Eddie Oshodi
{{short description|English association football player}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Eddie Oshodi
| image = EddieOshodi@FGRFC.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Oshodi celebrating a goal for Forest Green Rovers in 2012
| fullname = Edward Abdullai Mobalaji Olatunji Afo Oshodi{{Cite book|editor-first=Barry J.|editor-last=Hugman|title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11|year=2010|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|isbn=9781845966010|page=322}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|1|14|df=y}}{{Hugman|24843|accessdate=20 June 2018}}
| birth_place = Brent, England
| position = Defender
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2008
| youthclubs1 = Watford
| years1 = 2008–2011
| clubs1 = Watford
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2011
| clubs3 = → Rushden & Diamonds (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2011–2015
| clubs4 = Forest Green Rovers
| caps4 = 117
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2015
| clubs5 = Hemel Hempstead Town
| caps5 = 17
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2015–2016
| clubs6 = St Albans City
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2016–2018
| clubs7 = Wealdstone
| caps7 = 52
| goals7 = 7
| years8 = 2019–2021
| clubs8 = Hendon
| caps8 = 21
| goals8 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2009
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013
| nationalteam3 = England C
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update =
}}
Edward Abdullai Mobalaji Olatunji Afo Oshodi (born 14 January 1992) is an English semi-professional footballer who played as a defender.
He began his career at Watford in the Championship and spent time on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge and Rushden & Diamonds before moving to Forest Green Rovers in 2011.
In 2015, Oshodi announced his retirement from the game at the age of 23, but returned to playing at semi-professional level shortly thereafter, signing for Hemel Hempstead Town and then St Albans City.
He represented England U16, U17 and C at international level.
Club career
=Watford=
Oshodi started his career with Watford's youth system. His first involvement with the first team came when he was named on the bench for a 1–0 League Cup third round win over Premier League side West Ham United on 23 September 2008. He made his first team debut for Watford during the 2009–10 season on 29 September in a 3–2 Championship home defeat against Coventry City, replacing the injured Lee Hodson as a substitute in the 78th minute.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8269520.stm|title=Watford 2 – 3 Coventry|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 October 2009|date=29 September 2009}} He was still an academy scholar at the time.{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10400,00.html |access-date=1 October 2009 |title=Watford vs Coventry City |publisher=Watford F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001200122/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10400,00.html |archive-date=1 October 2009 }}
On 25 November 2010, Oshodi signed on loan for League One side Dagenham & Redbridge until January 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dagenham_and_redbridge/9229248.stm|title=Watford's Eddie Oshodi joins Dagenham & Redbridge |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=25 November 2010|date=25 November 2010}} He joined Conference side Rushden & Diamonds on a three-month loan on 24 January 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/9376346.stm|title=Watford's Eddie Oshodi joins Rushden & Diamonds|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 March 2011|date=26 January 2011}} He scored his first senior career goal on 22 February 2011, in a 2–0 Conference win against Eastbourne Borough. He made 12 appearances during his time with the club.
=Forest Green Rovers=
On 7 October 2011, Oshodi signed for Conference side Forest Green Rovers, who were managed by his former youth team coach at Watford, Dave Hockaday, on a two-year deal.{{Cite web| url=http://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/news/first-team-news/2011/rovers-snap-up-oshodi |title=Rovers snap up Oshodi |publisher=Forest Green Rovers FC |date=7 October 2011 |access-date=7 October 2011}}{{Cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15201452.stm |title=Defender Eddie Oshodi joins Forest Green Rovers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 October 2011 |access-date=7 October 2011}} He made his Forest Green debut the next day in a 0–0 away draw against Fleetwood Town.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15135107.stm |title=Fleetwood Town 0–0 Forest Green Rovers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=8 October 2011 |archive-date=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010215648/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15135107.stm |url-status=dead }}
In August 2012, Oshodi was named Forest Green captain at the age of 20 for the beginning of the 2012–13 season. He scored his first goal for the club on 4 September 2012 in a home win against Ebbsfleet United.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19394683 |title=Forest Green 4–1 Ebbsfleet United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 September 2012}} In January 2013 he agreed a new two-and-a-half-year extension to his contract.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20921094 |title=Eddie Oshodi signs new Forest Green deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2013}} In January 2014, he spent a week training with League One side Brentford, having played under manager Mark Warburton in the academy at Watford.{{Cite web| url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/brentford-monitor-forest-green-rovers-6477827 |title=Brentford monitor Forest Green Rovers defender |publisher=Get West London |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=8 January 2014}}
Oshodi made his hundredth league appearance for Forest Green on 8 April 2014 in a 1–1 draw with Kidderminster Harriers.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26830231 |title=Forest Green 1–1 Kidderminster Harriers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 April 2014 |access-date=9 April 2014}} His first appearance of the 2014–15 season saw him come on as a substitute on 86 minutes in a 2–0 win over FC Halifax Town on 13 September 2014.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29090792 |title=Forest Green Rovers 2–0 FC Halifax Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 September 2014 |access-date=14 September 2014}} On 29 November 2014, he scored the opening goal, as well as an own goal, in a 2–1 win over Dartford.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30156947 |title=Forest Green 2–1 Dartford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=30 November 2014}}
On 2 February 2015, Oshodi revealed that he was stepping away from football to focus on his charity work and that he had come to a mutual agreement to leave Forest Green.{{Cite web| url=http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/11768538.FOOTBALL_My_mind_wasn___t_fully_into_football__says_Forest_Green_defender_Eddie_Oshodi/ |title=My mind wasn't fully into football says Forest Green defender Eddie Oshodi |publisher=Stroud News & Journal |date=3 February 2015 |access-date=4 February 2015}}{{Cite web| url= http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/11766209.FOOTBALL__Popular_Forest_Green_defender_Eddie_Oshodi_swaps_football_for_charity_work/ |title=Popular Forest Green defender Eddie Oshodi swaps football for charity work |publisher=Stroud News & Journal |date=2 February 2015 |access-date=2 February 2015}}{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31113011 |title=Forest Green defender quits football at 23 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 February 2015 |access-date=3 February 2015}}
=Semi-professional football=
Oshodi signed for Conference South side Hemel Hempstead Town in March 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/fans-favourite-diarra-heads-out-on-loan-with-oshodi-set-to-join-1-6629651|title=Fans' favourite Diarra heads out on loan with Oshodi set to join|publisher=Hemel Today|date=12 March 2015|access-date=23 December 2015|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224155534/http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/fans-favourite-diarra-heads-out-on-loan-with-oshodi-set-to-join-1-6629651|url-status=dead}} He was sent off in successive months for Hemel in October 2015, and left the club in November with manager Dean Brennan saying he needed to "balance the books".{{Cite web |date=23 November 2015 |title=Defender Oshodi leaves Hemel Town after up and down season |url=http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/hemeltownfc/defender-oshodi-leaves-hemel-town-after-up-and-down-season-1-7080493 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015824/https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/hemel-town-fc/defender-oshodi-leaves-hemel-town-after-up-and-down-season-1-7080493 |archive-date=21 June 2018 |access-date=23 December 2015 |publisher=Hemel Today}} In December 2015 Oshodi signed for another National League South side, St Albans City.{{Cite web| url=http://www.stalbanscityfc.com/saints-land-defender-eddie-oshodi/ |title=St Albans City FC is delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated defender Eddie Oshodi. |publisher=St Albans City |date=11 December 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015}}
=Wealdstone FC=
Oshodi signed for Wealdstone in the summer of 2016 and played two seasons with the club making over 50 league appearances before retiring in May 2018.
=Hendon=
In December 2019, Oshodi joined Hendon FC.[https://www.hendonfc.net/Squad?method=view&id=2465 Squad – Eddie Oshodi – Greensnet – Official Hendon FC], hendonfc.net He decided to step back from football in the summer of 2021.[https://www.hendonfc.net/Squad?method=view&id=2465 Former Staff - Eddie Oshodi], hendonfc.net
International career
Oshodi is eligible to play for England and Nigeria.{{Cite web| url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=3935 |title=Official: EDDIE OSHODI joins Dagenham & Redbridge |publisher=All Nigeria Soccer |date=4 November 2013}} Oshodi represented the England U16 and U17 teams and made three appearances at the 2009 European U17 Championship, as England crashed out in the group stage. In February 2012, Oshodi was called up to the England C team for a 2011–13 International Challenge Trophy match against Italy Lega Pro{{Cite web| url=http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/9518285.Rovers__pride_of_lions/ |title=England call for FGR quartet |publisher=Stroud News & Journal |date=8 February 2012}} and played the full 90 minutes of the 1–1 draw.{{Cite web| url=http://www.thefa.com/England/england-c/News/match-centre/2012/England-Italy-ICT/280212.aspx |title=England held by Italy |publisher=The Football Association |date=28 February 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012}} He then earned another call up to the England C squad in August 2012 for another 2011–13 International Challenge Trophy match against Belgium U23.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=7835 |title=Three Lions Emerge From Forest Green |publisher=Football Conference |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=29 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030000154/http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=7835 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} Oshodi played the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win over Belgium to earn his second cap.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=7941 |title=Victory for Three Lions in Belgium |publisher=Football Conference |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029235919/http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=7941 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 December 2017}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Watford
|2009–10{{Soccerbase season|49980|2009|name=Eddie Oshodi|accessdate=5 July 2016}} |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11{{Soccerbase season|49980|2010|name=Eddie Oshodi|accessdate=5 July 2016}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
|0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Rushden & Diamonds (loan)
|12 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 12 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan=5|Forest Green Rovers
|2011–12{{cite web |title=E. Oshodi – Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/eddie-oshodi/79798/ |work=Soccerway |access-date=5 July 2016}} |Conference Premier |30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1Appearances in FA Trophy | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13
|Conference Premier |41 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 45 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14
|Conference Premier |34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2014–15
|Conference Premier |12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!117 | 5 | 6 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | 127 | 6 | ||
| rowspan=3|Hemel Hempstead Town
|7 | 2 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 2 | ||||
| 2015–16{{cite web |title=E. Oshodi – Aylesbury Utd|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/eddie-oshodi#playingcareer|work=Aylesbury United FC |access-date=5 July 2016}}
|10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 12 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 2 | |||
| St Albans City
|National League South |19 | 5 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 5 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Wealdstone
|National League South |34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14Four appearances in the Middlesex Senior Cup; four appearances and a goal in the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup; six appearances and two goals in the FA Trophy | 3 | 50 | 7 | ||
| 2017–18
|National League South |18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!52 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 68 | 10 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!218 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 247 | 24 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oshodi, Eddie}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Brent
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. players
Category:St Albans City F.C. players
Category:Wealdstone F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers