Efe Sodje

Efetobore Peter "Efe" Sodje (born 5 October 1972) is a former professional footballer who played as a central defender for several English football league clubs. He represented Nigeria in the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup.

Efe Sodje
Personal information
Full name Efetobore Peter Sodje[1]
Date of birth (1972-10-05) 5 October 1972
Place of birth Greenwich, London, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Stevenage Borough 116 (9)
1997–1999 Macclesfield Town 83 (6)
1999–2000 Luton Town 9 (0)
2000 → Colchester United (loan) 3 (0)
2000–2003 Crewe Alexandra 97 (3)
2003–2005 Huddersfield Town 67 (5)
2005–2006 Yeovil Town 25 (3)
2006 → Southend United (loan) 1 (0)
2006–2007 Southend United 36 (2)
2007–2008 Gillingham 13 (0)
2008 → Bury (loan) 16 (1)
2008–2013 Bury 182 (15)
2013 → Barrow (loan) 9 (0)
2013–2015 Macclesfield Town 6 (0)
Total 663 (44)
National team
2000–2004 Nigeria 12 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Sodje began his career at Stevenage Borough and later played for Luton Town, Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Yeovil Town, Southend United, Gillingham, Bury, Barrow and Macclesfield Town in two spells.

Career

Early career

Sodje began his career playing for Stevenage Borough in the Conference National, who he had signed for ahead of the 1994–95 season.[2] Prior to signing for Stevenage, Sodje had unsuccessful trials at both Wimbledon and Luton Town.[2] He featured in Stevenage's reserve side throughout August 1994, waiting for his international clearance to come through before making a first-team appearance.[2] He eventually made his debut on 27 September 1994, starting in Stevenage's 1–0 defeat at Welling United.[3] Sodje made a total of 33 appearances during the 1994–95 campaign,[4] scoring once in a 5–0 win over Yeovil Town, a game in which he came off the substitutes' bench to score.[5] Sodje remained at Stevenage the following season, helping the club win the Conference National title, however they would be denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities. During the season, he made a total of 49 appearances, scoring five goals, four of which came in the league.[6] Sodje's third season at Stevenage was his best in goalscoring terms; he scored 7 times in 55 games in all competitions[7] as Stevenage finished the season in third place, beaten to the title by Macclesfield Town.[7] Sodje left Stevenage at the end of the season to join newly promoted Football League side Macclesfield Town.[2] He had made 138 appearances for Stevenage during his three-year spell with the side, scoring 13 goals.[2]

Sodje scored on his Football League debut, which was also Macclesfield Town's first game in the League. He played 83 times and scored 6 goals for Macclesfield Town before he left to join Luton Town in 1999; there, he made only 9 appearances and was loaned out to Colchester United for part of the 1999–2000 season. Sodje made three appearances for Colchester before returning to Luton.

Sodje moved to Crewe Alexandra in 2000, where he made 97 league appearances over three seasons. His first goal for Crewe came in their 4–2 win over Portsmouth on 8 December 2001. During his time at Crewe Sodje was called up to the Nigeria squad for the first time in his career, and played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan.

Huddersfield Town

Sodje joined then Division 3 side Huddersfield Town, where he was made captain. His Town debut came in their 2–1 win over Derby County in the first round of the League Cup on 12 August 2003. His league debut came in their 2–2 draw with Boston United on 16 August. He scored his first goal for the Terriers came in their 2–0 home win over Boston United in January 2004. In his first season with the Terriers he helped them to the Division Three Play-off title.

Sodje was also voted into the PFA PFA Players' Division Three team of the season for the 2003–04 season[8]

Southend United

Sodje left Southend following their relegation from the Championship in the 2006–07 season.[9]

On 10 July 2007, he joined League One side Gillingham on a two-year deal,[10] and made his debut in the 1–0 away defeat to Cheltenham Town on 11 August. In February 2008 he joined Bury on loan until the end of the season,[11] and was transfer listed on 5 June 2008.[12]

Bury

It was announced on 1 July 2008, that his contract had been terminated by Gillingham.[13] Sodje was signed by Bury on a two-year contract as a player-coach, on 3 July 2008. At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, he was named 2nd vice-captain by Alan Knill after Ryan Lowe. In May 2011 he signed a new two-year contract extension.[14]

He made his 500th league appearance in January 2012 playing for Bury in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic.[15]

Return to Macclesfield Town

On 4 June 2013 it was announced that Sodje would return to Macclesfield Town as assistant manager to John Askey. Sodje would also register himself as a player for The Silkmen.[16] He left the club for undisclosed reasons in November 2015.[17]

International career

Although born in England Sodje like his brother Sam represented Nigeria at international level. He was part of the squad that finished second to Cameroon in the 2000 African Cup of Nations.

