Former Super Eagles’ striker, Yakubu Ayegbeni has refuted insinuations that he retired from the round leather game in frustration, after failing to play for any top club during his younger days, as he revealed that he actually won two major titles during his time in Israel, megasportsarena.com reports
Although he admitted he would have loved to have done better and won more laurels during his time in England, ‘Yaku-Bull’ stressed that his career at club level was not as bad as some critics are painting, adding that he feels accomplished as a globally renowned footballer.
Despite his inability to win any silverware during his time in England, where he played at the highest level for Portsmouth, Everton, Middlebrough, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers, ‘The Yak’ insisted he has no regret his failure to win the Premier League title, FA Cup or League Cup.
He, however, takes his mind back to his early days abroad, when his impressive goals scoring form and performances at Maccabi Haifa of Israel shot him into international limelight, especially when he scored for them against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, and he was soon on his way to Portsmouth, which he helped secure Premier League promotion.
After two seasons at Fratton Park with the team fondly called Pompey, Yak moved to then top-flight side, Middlesbrough for a record £7.5m transfer fee, after which he helped them reach the 2006 UEFA Cup final, but they fell 4-0 to Sevilla of Spain in the ultimate game at PSV Eindhoven of Holland’s Philips Stadium.
Aside stints with Everton, Leicester and Blackburn, Yakubu also played in China, Turkey and Qatar but failed to win any laurel with them all, then returned to England to feature for Reading and Coventry City but the once-enterprising hitman, who remains Africa’s third-highest goals scorer in EPL history.
Now 37 years old, Ayegbeni is reflecting on his time in England, which spanned over 11 years, and the former Super Eagles’ top striker, who was named Middlesbrough’s player of the season in 2006, admitted he would have loved to win something big, but insists he has no regrets.
Yakubu told Goal: “No regrets, I tried my best and I gave everything. I helped Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final where we lost. I didn’t win any trophy in England but when I was at Maccabi Haifa, I won the league title and the Israeli Cup.
“I’m lucky to have won two titles in my career but for missing out on titles in England, I do not have any regrets over that. I had a wonderful career and enjoyed it scoring goals, playing along with great players and sharing dressing rooms with them. I had a great career.”
