Stephen Sunday

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sunny

| image = Stephen sundy.jpg

| caption = Sunny before a game with CSKA Sofia in 2014

| fullname = Stephen Obayan Sunday

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|9|17|df=y}}{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/envivos/fichas/1/172/4524.html|title=Sunday Stephen|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|access-date=12 November 2021}}

| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Ebedei

| youthyears2 = 2003–2004 | youthclubs2 = Jegede Babes

| youthyears3 = 2004–2005 | youthclubs3 = Poli Ejido

| years1 = 2005–2007 | clubs1 = Poli Ejido | caps1 = 63 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2007–2011 | clubs2 = Valencia | caps2 = 10 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2008–2009 | clubs3 = → Osasuna (loan) | caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2009–2010 | clubs4 = → Betis (loan) | caps4 = 7 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2011 | clubs5 = → Numancia (loan) | caps5 = 14 | goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2011–2013 | clubs6 = Numancia | caps6 = 62 | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2013 | clubs7 = Bnei Sakhnin | caps7 = 2 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2014–2015 | clubs8 = CSKA Sofia | caps8 = 36 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2015–2016 | clubs9 = Alanyaspor | caps9 = 12 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2016–2018 | clubs10 = Real Salt Lake | caps10 = 59 | goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2016–2017 | clubs11 = → Real Monarchs (loan) | caps11 = 3 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2019–2020 | clubs12 = Pafos | caps12 = 5 | goals12 = 0

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2007 | nationalteam1 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2007 | nationalteam2 = Spain U20 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2009 | nationalteam3 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2010 | nationalteam4 = Nigeria | nationalcaps4 = 1 | nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 1 July 2020

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Stephen Obayan Sunday (born 17 September 1988), nicknamed Sunny, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

=Early years=

Born in Lagos, Sunny began his career in Nigeria with Ebedei and Jegede Babes. In 2003, he participated in two youth championships in Sweden and Spain: in the latter he appeared in Madrid's third edition of the Annual Immigrants World Cup, where he impressed so much he was given a five-year contract with Polideportivo Ejido, in the Segunda División.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6470975.stm|title=Stephen's Latin love|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=20 March 2007|access-date=7 April 2009}}

=Valencia=

Sunny became a regular player for the Andalusia team, making 65 competitive appearances during his two-year spell and signing for Valencia in the summer, but after one season where he was scarcely used, he was loaned to fellow La Liga club Osasuna.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2008/06/27/actualidad/1214551317_850215.html|title=El Valencia cede a Sunny al Osasuna por una temporada|trans-title=Valencia loan Sunny to Osasuna for one season|newspaper=El País|language=es|date=27 June 2008|access-date=26 September 2019}} In late January 2009, he was linked with a move to England's Portsmouth, but the deal eventually collapsed due to financial complications.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4864964,00.html|title=Sunny no-go for Pompey|publisher=Sky Sports|date=28 January 2009|access-date=7 April 2009}}

On 30 June 2009, after a season which was marred by injury,{{cite web|url=http://www.navarrasport.com/noticias/sunny-en-osasuna-jugue-poco-pero-fue-por-sufrir-varias-lesiones|title=Sunny: "En Osasuna jugué poco, pero fue por sufrir varias lesiones"|trans-title=Sunny: "I played little at Osasuna, but it was because I suffered several injuries"|publisher=Navarra Sport|language=es|date=14 July 2009|access-date=1 June 2016}} Sunny was loaned to Betis for one year with a view to a permanent four-year move.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2009/06/30/futbol/equipos/betis/1246359645.html|title=Sunny jugará cedido en el Betis con opción de compra|trans-title=Sunny will play on loan to Betis with an option to buy|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=30 June 2009|access-date=1 June 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://sevilla.abc.es/20090715/deportes-futbol-betis/sunny-cuarto-refuerzo-verdiblanco-200907150054.html|title=Sunny, cuarto refuerzo verdiblanco, se suma a la causa del ascenso y de la unión|trans-title=Sunny, fourth green-and-white addition, joins promotion and unity cause|newspaper=ABC|location=Madrid|first=José|last=Iglesias|language=es|date=15 July 2009|access-date=1 June 2016}} He also appeared rarely during the second-tier campaign, as the Verdiblancos failed to return to the top flight (seven matches out of 42).{{cite news|url=https://www.superdeporte.es/valencia-cf/2021/09/27/sunny-sunday-53113517.html|title=¿Qué fue de... Sunny Sunday?|trans-title=What happened to... Sunny Sunday?|newspaper=Super Deporte|language=es|date=27 September 2021|access-date=12 November 2021}}