He was also part of the Nigeria squad that went to the 2002 FIFA World Cup making two appearances against Argentina and England. So far Sodje has played 12 times,[18] scoring once in a 2–1 friendly win against Republic of Ireland.

Personal life

Born in Greenwich, London, his family originate from Warri, in Delta State, Nigeria.[19] Sodje is the eldest of four brothers who all play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam, Akpo (the youngest of the four) have both played alongside Efe. He played alongside Akpo at Huddersfield Town and he has represented Nigeria at international level with Sam. Steve, who plays semi-professionally has never played a Football League game. Another brother, Bright, used to play rugby league and rugby union. His nephew Onome Sodje has also played professionally in England.

Sodje is famous for wearing a do-rag, something he started doing in 1994 at the request of his mother.[20] The headband often has the words "Against All Odds".

In September 2017, Sodje (along with his brothers Stephen and Bright) was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraud, having siphoned off money from a charity, the Sodje Sports Foundation.[21]

Career statistics
(Correct as of 19 March 2015)[22]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Macclesfield Town 1997–98 413202010463
Macclesfield Town 1998–99 423414000504
Luton Town 1999–2000 90301010140
Colchester (loan) 1999–2000 3000000030
Crewe Alexandra 2000–01 310203000360
Crewe Alexandra 2001–02 362403000432
Crewe Alexandra 2002–03 291312020362
Huddersfield Town 2003–04 434102010474
Huddersfield Town 2004–05 281001010301
Yeovil Town 2004–05 6200000062
Yeovil Town 2005–06 191202010241
Southend United (loan) 2005–06 1000000010
Southend United 2005–06 121000000121
Southend United 2006–07 241004000281
Gillingham 2007–08 130101010160
Bury (loan) 2007–08 161000000161
Bury 2008–09 437101000457
Bury 2009–10 392101010422
Bury 2010–11 403211000434
Bury 2011–12 412002000432
Bury 2012–13 191211010232
Barrow (loan) 2012–13 9000000090
Macclesfield Town 2013–14 6000000060
Career total 5503528431010061939

Honours

Club
Stevenage Borough[23]
  • Football Conference Winner (1): 1995–96
Macclesfield Town[24]
Crewe Alexandra
Huddersfield Town[25]
Southend United[26]
Bury

Individual

References
  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  2. "Stevenage Player: Efetobore Sodje profile". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  3. "Welling United 1-0 Stevenage Borough, 1994-5". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  4. "Stevenage Borough 1994-5: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  5. "Stevenage Borough 5-0 Yeovil Town, 1994-5". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "Stevenage Borough 1995-6: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  7. "Stevenage Borough 1996-7: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  8. Sodje Makes PFA Team of Year, archived from the original on 6 April 2012
  9. "Hooper offered new Southend deal". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
  10. "Gills bring Sodje to Priestfield". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  11. "Official Gillingham website". Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  12. "Gillingham trio on available list". BBC Sport. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  13. Official Gillingham website
  14. "Efe Sodje signs two-year contract extension at Bury". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  15. "Latest News". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  16. "Newsham becomes first new Gladiators signing of the summer | Non League Daily". www.nonleaguedaily.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  17. "Macclesfield Town FC confirm departure of Efe Sodje". Macclesfield Express. 27 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  18. Sodje, Efe at National-Football-Teams.com
  19. "Sodje family". Archived from the original on 4 January 2010.
  20. "Sodje staying to Knill's delight". Prestwich Advertiser. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  21. "Efe, Bright and Stephen Sodje jailed for fraud last September, court reveals". Sky News. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  22. "Efe Sodje | Football Stats | No Club | Season 1997/1998 | 1996-2018 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  23. "Conference Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  24. "Tier Four (League Two) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  25. "Division Three (League Two) Play-off Finalists". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  26. "Tier Three (League One) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  27. "Individual Awards". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
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