Ramon Azeez
{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1992)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ramon Azeez
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Ramon Olamilekan Azeez{{WorldFootball.net|ramon-azeez}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|12|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Abuja, Nigeria
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Novelda
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Future Pro Academy
| years1 = 2011–2016 | clubs1 = Almería B | caps1 = 78 | goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2012–2017 | clubs2 = Almería | caps2 = 71 | goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2017–2019 | clubs3 = Lugo | caps3 = 49 | goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2019–2021 | clubs4 = Granada | caps4 = 40 | goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2021 | clubs5 = → Cartagena (loan) | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2025- | clubs6 = Novelda | caps6 = 0 | goals6 =0
| nationalyears1 = 2009 | nationalteam1 = Nigeria U17 | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam2 = Nigeria U20 | nationalcaps2 = 9 | nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2014–2019 | nationalteam3 = Nigeria | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 31 May 2021
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Ramon Olamilekan Azeez (born 12 December 1992) is a Nigerian footballer who played as a central midfielder for Novelda.
He spent the vast majority of his professional career in Spain, starting at Almería B. In La Liga, he appeared for the first team of that club and Granada.
An international since 2014, Azeez represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup.
Club career
=Almería=
Born in Abuja, Azeez began playing football in the Future Pro Academy. In 2010 he agreed a move to UD Almería in Spain, but had to wait until July 2011 to complete the transfer.[http://udalmeria.ideal.es/noticias/2011-08-12/ramon-azeez-sigue-mostrando-20110812.html Ramon Azeez sigue mostrando un excelente nivel en el Mundial sub-20 con Nigeria (Ramon Azeez keeps showing excellent level at the under-20 World Cup with Nigeria)]; Ideal, 12 August 2011 (in Spanish)
On 17 August 2012, after one full season with the reserves in the Segunda División B, Azeez made his debut with the first team: he came on as a substitute for Javier Casquero in the 55th minute of an away fixture against FC Barcelona Atlètic in the Segunda División (5–4 win), but was himself replaced after just ten minutes after being booked and, according to manager Javi Gracia, risking a subsequent sending off.[http://www.marca.com/2012/08/17/futbol/2adivision/1345229897.html Festival goleador para abrir la Liga Adelante (Goalscoring party to open Liga Adelante)]; Marca, 17 August 2012 (in Spanish)
Azeez was definitely promoted to the Andalusians' main squad on 28 June 2013, with the club having just promoted to La Liga.[http://www.udalmeriasad.com/uda/index.php/inicio/noticias/5481-dieceiseis-jugadores-tiene-actualmente-contrato-en-vigor-con-la-primera-plantilla-de-la-ud-almeria Dieciséis jugadores tienen actualmente contrato en vigor con la primera plantilla de la UD Almería (Sixteen players currently on contract with UD Almería's first team)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701034227/http://www.udalmeriasad.com/uda/index.php/inicio/noticias/5481-dieceiseis-jugadores-tiene-actualmente-contrato-en-vigor-con-la-primera-plantilla-de-la-ud-almeria|date=1 July 2013}}; UD Almería, 28 June 2013 (in Spanish) He made his debut in the competition on 30 August, playing 23 minutes of the 2–2 home draw with Elche CF.[http://espnfc.com/en/report/373190/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=null Almeria denied first win] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110052317/http://espnfc.com/en/report/373190/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=null|date=10 January 2014}}; ESPN FC, 17 August 2013
On 21 December 2013, Azeez scored his first professional goal, the game's only in a win at Real Betis.[http://espnfc.com/en/report/373047/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888 Azeez effort enough for Almeria] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103021625/http://espnfc.com/en/report/373047/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888|date=3 January 2014}}; ESPN FC, 21 December 2013 He repeated the feat in the second meeting between the two sides, scoring in the 94th minute for a 3–2 victory at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.[http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2013_14/primera/jornada_36/alm_bet/ El Almería nunca se rinde (Almería never surrender)]; Marca, 4 May 2014 (in Spanish)
Azeez featured sparingly during the 2014–15 campaign, as Almería suffered relegation. In June 2015 he requested a transfer,[http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/almeria/20150616/20487483095/azeez-pide-al-club-que-escuche-ofertas.html Azeez pide al club que escuche ofertas (Azeez asks the club to listen to offers)]; Mundo Deportivo, 16 June 2015 (in Spanish) and after failing to sign a professional contract he was demoted back to the reserves in August.[http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2015/08/10/segunda/1439220723_777775.html El club baja a Azeez al filial y Sergi piensa en José Ángel (The club demotes Azeez to the reserves and Sergi thinks of José Ángel)]; Diario AS, 10 August 2015 (in Spanish)
On 26 January 2016, Azeez returned to the main squad, seriously threatened with relegation, after agreeing to a professional deal.[http://www.marca.com/futbol/almeria/2016/01/26/56a7a45b22601d0f188b45fc.html Ramón Azeez vuelve al primer equipo (Ramón Azeez returns to the first team)]; Marca, 26 January 2016 (in Spanish)
=Lugo and Granada=
On 13 July 2017, free agent Azeez signed with CD Lugo also of the Spanish second tier.[http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/lugo/2017/07/13/lugo-ficha-ramon-azeez/00031499944517958236157.htm El Lugo ficha a Ramón Azeez (Lugo sign Ramón Azeez)]; La Voz de Galicia, 13 July 2017 (in Spanish) On 1 February 2019, he joined Granada CF of the same league on a three-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://granadacf.ideal.es/granada-ficha-ramon-20190201235826-nt.html|title=El Granada ficha a Azeez 'in extremis'|trans-title=Granada sign Azeez 'in extremis'|publisher=Ideal|first=Rafael|last=Lamelas|language=Spanish|date=1 February 2019|accessdate=22 August 2019}}
On 21 September 2019, Azeez headed home from close range following an Antonio Puertas cross, in the first minute of a 2–0 home win over defending champions FC Barcelona.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/21/granada-barcelona-la-liga-match-report|title=Granada stun Barcelona to go top despite Lionel Messi's rescue effort|work=The Guardian|date=21 September 2019|accessdate=22 September 2019}} In February 2021, he was loaned to FC Cartagena until the end of the second-division season.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/ramon-azeez-granada-midfielder-loaned-to-fc-cartagena/18vincr09b59d1kfsdjuhoikr2|title=Ramon Azeez: Granada midfielder loaned to FC Cartagena|publisher=Goal|first=Shina|last=Oludare|date=2 February 2021|accessdate=2 February 2021}}
International career
Azeez appeared with the Nigeria under-17's at the 2009 FIFA World Cup, and was a regular in a team that finished runners-up.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/11/15/1626875/switzerland-u-17-1-0-nigeria-u-17-new-comers-switzerland-upstage-|title=Switzerland U-17 1–0 Nigeria U-17: New comers Switzerland upstage Nigeria to win FIFA U-17 World Cup|publisher=Goal|first=Samm|last=Audu|date=15 November 2009|accessdate=23 December 2020}} Two years later, also as a starter, he participated in the U-20 World Cup.
On 3 February 2014, Azeez was called up to the full side for a friendly with Mexico.[http://www.udalmeriasad.com/-/azeez-convocado-por-la-seleccion-absoluta-de-nigeria Azeez, convocado por la selección absoluta de Nigeria (Azeez, called up by Nigeria's full team)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222042343/http://www.udalmeriasad.com/-/azeez-convocado-por-la-seleccion-absoluta-de-nigeria|date=22 February 2014}}; UD Almería, 3 February 2014 (in Spanish){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26122915|title=Uncapped trio called up by Nigeria|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=10 February 2014|accessdate=11 February 2014}} He made his debut on 5 March, playing the second half of the 0–0 draw at Georgia Dome.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/intl-friendlies/matches/report/2014/mar/06-mexico-v-nigeria.html|title=Nigeria cancel out Mexico again|publisher=MTN Football|date=6 March 2014|accessdate=6 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140306183830/http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/intl-friendlies/matches/report/2014/mar/06-mexico-v-nigeria.html|archivedate=6 March 2014}}
Azeez was named in the provisional 30-man squad ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 6 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27302995|title=World Cup 2014: Peter Odemwingie in provisional Nigeria squad|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=6 May 2014|accessdate=7 May 2014}} He was included in Stephen Keshi's final list for the tournament,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27302995|title=World Cup 2014: Nosa Igiebor cut from Nigeria squad|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=3 June 2014|accessdate=7 June 2014}} and made his debut on 16 June by starting in a 0–0 draw against Iran.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=goals-dry-up-as-iran-nigeria-draw-2373419.html|title=Goals dry up as Iran, Nigeria draw|publisher=FIFA|date=16 June 2014|accessdate=16 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618070832/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=goals-dry-up-as-iran-nigeria-draw-2373419.html|archive-date=18 June 2014}}
In September 2019, Azeez was recalled to the national team after five years.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49842660|title=Ramon Azeez: Granada's 'faith and belief' leads to Nigeria recall|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=26 September 2019|accessdate=27 September 2019}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 18 May 2021}}{{Soccerway|ramon-azeez/102564}}
| 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"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Almería B
|28 | 2 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 28 | 2 | |||
| 2012–13
|Segunda División B |31 | 3 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2015–16
|Segunda División B |19 | 2 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 19 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!78 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="6"|Almería
|2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14
|30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15
|La Liga |14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16
|Segunda División |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17
|Segunda División |22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 22 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!71 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 4 | |
| rowspan="3"|Lugo
|Segunda División |37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19
|Segunda División |12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 15 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 2 | |
| rowspan="5"|Granada
|Segunda División |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20
|La Liga |25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21
|La Liga |2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|La Liga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!40 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| Cartagena (loan)
|Segunda División |16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 16 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!254 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 272 | 15 |
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Nigeria{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/ramon-azeez/102564/matches/|title=R. Azeez – Matches|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=25 October 2017}} | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total||5||0 |
Honours
Nigeria U20
Nigeria U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2009
Individual
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Ball: 2009
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol|401469}}
- {{Futbolme|1540}}
- {{NFT player|id=54841}}
- {{FIFA player|315436}}
{{Nigeria squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azeez, Ramon}}
Category:Footballers from Abuja
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Granada CF footballers
Category:FC Cartagena footballers
Category:Nigeria men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Nigeria men's international footballers
Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain