Top Football Players: Obafemi Martins

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Obafemi Martins 2010

Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (born 28 October 1984) is a Nigerian Association football who plays as a Forward (association football) for the English Premier League club Birmingham City F.C., and the Nigerian national football team.
After leaving Nigeria for Italy at age 16, Obafemi Martins has since played for a number of List of top-division football clubs in UEFA countries. Obafemi Martins began Obafemi Martins senior career in 2002 at the Italian Serie A club F.C. Internazionale Milano, before moving to the English Premier League club Newcastle United F.C. in 2006, and then the German Fußball-Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg in 2009. Having joined Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan in July 2010, they loaned Obafemi Martins to Birmingham in January 2011.

In club football, Martins has won the Italian Serie A title, the Coppa Italia (twice), and the Supercoppa Italiana, all with Inter. With Birmingham Obafemi Martins scored the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final. Obafemi Martins has played European football with Inter, Newcastle and Wolfsburg, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Newcastle. Obafemi Martins highest scoring league seasons so far have seen Obafemi Martins score 11 goals in both the 2004–05 Serie A, and 2006–07 FA Premier League. In international football, Martins has been in the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, and for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Martins has two brothers who also play football professionally: Obafemi Martins elder brother, Oladipupo Olarotini Martins, and Obafemi Martins younger brother John Ronan Martins. The name 'Obafemi' translates literally to 'the king loves me' in the Yoruba language.

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Three members (Joseph Yobo, Yakubu, Victor Anichebe) of it ply their trade at Goodison Park of Everton in England. Portsmouth (Kanu, John Utaka), Fulham (Dickson Etuhu), Bolton Wanderers (Danny Shittu) and notably Chelsea (John Obi Mikel) boast Nigerian players. Obafemi Martins is another player I’m expecting to make things happen in South Africa. Martins once played for Newcastle and now plays for Wolfsburg in Germany. His pace paired with the pace of Victor Obinna will give the physical Greeks something think twice about as well as the rest of Group B. The captain, Kanu, stands the most capped, and his creative play will allow Martins to perform well, however his age has looked more noticeable as of late. In qualifying they conceded only one goal in six matches and had a perfect run. With John Obi Mikel steadying the ship in the middle of the park, breaking down attacks, and starting moves forward, the Nigerians are well equipped in all areas.

On the back of seven successive wins, United have clambered to the Barclays Premier League summit, whilst also opening their current Champions League
campaign with a highly significant triumph over Besiktas in Istanbul.

Tonight, Martins hopes to help his new club, Wolfsburg, halt that run at Old Trafford.

But the Nigerian knows it will be not be easy. The former Newcastle star has previously scored at Old Trafford, but he feels this United has more options than the ones he has encountered before.
Obafemi Martins

United fears: Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins (right) has had first-hand experience of Old Trafford already

'Even without Ronaldo and Tevez, I would say you face the same problems playing against United,' said Martins.

'In fact they are playing much better than before. When Ronaldo was on the pitch, everyone looked to him, expecting him to change the game when his team most needed it.

'But now United have a lot of players who can change a game, like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov. Even the defenders can score goals, so we must watch out for them all over the pitch.'

Rooney is the man Martins is most wary of.

The England striker is set to make his 50th Champions League appearance for United this evening, with Sir Alex Ferguson among those who believe the 23-year-old is destined for even bigger things.

Having seen him operate at close quarters, Martins is not going to disagree. 'He is playing so well at the moment - he can destroy defenders in an instant,' he said.

'He is scoring goals, maybe more goals than before, and he is helping the team in lots of other ways as well. He is a player we need to be very careful of.'

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Wolfsburg

Obafemi Martins Nigeria

In club football, Martins has won the Italian Serie A title, the Coppa Italia (twice), and the Supercoppa Italiana, all with Inter. With Birmingham Obafemi Martins scored the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final. Obafemi Martins has played European football with Inter, Newcastle and Wolfsburg, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Newcastle. Obafemi Martins highest scoring league seasons so far have seen Obafemi Martins score 11 goals in both the 2004–05 Serie A, and 2006–07 FA Premier League. In international football, Martins has been in the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, and for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Martins has two brothers who also play football professionally: Obafemi Martins elder brother, Oladipupo Olarotini Martins, and Obafemi Martins younger brother John Ronan Martins. The name 'Obafemi' translates literally to 'the king loves me' in the Yoruba language.

Obafemi Martins Nigeria

Obafemi Martins NigeriaBorn in Lagos, Martins joined the local football club F.C. Ebedei, having been scouted by manager Churchill Oliseh while playing on the streets of Obafemi Martins hometown. After a year with the club, Italian Serie C side A.C. Reggiana 1919 made a move for the player. After a two-month trial, Martins and fellow Ebedei teammate Stephen Makinwa signed youth contracts with the club in 2000. Obafemi Martins first season in Italy saw Martins break into the first team squad, and later in the year Serie A sides Perugia and Internazionale made offers for the forward (football).

Obafemi Martins Nigeria

Obafemi Martins Nigeria

Obafemi Martins Nigeria

Obafemi Martins NigeriaA Euro750,000 transfer fee took Martins to Internazionale in 2001, and in Obafemi Martins first season Obafemi Martins scored 23 goals for the youth team, helping them to the Italy Under-18 title. Obafemi Martins form for the youth side led to Obafemi Martins first-team league debut the following season, in a match against Parma F.C. in December 2002. Obafemi Martins didn't become a regular member of the first team squad until the 2002–03 season. Obafemi Martins played in Obafemi Martins first UEFA Champions League match that season, and came on as a substitute against Obafemi Martins future employers, Newcastle United, at St. James' Park. Obafemi Martins scored Obafemi Martins first Champions League goal in a match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen to secure Inter's place in the quarter finals; footage of Obafemi Martins celebratory somersaults were subsequently used by UEFA to advertise the following season's competition. Obafemi Martins scored again in the semi-final match against Inter's arch-rivals A.C. Milan, but couldn't prevent the club losing out on away goals to the competition's eventual winners. Obafemi Martins ended the season with one league goal in four games.

Martins signed a long-term contract with Inter Milan in 2005 which ran until 2010 and was worth around €2.5 million annually. Obafemi Martins good form for Inter continued and Obafemi Martins was called to play in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria.

Although Obafemi Martins had some success with Inter, scoring 28 goals for the club in 88 league games as well as 11 goals in European competitions, Obafemi Martins was sold in August 2006. This was due to Inter bringing in two new strikers; first Argentinian Hernán Crespo was brought in on loan from Chelsea F.C. and then the Swede Zlatan Ibrahimović was bought by Inter from Juventus F.C..

Obafemi Martins Inter

Reports in Italy suggest that Inter Milan are ready offer Nigerian international striker Obafemi Martins as bait to land Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry. The speedy hitman has scored 12 goals in all competitions for the Nerazzurri, but Inter supremo Massimo Moratti is happy to sacrifice him this summer. -- Clubcall.com

When Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda's former U.S. national team roommate, denied to everyone in the media he was leaving his job as Red Bulls president and GM, then quit a couple of days later to take a similar position with the Galaxy, Wynalda felt betrayed. "When you deny the rumors and two days later you get the job, I'm going to call you a liar," Wynalda said. Lalas seemed a bit bemused at Wynalda's comments. -- Newark Star-Ledger

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins InterCanara Bank completed a facile 8-wicket win over Bihar Cricket Association in the league match of Pool B in the eleventh all India J.P. Atray cricket tournament today. Canara Bank after winning the toss elected to field and their decision was justified by the fine disply of Canara Bank bowlers who maintained a continued stranglehold in Bihar batsmen who were bowled out for 121 in 44.1 overs. M.S. Dhoni, the centurian of match against PCA Colts yesterday, could not repeat his performance and was caught in gully of the bowling of Chatra for 9. Sumit Panda 38 (4x4, 1x6) of 49 balls and Santosh Lal 21 were the main scorers for Bihar.

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins Inter

Obafemi Martins

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins looks set to leave St. James Park and join German side Wolfsburg for a fee reported to be in around £9 million. The Nigerian striker joined Newcastle from Inter Milan in August 2006.

Now it seems Martins is ready to move onto better things, with Newcastle relegated to the Championship and Wolfsburg the new champions on Germany, it will certainly be a step up for the pacey striker. Martins scored 35 goals in total for Newcastle.

So is this end for Newcaslte. Managerless, relegated, looking for a new owner and just lost 6-1 against Leyton Orient, can things get any worse. As for Wolfsburg, is this the start of their dominance in Germany. They certainly have a very good team, and if they can keep their star players such as Dzeko and Grafite and add players of the calibre of Martins, i see no reason why they won't challenge for the Bundesliga title again next year.