Kayode Odejayi

Olukayode Ishmael "Kayode" Odejayi (born 21 February 1982) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker, most recently for Guiseley. He is a former Nigeria international.

Kayode Odejayi
Odejayi playing for Accrington Stanley in 2014
Personal information
Full name Olukayode Ishmael Odejayi[1]
Date of birth (1982-02-21) 21 February 1982[2]
Place of birth Ibadan, Nigeria
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
0000–1999 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Bristol City 6 (0)
2001 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 6 (1)
2002–2003 Forest Green Rovers 38 (13)
2003–2007 Cheltenham Town 148 (30)
2007–2010 Barnsley 72 (4)
2009 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 6 (1)
2009 → Colchester United (loan) 14 (6)
2010–2012 Colchester United 101 (11)
2012–2014 Rotherham United 42 (5)
2013–2014 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 32 (8)
2014–2015 Tranmere Rovers 40 (5)
2015–2017 Stockport County 70 (8)
2017–2019 Guiseley 66 (7)
National team‡
2008 Nigeria 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:31, 25 October 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:14, 18 July 2015 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Odejayi started his career as a trainee at Bristol City and then moved on to Football Conference side Forest Green Rovers in 2002. 2002–03 turned out to be Rovers' best ever season since their foundation in 1890, and Odejayi was a key figure, scoring 13 goals as the club finished ninth.

Cheltenham Town

This brought him to the attention of Cheltenham Town, and then-manager Bobby Gould signed him that summer. His first two seasons were a struggle but in his third season (2005–06) he played almost every game as Cheltenham stormed to the play-off final, winning 1–0 against fancied Grimsby Town. He came to national attention in January 2006 when Cheltenham faced Newcastle United in the FA Cup 4th round. Odejayi was outstanding, giving French international defender Jean-Alain Boumsong no end of problems during the game. Following the game he was linked with a move to Championship team Plymouth Argyle however the move never materialised.

Barnsley

On 31 May 2007, Odejayi moved to Barnsley for a fee of £200,000, a Cheltenham record for a sale of a player. Forest Green Rovers received a windfall from the transfer as part of the terms of Odejayi's Cheltenham deal.[3]

He scored in the Reds' first friendly against Morecambe in a 2–1 defeat. He then bagged a brace against Portuguese side Louletano DC in a 3–2 win. In a 3–1 victory against Buxton he bagged his fourth goal in three.

Odejayi netted his first competitive goal for Barnsley against Scunthorpe United which effectively sealed a 2–0 victory for the Reds.

Odejayi was booed off by his own fans against Southampton, after he missed a string of chances at goal. He himself admitted about his poor performances and promised the fans he would step it up and he did in the FA Cup, scoring of one of the most important goals in the club history when he secured a 1–0 victory at Oakwell, in the quarter finals of the FA Cup 2008 against Chelsea. On 6 April 2008 in the FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff City he missed an absolute sitter to score when he was put clean through on goal only to shoot wide, costing Barnsley the chance to equalise and possibly reach the FA Cup Final for the first time since 1912.

In January 2009, there was talk of him being pursued by Barnsley's South Yorkshire neighbours, Rotherham United. [4]

Scunthorpe United (loan)

On 26 February he was loaned to Scunthorpe. He played in 6 games scoring 1 goal against Walsall.[5]

Colchester United (loan)

He was loaned to Colchester United on 16 September 2009 on a three-month emergency loan. He made a big impression at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, winning two penalties in his first game against Hartlepool United and then scoring a brace against high flying Charlton Athletic. He also went on to score against Huddersfield Town, Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers, Bromley and Oldham Athletic.

He set up John-Joe O'Toole's first Colchester goal in a 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers, whilst Odejayi also assisted Simon Hackney's goal against Bromley in the FA Cup. His loan spell ended on 19 December with him having scored seven goals in sixteen games, six of which came in the Football League. When the January transfer window opened, Odejayi's loan form resulted in him being signed by Aidy Boothroyd on a permanent deal, thus also becoming Aidy's first permanent signing for Colchester United.

