BEVERLY HILLS, October 28, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the International Federation governing association of football (FIFA) and some of the clubsides that ex-Super Eagles forward Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins played for remembered him on the occasion of his 36th birthday and shared heartfelt messages online whilst felicitating with him on Wednesday.
Martins, who is renowned for his acrobatic goal celebrations, began his football career in 1999 at the local side FC Ebedei formerly based in Lagos before moving to Reggiana the following year. After one season with the Maroons, he was snapped up by Inter in 2001 for a transfer fee worth €750,000.
The talented forward scored 23 goals for the club’s youth team in his maiden season. This aroused interest in him enough for him to be drafted to the senior team by manager Hector Cuper to compete in a star-studded attacking setup that paraded the likes of Hernan Crespo, Gabriel Batistuta and Alvaro Recoba.
In an attacking role with the San Diego giants, he won one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia as well as the Supercoppa Italiana diadem in 2005.
In 2006, the decorated Nigerian moved to Newcastle. At St. James’ Park, he scored 28 goals in 88 games while being crucial to the Magpies’ UEFA Intertoto Cup triumph that year.
Three years later, Martins moved to the Bundesliga to lace his boots for German side Wolfsburg. He was to do the same for Rubin Kazan (2010-2012), Birmingham City (on loan), Levante (2012-2013), Seattle Sounders FC (2013-2015) and Shanghai Shenhua (2016-2018 and again in 2020).
While on loan at Birmingham, Martins showed his super-sub creds by scoring the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final as the Blues beat North London big boys Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley Stadium, having been brought on as an 83rd-minute substitute.
The striker signed a one-year deal with Chinese Super League side Wuhan Zall as a free agent in September 2020 after his departure from rivals Shenhua.
Internationally, Martins made a brilliant scoring debut for Nigeria in a 2004 Unity Cup game against the Republic of Ireland.
Before drawing the curtain on a thrilling Super Eagles career, the forward, decked in the Green-White-Green of the Super Eagles, featured in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the FIFA World Cup final in 2010 – playing in two matches as Lars Lagerback’s men crashed out of the group stage that paraded the likes of Argentina, South Korea and Greece.
Celebrating the talents of the striker with pictures and videos were these Twitter accounts that added heartfelt birthday wishes for the Nigerian.
The Inter Milan Twitter account (@inter_en) posted
“134 appearances, 49 goals, so many unforgettable somersaults 🤸♂️
Many happy returns, @Obafemimartins! 🎉”
Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) joined with
“Happy birthday Obafemi Martins! 🥳🎁🎉”
The pidgin English handle of LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) said
“For this day for 2012, @Obafemimartins do birthday yanga when he score two goals for @LevanteUDen. ⚽️🔝⚽️
Happy 36th birthday, Obagoal! 🇳🇬🎉”
Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) did not forget.
“Happy Obafemi Martins Day! 🎉
We wish the former striker many happy returns on his birthday. 💙🏆”
In the greeting from home, the NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) was brief
“Happy birthday @Obafemimartins. Have a good one.”
Then, there was this from FIFA.com (@FIFAcom)
“🇳🇬 @Obafemimartins is a man who knows how to celebrate in style. We hope the former @NGSuperEagles forward is backflipping about on his 36th birthday 🤸♂️”
THEWILL wishes Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins a very happy 36th birthday anniversary, thanks him for his service all those many years bringing joy to countless football fans at home and abroad with his goals and acrobatic celebrations and wishes him every good in the years to come.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
