Celestine Babayaro

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Celestine Babayaro

| image = Celestine Babayaro (cropped).jpg

| caption = Babayaro in 2018

| fullname = Celestine Hycieth Babayaro{{Hugman|690|access-date=14 September 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|8|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kaduna, Nigeria

| height = 1.76 m

| position = Left-back, midfielder

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Plateau United

| years1 = 1994–1997 |clubs1 = Anderlecht |caps1 = 76 |goals1 = 8

| years2 = 1997–2005 |clubs2 = Chelsea |caps2 = 132|goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2005–2008 |clubs3 = Newcastle United |caps3 = 47 |goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2008 |clubs4 = LA Galaxy |caps4 = 0 |goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 255 |totalgoals = 13

| nationalyears1 = 1996–2000 |nationalteam1 = Nigeria Olympic |nationalcaps1 = 7 |nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 1995–2004 |nationalteam2 = Nigeria |nationalcaps2 = 27 |nationalgoals2 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{NGA}}}}

}}

Celestine Hycieth Babayaro (born 29 August 1978) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left-back or a midfielder.

Babayaro spent the majority of his career playing in the Premier League, mainly for Chelsea from 1997 to 2005, and then later for Newcastle United, from 2005 to 2008. He had a brief stint at MLS club LA Galaxy, but never officially played for the club. He retired as a free agent in 2010.

Babayaro represented the Nigeria national football team from 1995 to 2004 and was part of two Olympic squads, two World Cup squads and three African Cup of Nations squads.

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Kaduna, Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side Plateau United, before moving to Belgian club Anderlecht in 1994, and eventually would make a name for himself, quickly gaining first-choice status although still a teenager. Babayaro set records as the youngest player to make an appearance and to receive a red card in the UEFA Champions League. He was sent off in a match against Steaua București in a 1–1 draw, aged 16 years and 86 days.

=Chelsea=

Babayaro was signed by Chelsea after being spotted by scout Lewis Durkin in April 1997. He moved for a transfer fee of £2.25 million,{{cite news |title=Babayaro to join Bridge foreign legion |first=Tommy |last=Staniforth |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/babayaro-to-join-bridge-foreign-legion-1268683.html |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |date=22 April 1997 |access-date=18 April 2012 }} a club record paid for a teenager at the time.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} He made his debut in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Slovan Bratislava,{{cite news|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/7811687/slovan-bratislava-0-chelsea-2-agg-0-4|title=Slovan Bratislava 0 Chelsea 2 (Agg 0–4)|publisher=Sporting Life|date=2 October 1997|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-date=4 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204023919/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/7811687/slovan-bratislava-0-chelsea-2-agg-0-4|url-status=dead}} but an injury sustained in the 6–1 win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur in December 1997{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-tottenhams-revival-hopes-threatened-by-venglos-factor-1287524.html|title=Tottenham's revival hopes threatened by Venglos factor |newspaper=The Independent|date=8 December 1997 |access-date=1 December 2013}} ruled him out for the rest of the season. This meant he missed their victories in the 1998 Football League Cup final and the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final. However, with Chelsea he went on to win the 1998 UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup{{cite news |title=Chelsea claim FA Cup glory |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/756784.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 May 2000 |access-date=18 April 2012 }} and Charity Shield in 2000,{{cite news |title=Keane sees red as Chelsea triumph |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/879061.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=13 August 2000 |access-date=18 April 2012 }} and reached the 2002 FA Cup final.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/1959840.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=18 April 2012 |title=Arsenal lift FA Cup}} He was also instrumental in Chelsea's run in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League. Babayaro was sent off in extra time against Barcelona, as they bowed out of the competition at the quarter final stage.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/717082.stm|title=Chelsea's European dream shattered|publisher=BBC|date=18 April 2000 |access-date=1 December 2013}} He faced competition from Graeme Le Saux during his seven-year spell, but managed to play over 200 games for the club. His acrobatic celebrations with backflips were noted by the fans of the club.

The steady form of Wayne Bridge saw Babayaro start only four FA Premier League matches for Chelsea in 2004–05 under new manager José Mourinho. Chelsea ended the season as Premier League champions.

