Fuad Sule
{{Short description|Irish-Nigerian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Fuad Sule
|image =
|upright =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1997|01|20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11116989/fuad_sule/|title=Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Fuad Sule|website=www.extratime.com|access-date=16 October 2021|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016142524/https://www.extratime.com/player/11116989/fuad_sule/|url-status=live}}
|birth_place = Ibadan, Nigeria
|position = Holding midfielder
|currentclub = Glentoran
|clubnumber = 6
|youthyears1 = 2002–2013
|youthclubs1 = Crumlin United
|youthyears2 = 2013–2014
|youthclubs2 = Shamrock Rovers
|youthyears3 = 2014–2016
|youthclubs3 = St Patrick's Athletic
|years1 = 2016
|clubs1 = St Patrick's Athletic
|caps1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2017
|clubs2 = Bohemians
|caps2 = 24
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2018–2019
|clubs3 = Barnet
|caps3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2018–2019
|clubs4 = → Larne (loan)
|caps4 = 19
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2019–2023
|clubs5 = Larne
|caps5 = 130
|goals5 = 3
|years6 = 2023–
|clubs6 = Glentoran
|caps6 = 52
|goals6 = 0
|club-update = 14:43, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Fuad Dapo Sule (born 20 January 1997) is an Irish-Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a holding midfielder for Glentoran.
Early life
Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, Sule moved to the Citywest area of Dublin aged three. He was in the academy at Crumlin United before joining Shamrock Rovers aged 16.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/fuad-sule-bohemians-interview-3408290-May2017/|title='We owe our mum everything and I'm trying to make a career out of football to pay her back'|first=Ryan|last=Bailey|website=The42|date=25 May 2017 |access-date=16 October 2021|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723074535/https://www.the42.ie/fuad-sule-bohemians-interview-3408290-May2017/|url-status=live}}
Career
Sule joined St Patrick's Athletic in July 2014. He made his debut for the first team on the final day of the 2016 season against Derry City. This was his only appearance for the Saints before joining Bohemians in December 2016. Sule won the League of Ireland Premier Division player of the month for July 2017. Sule won the Player of the Year award for Bohemians{{cite tweet|number=924017520843132930|user=bfcdublin|title=#Bohs Senior Player of the Year Fuad Sule |date=27 October 2017}} and the League of Ireland Young Player of the Year award for 2017.{{cite tweet|number=1054348529437761536|user=league_ireland|title=Sean follows in the footsteps of our previous winners Tobi Adebayo-Rowling (2016) and Fuad Sule (2017) |date=22 October 2018}} His transfer to Barnet went through on 1 January 2018 for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2017/december/transfer--barnet-fc-sign-midfielder-fuad-sule/|title=Transfer | Barnet FC sign midfielder Fuad Sule|access-date=1 January 2018|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231104000/https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2017/december/transfer--barnet-fc-sign-midfielder-fuad-sule/|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|number=947016688503017473|user=bfcdublin|title=We can confirm that Fuad Sule has joined Barnet for an undisclosed fee. We wish @Fudzer the best of luck with his… |date=30 December 2017}} Sule made his debut as a substitute against Crawley Town on 13 January 2018,{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42587766 |title=Crawley Town 2–0 Barnet |work=BBC Sport |access-date=3 September 2018 |archive-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219225930/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42587766 |url-status=live }} but made no further appearances for the Bees for the rest of the season and joined NIFL Championship side Larne on loan on 3 September 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2018/september/loan--fuad-sule-joins-larne-fc/|title=Loan | Fuad Sule joins Larne FC|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052437/https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2018/september/loan--fuad-sule-joins-larne-fc/|url-status=live}} Sule joined Larne permanently on a two-and-a-half-year deal on 31 January 2019. He received the club's most man of the match awards in the 2018–19 season and established himself as a firm fans favourite with his all action style.{{Cite web|url=https://www.larnefc.com/fuad-sule-completes-permanent-inver-switch/|title=Fuad Sule completes permanent Inver switch|date=31 January 2019|website=Larne FC|access-date=16 October 2021|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423014258/https://www.larnefc.com/fuad-sule-completes-permanent-inver-switch/|url-status=live}} Sule left Larne at the end of the 2022–23 season after turning down a new contract. He made 185 appearances in all competitions before departing.{{Cite web|url=https://larnefc.com/fuad-sule-and-graham-kelly-set-to-depart/|title=Fuad Sule and Graham Kelly set to depart|date=19 May 2023|website=Larne FC|access-date=21 June 2023}}
On 8 July 2023, it was announced that Sule had signed for Larne's Irish League rival, Glentoran.
Style of play
Sule played as a striker and attacking midfielder as a schoolboy, before switching to a defensive midfield role at St Patrick's Athletic. His style of play been compared to N'Golo Kanté.
Personal life
Sule's brother Ajibola (born 1992) is also a footballer, having played for Shelbourne and Cabinteely, as well as his cousin Ismahil Akinade who has played in the League of Ireland, as well as Vietnam, Egypt, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Career statistics
| 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"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| St Patrick's Athletic
|2016 |League of Ireland Premier Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bohemians
|2017 |League of Ireland Premier Division |24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Barnet
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Larne (loan)
|2018–19{{Cite web |url=https://www.nifootballleague.com/bluefin-sport-championship/clubs/larne/squad |title=Squad Details |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221647/https://www.nifootballleague.com/bluefin-sport-championship/clubs/larne/squad |url-status=live }} |19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="6"|Larne
|NIFL Championship |7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20
|29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21
|NIFL Premiership |30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|NIFL Premiership |29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|NIFL Premiership |35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!130 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 2 | |
| Glentoran
|NIFL Premiership |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!175 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 202 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Larne
- NIFL Championship: 2018–19{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
- County Antrim Shield: 2020–21,{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55167362|title=County Antrim Shield final: Larne defeat Glens in Seaview shootout|date=2 December 2020|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 December 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204022829/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55167362|url-status=live}} 2021–22,{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59960979|title=Co Antrim Shield: Impressive Larne see off Linfield in gripping final to retain trophy|date=11 January 2022|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=31 January 2022}} 2022–23 {{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64313143|title=County Antrim Shield final: Larne complete hat-trick with shootout win after lengthy injury delay|date=17 January 2023|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=19 January 2023}}
- NIFL Premiership: 2022–23{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65278008|title=Larne secure historic first Irish League title|date=14 April 2023|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC}}
Glentoran
- County Antrim Shield: 2024–25
Individual
- NIFL Championship Team of the Year: 2018–19{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
- League of Ireland Player of the Month: July 2017
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.stpatsfc.com/profile.php?id=209 Fuad Sule]
- {{Soccerway|fuad-sule/467550|Fuad Sule}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sule, Fuad}}
Category:Footballers from Ibadan
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Nigerian emigrants to Ireland
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:English Football League players
Category:NIFL Premiership players
Category:Crumlin United F.C. players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Glentoran F.C. players
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Black Irish sportspeople
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen