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Joseph Yobo

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Joseph Phillip Yobo (born 6 September 1980 in Kono) is a Nigerian football defender, who currently plays for Everton and the Nigerian national team.

He is the younger brother of former Nigeria international Albert Yobo. At the beginning of July 2008, his younger brother Norum Yobo was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and held for ransom. He was eventually released after 12 days on 17 July 2008.

Club career

Yobo was born in Kono, but he grew up in Port Harcourt and is close friends with Crewe Alexandra's George Abbey with whom he grew up. He later consulted with Abbey when deciding whether to move to England.

Yobo left Nigeria to join Standard Liège in 1998. He made his first team debut in 2000, and went on to appear 46 times. In 2001, he was bought by Marseille.

Everton

Soon after making his debut, Yobo was loaned to Tenerife. After around nine months, Yobo retuned to Marseille, before joining Everton, again on loan, in July 2002. A £1 million fee was required to register the player, and he became the first signing of David Moyes. An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled, with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4 million.

Yobo became one of the most consistent players in the Everton squad, and was one of only seven players in the entire league to play every minute of every game throughout the 2006–07 season.

The delay, in 2006, in signing a new contract with Everton lead to rumours of a move to Arsenal, but on 22 July, Yobo committed himself to Goodison Park until 2010. As of 15 April 2007, Yobo is the record appearance holder for an overseas player at Everton. For the UEFA Cup match against Larissa of Greece on 25 October 2007, Yobo was named as captain in the absence of Phil Neville and thus became the first African to captain the club. On 6 May 2009, Yobo scored his first goal of the season against West Ham United to seal a 3–1 win.

In the 2009–10 season, Yobo had to adjust to his new defensive partner, Sylvain Distin, after Joleon Lescott left and Phil Jagielka became injured. On the 29 November 2009, he scored an own goal in Everton's 2–0 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby.

International career

The Nigerian international played in the Super Eagles' three matches in Japan and South Korea, for the 2002 World Cup, and even provided the assist for his side's only goal of the tournament. His play at international level has received positive reviews.

Personal life

In 2010, following a brief courtship, Yobo married former beauty queen Adaeze Igwe in a midnight ceremony held in Jos. They are expecting their first child together.

Charity work

In 2007, Yobo set up the Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation, to help under-privileged children in Nigeria. As of 18 July 2007, he has handed out over 300 scholarship awards ranging from primary to university level. Yobo has started a football academy in the Ogoni region of Nigeria. He also runs football camps in Lagos, in conjunction with Everton Lagos.

Career statistics

Honours

Individual

• CAF Awards - voted in best African XI for 2007/2008 season

References

External links

• Joseph Yobo Foundation Charity founded by Joseph Yobo
• BBC Coverage of Joseph Yobo Foundation
• International appearances

Nigeria Squads 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 v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations Third Place 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Odiah • 6 Enakarhire • 7 Utaka • 8 Mikel • 9 Martins • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Yussuf • 14 Obinna • 15 Obiefule • 16 Oruma • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Obodo • 19 Makinwa • 20 Odemwingie • 21 Nwaneri • 22 Kaita • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Eguavoen v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Nwaneri • 6 Shittu • 7 Utaka • 8 Yakubu • 9 Martins • 10 Mikel • 11 Odemwingie • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Olofinjana • 15 Uche • 16 Etuhu • 17 Makinwa • 18 Obinna • 19 Emeghara • 20 Okonkwo • 21 Eromoigbe • 22 Apam • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Vogts v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Third Place 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Nwaneri • 6 Shittu • 7 Obasi • 8 Yakubu • 9 Martins • 10 Mikel • 11 Odemwingie • 12 Ejide • 13 Yussuf • 14 Olofinjana • 15 Kaita • 16 Uche • 17 Odiah • 18 Obinna • 19 Mohamed • 20 Etuhu • 21 Echiéjilé • 22 Apam • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Amodu