Hakeem Araba

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Hakeem Araba

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba{{cite web|url=http://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/players/1374198/140723|title=Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba|publisher=Cyprus Football Association|accessdate=17 July 2014|archive-date=13 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213213257/http://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/players/1374198/140723|url-status=dead}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|12|df=y}}

|birth_place = Waltham Forest, England

|height = 1.90m

|position = Striker

|currentclub = IFK Göteborg (fitness coach)

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = Peterborough United

|youthyears2 =

|youthclubs2 =

|years1 = 2007–2008

|clubs1 = Peterborough United

|caps1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2007–2008

|clubs2 = → Boston United (loan)

|caps2 = 1

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2008–2011

|clubs3 = Dagenham & Redbridge

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2008

|clubs4 = → Thurrock (loan)

|caps4 = 7

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2008–2009

|clubs5 = → Redbridge (loan)

|caps5 = 23

|goals5 = 17

|years6 = 2010

|clubs6 = Bishop's Stortford

|caps6 = 7

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2010

|clubs7 = → Billericay Town (dual registration)

|caps7 = 4

|goals7 = 1

|years8 = 2011–2012

|clubs8 = Bromley

|caps8 = 46

|goals8 = 15

|years9 = 2012

|clubs9 = East Thurrock United

|caps9 = 16

|goals9 = 8

|years10 = 2012–2013

|clubs10 = Whitehawk

|caps10 = 16

|goals10 = 3

|years11 = 2013–2014

|clubs11 = AEK Kouklia

|caps11 = 26

|goals11 = 10

|years12 = 2014

|clubs12 = Ermis Aradippou

|caps12 = 1

|goals12 = 0

|years13 = 2014–2015

|clubs13 = Panthrakikos

|caps13 = 7

|goals13 = 0

|years14 = 2015–2017

|clubs14 = Falkenberg

|caps14 = 51

|goals14 = 9

|years15 = 2017

|clubs15 = Næstved

|caps15 = 12

|goals15 = 1

|years16 = 2017

|clubs16 = Örgryte IS

|caps16 = 14

|goals16 = 1

|years17 = 2018

|clubs17 = PS Kemi

|caps17 = 9

|goals17 = 1

|years18 = 2019

|clubs18 = Koblenz

|caps18 = 15

|goals18 = 1

|years19 = 2019–2020

|clubs19 = Akritas Chlorakas

|caps19 = 19

|goals19 = 3

|years20 = 2020–2021

|clubs20 = Qviding

|caps20 = 32

|goals20 = 7

| totalcaps = 297

| totalgoals = 78

|club-update = 11:54, 19 December 2024 (UTC)

}}

Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba (born 12 February 1991) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is currently fitness coach at IFK Göteborg.

Career

Image:LVV_Lugdunum_-_ADO_Den_Haag_(30_juni_2018).webm

Araba started his youth career at the age of 17 with Peterborough United.[https://englishplayersabroad.com/2018/06/28/hakeem-araba-the-englishman-abroad-who-would-give-akinfenwa-a-run-for-his-money/ Hakeem Araba: The Englishman abroad who would give Akinfenwa a run for his money] englishplayersabroad.com He then signed his first professional contract at the age of 18 at Dagenham & Redbridge. While playing at Dagenham, he went on loan to Thurrock and Redbridge. After leaving Dagenham he played 7 games with Bishop's Stortford, before moving to Billericay Town.{{cite news

|title=Bishop's Stortford striker leaves as new boy shines

|url=http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Bishops-Stortford-striker-leaves-new-boy-shines/story-21882509-detail/story.html

|publisher=Herts and Essex Observer

|date=16 September 2010

|accessdate=3 September 2014}}

In 2013, Araba then headed southwards to Cyprus and AEK Kouklia before a short stint with Ermis Aradippou in July 2014, appearing in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Young Boys.{{cite news

|title=Young Boys vs. Ermis Aradippou

|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/31/europe/uefa-cup/bsc-young-boys-bern/ermis-fc-aradippou/1802713/

|publisher=Soccerway.com

|date=31 July 2014

|accessdate=3 September 2014}} he moved to Greek Panthrakikos.{{cite news

|title=Hakeem Araba Signs on the Dotted Line For Panthrakikos

|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=12798

|publisher=All Nigeria Soccer

|date=12 August 2014

|accessdate=3 September 2014}}

From Greece Araba moved to Sweden, he signed a contract with Falkenbergs FF where he was known as "Superman" by the fans.{{cite news

|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/falkenberg/article20855276.ab|title=Firade som Stålmannen}}

Araba finished the season of 2015 as the top goal scorer for his club.

In February 2017 Araba signed for Danish team, Næstved. Six months later, he moved to Örgryte in Sweden.[http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/naestved-lader-araba-fortsaette-i-sverige/ Næstved lader Araba fortsætte i Sverige]‚ bold.dk, 24 July 2017

In January 2019, Araba joined Oberliga side Koblenz.{{Cite news |title=Transfer-Knaller: TuS Koblenz verpflichtet Hakeem Araba |url=https://das-run.de/news/entry/974/ |publisher=Das-Run.de |language=German |date=24 January 2019 |accessdate=9 March 2019}}

On 23 August 2019, Araba returned to Cyprus to join Cypriot Second Division side Akritas Chlorakas.{{cite web|url=https://protathlima.com/oi-mikres-katigories/b-katigoria/anakoinose-hakeem-araba-erchetai-kypro/|title=Ανακοίνωσε Hakeem Araba/Έρχεται Κύπρο|website=protathlima.com|date=23 August 2019|accessdate=23 August 2019|language=Greek}}

On 11 September 2020, Araba headed back to Sweden after more than two years to join Division 1 Södra side Qviding.{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskalag.se/qviding-herr/nyheter/1530083/hakeem-araba-klar-for-qviding-fif|title=Hakeem Araba klar för Qviding FIF|publisher=Qviding FIF|date=11 September 2020|accessdate=21 September 2020|language=Swedish}}

Coaching career

In January 2025, Araba was named as the fitness coach of IFK Göteborg.{{cite web|url=https://ifkgoteborg.se/nyheter/a-lag/2025/han-ar-var-nye-fystranare/|title=Han är vår nye fystränare|publisher=IFK Göteborg|date=6 January 2025|accessdate=6 January 2025|language=Swedish}}

Personal life

Araba was born in England and is of Nigerian descent.{{cite web|url=https://www.brila.net/superman-hakeem-araba-eyes-world-cup-place-super-eagles/|title=Superman 'Hakeem Araba' eyes World Cup place with Super Eagles|last=Brila|date=8 May 2018}}