In July 2010, Sunny had a trial in England with newly promoted Premier League side Blackpool, playing in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra on 27 July{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-football-club/Valencia-star-joins-Pool-for.6443283.jp|title=Valencia star joins Blackpool for trial|newspaper=Blackpool Gazette|date=28 July 2010|access-date=28 July 2010}} and four days later against Bristol City, but nothing came of it.

=Numancia=

Sunny spent the first months of the new season training on his own, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Valencia manager Unai Emery.{{cite news|url=http://valenciacf.lasprovincias.es/noticias/2010-07-20/viana-sunny-primeros-descartes-20100720.html|title=Viana y Sunny, primeros descartes|trans-title=Viana and Sunny, first ones discarded|newspaper=Las Provincias|first=Joaquín|last=Ballesta|language=es|date=20 July 2010|access-date=1 June 2016}} On 19 January 2011 he was again loaned, moving to Numancia from division two.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2011/01/19/futbol/equipos/numancia/1295454920.html|title=El Numancia se refuerza con los cedidos Ion Vélez y Sunny|trans-title=Numancia bolster with loaned Ion Vélez and Sunny|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=19 January 2011|access-date=15 January 2014}}

In the following two years, still in that tier and already as a permanent signing,{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/es/news/21/fichajes/2011/07/14/2575224/mercado-sunny-se-desvincula-del-valencia-y-el-numancia-le|title=Mercado: Sunny se desvincula del Valencia y el Numancia le ficha como agente libre|trans-title=Market: Sunny cuts ties with Valencia and Numancia sign him as a free agent|publisher=Goal|first=José Luis|last=Escarabajano|language=es|date=14 July 2011|access-date=15 January 2014}} Sunny was first-choice for the Sorians.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2012/01/21/mas_futbol/1327130824_850215.html|title=Sunny, titular para la 'vendetta' de Alcorcón|trans-title=Sunny, starter for Alcorcón 'vendetta'|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Aimara|last=Garteizgoxeascoa Gil|language=es|date=21 January 2012|access-date=15 January 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.desdesoria.es/2013/05/29/breve-enciclopedia-numantina/|title=Breve enciclopedia numantina|trans-title=Brief numantina encyclopedia|newspaper=Desde Soria|language=es|date=29 May 2013|access-date=16 October 2019}} On 11 May 2011 he scored his first goal as a senior, netting the 2–1 winner away against Albacete.{{cite news|url=https://agencias.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=813715|title=1–2. El Albacete desciende tras caer ante el Numancia|trans-title=1–2. Albacete relegated after falling to Numancia|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=11 May 2011|access-date=29 August 2019}}

=Bnei Sakhnin / CSKA Sofia=

On 30 July 2013, Sunny signed a two-year contract with Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin.{{cite web|url=http://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/news/news-articles/presenting-the-season-2013/14-israeli-premier-league/|title=Presenting: the 2013/14 Israeli Premier League|publisher=Maccabi Tel Aviv|date=19 August 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014000825/http://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/news/news-articles/presenting-the-season-2013/14-israeli-premier-league/|archive-date=14 October 2013}} On 3 January of the following year, he moved teams and countries again, joining Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia after agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=394877|title=Съни вече е футболист на ЦСКА, подписа за 2,5 години|trans-title=Sunny is now a CSKA player, he signed for 2,5 years|publisher=Gong.bg|language=bg|date=3 January 2014|access-date=3 January 2014}}

=Real Salt Lake=

After starting out the season in Turkey with Alanyaspor, Sunny joined Real Salt Lake on 21 January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.rsl.com/post/2016/01/21/real-salt-lake-signs-nigerian-mf-sunday-stephen-obayan|title=Real Salt Lake signs Nigerian MF Sunday Stephen Obayan|publisher=Real Salt Lake|date=21 January 2016|access-date=21 January 2016}} He scored his first Major League Soccer goal on 12 March, helping to a 2–1 home defeat of Seattle Sounders FC.{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/post-match-quotes-real-salt-lake-2-seattle-sounders-1/|title=Post-match quotes: Real Salt Lake 2, Seattle Sounders 1|newspaper=The Seattle Times|first=Matt|last=Pentz|date=12 March 2016|access-date=1 June 2016}}

Sunny was released following the 2018 campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2018/11/20/sunday-sunny-stephen-says/|title=Sunday 'Sunny' Stephen says he is parting ways with Real Salt Lake|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|first=Alex|last=Vejar|date=20 November 2018|access-date=13 January 2019}}

=Pafos=

In July 2019, Sunny signed for Cypriot First Division club Pafos.{{cite web|url=https://pafosfc.com.cy/archives/2862|title=Sunny welcome|publisher=Pafos FC|date=6 July 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}

International career

File:2007-07-01URU vs SPA213.jpg against Uruguay.]]

Sunday, who was born in Nigeria, was eligible to play for Spain under FIFA rules allowing players with dual nationality and without full international caps to switch allegiance before the age of 21. After first appearing for the under-19 side, he was called up by his adopted nation to the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada,{{cite web|url=http://es.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/y=2007/m=7/news=sunny-centrocampista-espanol-que-llego-africa-544808.html|title=Sunny, el centrocampista español que llegó de África|trans-title=Sunny, the Spanish midfielder who came from Africa|publisher=FIFA|language=es|date=4 July 2007|access-date=1 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625121439/http://es.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/y=2007/m=7/news=sunny-centrocampista-espanol-que-llego-africa-544808.html|archive-date=25 June 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2007/06/30/pagina-24/883619/pdf.html|title=Empieza la sucesión de Messi|trans-title=Messi's succession begins|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Aquiles|last=Furlone|language=es|date=30 June 2007|access-date=24 June 2014}} playing four games as the team exited in the quarter-finals.{{cite web|url=http://recuerdosdenigeria.blogspot.pt/2009/08/2007-mundial-sub20-y-iii-una-dura-caida.html|title=2007, Mundial sub'20 (y III): Una dura caída|trans-title=2007, Under-20 World Cup (and III): A hard fall|publisher=Recuerdos de Nigeria|language=es|date=17 August 2009|access-date=1 June 2016}}

In September 2010, Sunny was called up for Nigeria's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Guinea scheduled for the following month.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/17939/taye-taiwo-gets-nigeria-recall-danny-shittu-dropped.php|title=Taye Taiwo gets Nigeria recall, Danny Shittu dropped|publisher=Kick Off|date=23 September 2010|access-date=24 September 2010}} He made his debut in that game as a starter, in a 1–0 loss in Conakry.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/10/10/2159350/guinea-1-0-nigeria-syli-nationale-clip-super-eagles-wings|title=Guinea 1–0 Nigeria: Syli Nationale clip Super Eagles' wings|publisher=Goal|first=Lolade|last=Adewuyi|date=10 October 2010|access-date=12 November 2021}}

Honours

Valencia

Copa del Rey: 2007–08{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/copa_del_rey/previaxcronica/es/desarrollo/1070647.html|title=El Valencia respira en Irún|trans-title=Valencia take a breather in Irún|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=19 December 2007|access-date=27 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/copa_del_rey/previaxcronica/es/desarrollo/1076237.html|title=El Valencia se agarra a la Copa gracias a Joaquín|trans-title=Valencia hold on to Cup thanks to Joaquín|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=9 January 2008|access-date=27 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/copa_del_rey/previaxcronica/es/desarrollo/1079011.html|title=El Valencia vuelve a ganar y se medirá al Atlético en cuartos|trans-title=Valencia win again and will take on Atlético in last eight|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=17 January 2008|access-date=27 January 2018}}