 1990s, appearing in two [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]]. |
Finidi was an important member of the [[Nigeria national football team|Nigerian team]] during the 1990s, appearing in two [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]]. Finidi was ranked second behind [[Nwankwo Kanu]] of being best Nigerian player in the [[UEFA Champions League]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George & the five best Nigerian performers in the Champions League|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2012/05/09/3080179/nwankwo-kanu-finidi-george-the-five-best-nigerian-performers#|publisher=Goal.com|date=9 May 2012|accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref>. |
||
==Club career== |
==Club career== |
||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
In November 2003, 32-year Finidi underwent a trial at former club Mallorca,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3281395.stm Finidi returns to Spain]; BBC Sport, 18 November 2003</ref> following which he signed with the [[Balearic Islands]] team,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3380531.stm Finidi returns to Mallorca]; BBC Sport, 8 January 2004</ref> helping it finally [[2003–04 La Liga|finish in 11th position]], after constantly battling relegation. He retired from the game in the summer. |
In November 2003, 32-year Finidi underwent a trial at former club Mallorca,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3281395.stm Finidi returns to Spain]; BBC Sport, 18 November 2003</ref> following which he signed with the [[Balearic Islands]] team,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3380531.stm Finidi returns to Mallorca]; BBC Sport, 8 January 2004</ref> helping it finally [[2003–04 La Liga|finish in 11th position]], after constantly battling relegation. He retired from the game in the summer. |
||
==Post-Playing Career== |
|||
In mid-November 2010, Finidi returned to Betis as its [[Director of football|director of international football]]. He continued, however, to live in [[Palma, Majorca|Palma de Mallorca]], where he had relocated to after his retirement.<ref>[http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=3731 Finidi George:I am proud to be back in Real Betis]; All Nigeria Soccer, 18 November 2010</ref> |
|||
In mid-November 2010, Finidi returned to Betis as its [[Director of football|director of international football]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Betis appoint Finidi George director of international football|url=http://www.naijanewsandevents.com/sports/4265-real-betis-appoint-finidi-george-director-of-international-football.html|publisher=Naija News and Event|date=19 November 2010|accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref>. He continued, however, to live in [[Palma, Majorca|Palma de Mallorca]], where he had relocated to after his retirement.<ref>[http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=3731 Finidi George:I am proud to be back in Real Betis]; All Nigeria Soccer, 18 November 2010</ref> Just after 4 months became the club's director of football, Finidi was sacked because of his 'high salary' and travel expenses as his work didn't bring good.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Betis dismiss FINIDI GEORGE|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=4418|publisher=All Nigeria Soccer|date=29 March 2011|accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref> |
|||
==International career== |
==International career== |
||
Revision as of 22:36, 20 August 2012
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Finidi George | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Retired | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989 | Calabar Rovers | ? | (?) |
| 1990 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | ? | (?) |
| 1991–1993 | Sharks | ? | (?) |
| 1993–1996 | Ajax | 85 | (18) |
| 1996–2000 | Betis | 130 | (38) |
| 2000–2001 | Mallorca | 31 | (5) |
| 2001–2003 | Ipswich Town | 35 | (7) |
| 2004 | Mallorca | 14 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1991–2002 | Nigeria | 62 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Finidi George (born 15 April 1971 in Port Harcourt) is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a right winger.
After making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League – he played several years in Spain with Real Betis, also having a brief spell in England before retiring.
Finidi was an important member of the Nigerian team during the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups. Finidi was ranked second behind Nwankwo Kanu of being best Nigerian player in the UEFA Champions League[1].
Club career
After playing for three different clubs in his country, Finidi arrived at AFC Ajax in 1993, alongside 17-year old compatriot Nwankwo Kanu. His impact with the Amsterdam side was immediate, as he scored four times in 27 games to help it win the Eredivisie title, which was also achieved in the following two seasons; additionally, as a starter, he appeared in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the 1994–95 edition against A.C. Milan.
In 1996, Finidi moved to Spain and signed for Real Betis, where he scored in double digits in nearly every season, with the Andalusians finishing fourth in his first year, which also brought a Copa del Rey final loss against FC Barcelona (2–3 after extra time), where he scored; before joining the club, he was close to moving to Real Madrid, but the deal fell through.[2]
After Betis' 2000 top flight relegation, Finidi stayed one more year in Spain with RCD Mallorca, after which he joined Premier League side Ipswich Town, managed by George Burley,[3] for £3.1 million.[4] He scored twice in a 3–1 win against Derby County at Portman Road, but underperformed overall, with the club also suffering relegation; he was released from contract in June 2003.
In November 2003, 32-year Finidi underwent a trial at former club Mallorca,[5] following which he signed with the Balearic Islands team,[6] helping it finally finish in 11th position, after constantly battling relegation. He retired from the game in the summer.
Post-Playing Career
In mid-November 2010, Finidi returned to Betis as its director of international football[7]. He continued, however, to live in Palma de Mallorca, where he had relocated to after his retirement.[8] Just after 4 months became the club's director of football, Finidi was sacked because of his 'high salary' and travel expenses as his work didn't bring good.[9]
International career
Finidi made his debut for Nigeria in 1991, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso, providing three assists for Rashidi Yekini and scoring once in a 7–1 win. He helped the national team win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia, and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.
Finidi represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups, 1994 and 1998.[10] In the former, held in the United States, as the national team won its group and exited in the round of 16 against eventual finalists Italy, he scored against Greece in a 2–0 win, proceeding to mimick a urinating dog whilst celebrating.[11]
In the 1998 tournament in France, Finidi also played in all the matches, with Nigeria meeting the same fate, at the hands of Denmark. He had already vowed to quit international football prior to the competition,[12] and gained a total of 62 caps.
Honours
Club
Ajax
- Dutch League: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
- UEFA Champions League: 1994–95; Runner-up 1995–96
- UEFA Super Cup: 1995
- Intercontinental Cup: 1995
- Dutch Supercup: 1994, 1995
Betis
- Spanish Cup: Runner-up 1996–97
Country
- Africa Cup of Nations: 1994; Runner-up 2000; Third-place 1992, 2002
Personal
Finidi's younger brothers, Iginaware and Celestine, were also footballers. The former was killed during crowd problems in a match.
References
- ^ "Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George & the five best Nigerian performers in the Champions League". Goal.com. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Finidi George: I almost joined Real Madrid in 1996". Goal.com. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Finidi passes Ipswich medical; BBC Sport, 4 August 2001
- ^ Finidi agrees Ipswich move; BBC Sport, 16 August 2001
- ^ Finidi returns to Spain; BBC Sport, 18 November 2003
- ^ Finidi returns to Mallorca; BBC Sport, 8 January 2004
- ^ "Real Betis appoint Finidi George director of international football". Naija News and Event. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ Finidi George:I am proud to be back in Real Betis; All Nigeria Soccer, 18 November 2010
- ^ "Real Betis dismiss FINIDI GEORGE". All Nigeria Soccer. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ Finidi George – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ Top 10 dodgy goal celebrations; The Daily Telegraph, 11 November 2008
- ^ Finidi quits after World Cup; BBC Sport, 30 December 2001
External links
- Beijen profile Template:Nl icon
- BDFutbol profile
- Finidi George at Soccerbase
- Finidi George at National-Football-Teams.com
 | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
- 1971 births
- Living people
- People from Port Harcourt
- Nigerian footballers
- Association football wingers
- Eredivisie players
- AFC Ajax players
- La Liga footballers
- Real Betis footballers
- RCD Mallorca footballers
- Premier League players
- The Football League players
- Ipswich Town F.C. players
- Nigeria international footballers
- 1994 FIFA World Cup players
- 1998 FIFA World Cup players
- 1992 African Cup of Nations players
- 1994 African Cup of Nations players
- 2000 African Cup of Nations players
- 2002 African Cup of Nations players
- Nigerian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in the Netherlands
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Nigerian expatriates in the Netherlands
- Nigerian expatriates in Spain