=Newcastle United=

In January 2005, he left Chelsea to join Newcastle United on an undisclosed fee,{{cite news |title=Newcastle to unveil Babayaro |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4131987.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=30 December 2004 |access-date=18 April 2012 }} where he established himself as first-choice left-back. He scored his first and what turned out to be his only Newcastle goal in a 3–1 win over Coventry City in the FA Cup.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4197699.stm|title=Newcastle 3–1 Coventry |publisher=BBC|date=29 January 2005 |access-date=6 November 2009}}

In September 2006, Babayaro was given a three-match ban by The Football Association for slapping Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt in the face,{{cite news |title=Babayaro hit with three-match ban |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/5370844.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=22 September 2006 |access-date=18 April 2012 }} while Liverpool took a corner. The slap was not seen by the referee Mark Halsey, but later footage showed Babayaro punch the Dutchman in the face. Babayaro accepted the allegations and apologised to Kuyt.

File:Babayaro.jpg

On 10 February 2007, after a 2–1 win over Liverpool, then-Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder revealed that just 12 hours before kick-off, Babayaro had called him saying his younger brother David had died from tuberculosis. Despite this, Babayaro insisted he would still play and put in a solid performance which earned him praise from Roeder and the fans. This fine form continued into United's 3–1 away victory against Zulte Waregem, in the UEFA Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nufc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/News/Features/0,,10278~979304,00.html|title=Brave Baba's secret sorrow|publisher=Nufc.premiumtv.co.uk|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406163408/http://www.nufc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/News/Features/0,,10278~979304,00.html|archive-date=6 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

Due to his many injury problems it was mutually decided, on 10 December 2007, that Babayaro should be released from his contract with immediate effect and a compensation figure was agreed.{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/tm_headline=bye-bye-babayaro%26method=full%26objectid=20229434%26siteid=72703-name_page.html |title=Bye Bye Babayaro |date=4 November 2023 |publisher=Chroniclelive.co.uk }}

In January 2009, former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd described Babayaro as a "disgrace" who "didn't pull his weight" during a televised BBC interview.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7856971.stm | work=BBC News | title=Shepherd regrets over missed opportunity | date=28 January 2009 | access-date=28 April 2010}}

=Later career=

On 21 January 2008, 30-year-old Babayaro came to an agreement with the LA Galaxy to join them on a three-year contract, effective immediately.{{cite web|last=Idaho |first=Duncan |url=http://mlssoccernews.blogspot.com/2008/01/babayaro-to-la-galaxy.html |title=MLS Soccer News – Transfers | Trades | Signings | Rumors: Babayaro to LA Galaxy |publisher=Mlssoccernews.blogspot.com |date=21 January 2008 }}

With this move, the Nigerian re-joined Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit who previously brought him to Chelsea in 1997 and spent a season coaching him there. This time again, it was the recently hired Gullit who wanted Babayaro at his new club. However, it did not take long for the move to turn sour. Thinking that he had arrived at sort of an American superclub that only a year earlier gave David Beckham what was widely reported to be the $250 million contract, Babayaro was agitated by what he considered to be "shabby" accommodations – from having to fly in the economy class to sharing a hotel room on the road.The Beckham Experiment, Grant Wahl, Three Rivers Press (paperback edition), New York, Pp.177–178 His lack of commitment in training and preseason games{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} reflected those feelings, and he soon got on Gullit's and club president and general manager Alexi Lalas's bad side.

On 3 March, Babayaro was waived by the Galaxy after playing only 45 minutes in a preseason friendly against FC Seoul, receiving a yellow card and conceding a penalty in the process. The reason for this unexpected release was not stated explicitly by Galaxy front office. "After a period of evaluation, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the club and the player to part ways," Lalas said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that it did not work out, but Ruud and our technical staff are hard at work putting together this team and difficult decisions have to be made."{{cite news |year=2008 |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-spw-soccer7mar07,1,1631712.story |title=Babayaro doesn't last with Galaxy |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312030646/http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-spw-soccer7mar07%2C1%2C1631712.story |archive-date=12 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}

During pre-season for the 2008–09 English league season, Babayaro trained with Premier League club Portsmouth at the invitation of manager Harry Redknapp with a view to signing for the FA Cup holders.{{cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&fm_type=&fm_string=&fm_article_page_num=&qs_articleid=1330&qs_media=html&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=2 | title=New Season, Same Hunger | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309182744/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&fm_type=&fm_string=&fm_article_page_num=&qs_articleid=1330&qs_media=html&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=2 | archive-date=9 March 2012 | df=dmy-all }} On 14 August 2008, Redknapp revealed that he would not offer Babayaro a contract at Fratton Park.{{cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Babayaro-no-go-but-Jordi.4389328.jp | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907104606/http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Babayaro-no-go-but-Jordi.4389328.jp | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 September 2012 | title=Babayaro a no go but Jordi has a chance }}

