For many football fans, former Everton striker Yakubu is a bonafide Premier League ‘Barclaysman’.
The star spent 10 seasons in the Premier League in total, but first arrived on English shores with Championship side Portsmouth in 2002.
Yakubu left Portsmouth in 2005 to join Middlesbrough, spending a few seasons at the riverside Stadium before then transferring to Everton.
Things started really well for Yakubu, as he banged in 15 Premier League goals in his first season a the club, and 21 in all competitions.
The Nigeria quickly endeared himself to the Goodison Park faithful. But sadly, Yakubu was robbed of a chance to build on that first campaign, as he ruptured his Achilles a few months into his second term.
Yakubu then struggled to break into Everton’s team under David Moyes in his third season after returning from injury – leading to a loan exit to Leicester City midway through. He then left to join Blackburn Rovers at the end of the 2010/11 season.
That injury rather spoiled Yakubu’s time on Merseyside. But he is still fondly thought of by Evertonians, and the feeling is mutual.
Yakubu played with some cracking players during his time as a blue, and in 2018, he named his best Everton five-a-side team – with one glaring omission.
Yakubu’s brilliant Everton five-a-side team that didn’t even include Tim Cahill
Yakubu paid a visit to Finch Farm in November to conduct an interview with Baz of the Toffee TV: Everton Fan Channel.
The former striker spoke about his three-year spell with the club, and it is clear that he very much enjoyed his time at the club.
In his last season he didn’t play so much and revealed that he pushed to leave in order to get regular football and to build his fitness.
In the end, Moyes sanctioned that move to Leicester, which Yakubu appreciated.
Yakubu has fond memories of playing for Everton – and shared the dressing room with some very talented players.
As part of his interview, Yakubu was asked for his best five-a-side team of players he played with at Everton.
He replied: “I will pick Steven Pienaar. For sure I’ll pick Pienaar. Then Jagielka, Mikel Arteta. I have to pick myself!
“And other one… I’ll pick Bainesy. Sorry Tim, I didn’t pick you! I pick Bainsey.”
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Yakubu was an underrated Premier League striker
His time at Everton could have been a lot different had he not suffered that awful Achilles injury.
But Yakubu can certainly be proud of his Premier League career.
He made 252 appearances in the competition and scored a very respectable 95 goals, placing him 36th on the list of all-time top goalscorers.
| Yakubu in the Premier League |
| Appearances – 252 |
| Seasons played – 10 |
| Goals – 95 |
| Assists – 24 |
In terms of African players, he is only behind Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.
On his day he really was a handful, with his bulky frame and low centre of gravity making him a great fit for English football.
He didn’t have too much pace, but defenders in the late 2000s certainly knew they’d be in for battle when Yakubu was playing.
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