Colchester United

On 24 December 2009 it was announced that Odejayi had signed for an undisclosed fee on a deal that would end in June 2012.[6] Odejayi scored his first goal as a full-time Colchester player in a 2–1 win against Carlisle where he came off the bench to score the winner in stoppage time to keep the U's in their promotion hunt. He added two further goals against Bristol Rovers and Yeovil before getting an injury after coming on as a sub against Walsall. Odejayi was named as Colchester United's official player-of-the-season for the 2011–12 season, having led the front-line with power and strength all campaign.[7]

Rotherham United

On 15 May, Rotherham United completed the much-rumoured signing of Odejayi after talks with Steve Evans. He joined the Millers officially on 1 July. His first goal for the club came in the 3–0 win against Burton Albion on 18 August 2012, this was also the opening day of the New York Stadium, and, on his league debut for the club. His second came soon after to gain a point against Chesterfield, on 25 August 2012. However, only 5 goals all season grew to fans frustration as Alex Revell and Daniel Nardiello became the preferred striking partnership.

On 10 September 2013, Odejayi joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on a three-month loan.[8] On 1 January 2014, the loan was extended till the end of the 2013–14 League Two season.

Tranmere Rovers

On 26 June 2014, following Odejayi's departure from Rotherham United, he signed a one-year deal with Tranmere Rovers.[9] At the end of the season, that saw Tranmere Rovers relegate out of League Two, Odejayi was released by the club.[10]

Stockport County

Following Odejayi's release from Tranmere, he signed for National League North side Stockport County on 15 July 2015.[11]

Guiseley

In July 2017 he signed for Guiseley.[12]

International career

In May 2008, Odejayi made his first appearance for the Nigerian national team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw against Austria.[13]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 November 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bristol City 1999–2000[14] Second Division 3000000030
2000–01[15] Second Division 3000001[lower-alpha 1]040
2001–02[16] Second Division 00—000000
Total 6000001070
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2001–02[16] Football Conference 6120——81
Forest Green Rovers 2002–03[17] Football Conference 381320—004013
Total 441440—004814
Cheltenham Town 2003–04[18] Third Division 30520101[lower-alpha 1]0345
2004–05[19] League Two 321001000331
2005–06[20] League Two 411162207[lower-alpha 2]05613
2006–07[21] League One 451320212[lower-alpha 1]15115
Total 148301026110117434
Barnsley 2007–08[22] Championship 3934110—444
2008–09[23] Championship 2811010—301
2009–10[24] Championship 50—20—70
Total 7245140—815
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2008–09[23] League One 61———61
Colchester United 2009–10[24] League One 28941——3210
2010–11[25] League One 44430201[lower-alpha 1]0504
2011–12[26] League One 43420111[lower-alpha 1]0475
Total 1151791312012619
Rotherham United 2012–13[27] League Two 425201000455
2013–14[28] League One 00—00—00
Total 425201000455
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2013–14[28] League Two 32810——338
Tranmere Rovers 2014–15[29] League Two 40531102[lower-alpha 1]1467
Stockport County 2015–16[30] National League North 40600—00406
2016–17[30] 30210—2[lower-alpha 3]1333
Total 708100021739
Guiseley 2017–18[30] National League 18130—00211
Career total 59393385152173663103
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. Four appearances in Football League Trophy, three in League Two play-offs
  3. Appearances in the FA Trophy

International
As of match played 27 May 2008[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 200810
Total10

Honours

Cheltenham Town

Rotherham United

Individual

  • Colchester United Player of the Year: 2011–12[32]

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 9781845966010.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  3. "Tykes sign Cheltenham's Odejayi". BBC Sport. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
  4. "RUFC - Millers make cash offer for Odejayi?". vitalfootball.co.uk. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  5. "Scunthorpe 1–1 Walsall". BBC. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  6. "Odejayi makes permanent move". Colchester United F.C. 24 December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  7. "Kayode Odejayi scoops main award". EADT. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  8. "Accrington Stanley: Rotherham's Kayode Odejayi joins on loan". BBC Sport. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  9. "Kayode Odejayi: Tranmere Rovers sign ex-Rotherham United striker". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  10. "Rovers Release Seven". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  11. "Young's view on Odejayi". Stockport County F.C. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  12. "Guiseley net Nigerian international striker Kayode Odejayi who once shocked Chelsea in FA Cup". Telegraph & Argus. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  13. "Kayode Odejayi". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  14. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  16. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  17. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  18. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  19. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  20. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  21. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  22. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  23. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  24. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  25. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  26. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  27. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  28. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  29. "Games played by Kayode Odejayi in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  30. Kayode Odejayi at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  31. "Odejayi, Kayode". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  32. "Colchester United Player of the Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
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