On 8 July 2010, Babayaro officially announced his retirement from football.{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201007080155.html|title=Nigeria: Babayaro Quits Professional Football|date=8 July 2010|work=Daily Champion (Lagos)|access-date=14 May 2018}}

International career

After being part of the victorious Nigerian team at the Under-17 World Championships in 1993, Babayaro made his international senior debut in the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations in 1995, against Uzbekistan. The following year, he was part of the Nigeria Olympic gold medal winning team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, making the tournament's all-star team. He scored in the gold medal game itself against Argentina. After getting a knee injury in December 1997 in the Premier League, Babayaro recovered just in time to make the France 98 squad. He was also Nigeria's captain at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and took part in the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Babayaro was part of Nigeria's squad for the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia, but was controversially{{according to whom|date=December 2021}} sent home, alongside Yakubu and Victor Agali for indiscipline. Although never officially announcing his retirement from international football, his final appearance from the national team was against Morocco in a group stage match.

Personal life

Celestine Babayaro's brother, Emmanuel, a goalkeeper, was also part of Nigeria's 1996 Olympics gold medal-winning team.{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-17114495.html |title=Migration: Der Doppelpass des Nigerianers |publisher=Spiegel.de |date=14 August 2000 }}

Babayaro was acquitted of indecent assault in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/410396.stm |title=Footballer cleared of indecent assault |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2 August 1999 |access-date=25 August 2013}} He later sued the Daily Star for a headline suggesting he had been charged with rape and won an apology and damages.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/2188426/babayaro-wins-libel-case|title=BABAYARO WINS LIBEL CASE|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=26 June 2017}} He was declared bankrupt in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59669/pages/383|title=The Gazette: Official Public Record.|date=12 January 2011|access-date=26 June 2017}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Belgian Cup, FA Cup, Open Cup}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes League Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{NFT player\|4827\|name=Celestine Babayaro\|access-date= }}{{cite web\|url=http://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk/Appearances/Ba-Bd.htm \|title=Players Appearances Ba-Bd \|publisher=Bounder.friardale.co.uk }}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Anderlecht \|{{nowrap\|1994–95}} \|rowspan="3"\|First Division \|22	0			colspan="2"\|—	1	0			23	0
1995–96 \|29	5			colspan="2"\|—	2	0			31	5
1996–97 \|25	3			colspan="2"\|—	8	0	colspan="2"\|—	33	3
colspan="2"\|Total !76	8			0	0	11	0			87	8
rowspan="9"\|Chelsea \|1997–98 \|rowspan="8"\|Premier League \|8	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	0
1998–99 \|28	3	5	0	3	0	7	1	1{{efn\|name=cs\|Appearances in Charity Shield}}	0	44	4
1999–2000 \|25	0	1	0	0	0	15	2	colspan="2"\|—	41	2
2000–01 \|24	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=cs}}	0	28	0
2001–02 \|18	0	4	0	4	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	28	0
2002–03 \|19	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	24	1
2003–04 \|6	1	2	0	3	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	14	1
2004–05 \|4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	5	0
colspan="2"\|Total !132	5	17	0	16	0	30	3	2	0	197	8
rowspan="5"\|Newcastle United \|2004–05 \|rowspan="4"\|Premier League \|7	0	4	1	0	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	1
2005–06 \|28	0	3	0	1	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	35	0
2006–07 \|12	0	0	0	2	0	6	0	colspan="2"\|—	20	0
2007–08 \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !47	0	7	1	3	0	11	0	0	0	68	1
LA Galaxy \|2008 \|Major League Soccer \|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	0	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !255	13	24	1	19	0	52	3	2	0	352	17

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="10"\|Nigeria \|1995	1	0
1996	1	0
1997	4	0
1998	5	0
1999	2	0
2000	7	0
2001	2	0
2002	4	0
2003	0	0
2004	1	0
colspan="2"\|Total	27	0

Honours

Anderlecht

Belgian First Division: 1994–95{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Belgian Super Cup: 1995{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Chelsea

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1997–98{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
UEFA Super Cup: 1998{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
FA Cup: 1999–2000{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
FA Charity Shield: 2000{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Nigeria U17

FIFA U-17 World Championship: 1993{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Nigeria U23

Olympic Gold Medal: 1996{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Nigeria

African Cup of Nations third place: 2004{{Cite web|title=African Nations Cup 2004|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04a.html|access-date=19 February 2021|publisher=RSSSF}}

Individual

Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 1994–95, 1995–96{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Ebony Shoe Award: 1996{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

References

External links

{{Soccerbase}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418030215/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/celestine-babayaro-1.html Babayaro's profile at Sports-Reference.com]

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