36 Facts About Shola Ameobi

Foluwashola "Shola" Ameobi was born on 12 October 1981 and is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Shola Ameobi spent 14 years at Newcastle United, making 397 official appearances and scoring 79 goals, and received a winner's medal when they won the Championship in 2010.

Shola Ameobi has the fifth most appearances as a substitute in the Premier League.

Shola Ameobi moved to Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne, England when he was five.

Shola Ameobi signed a pre-contract with Newcastle on 1 July 1997.

Shola Ameobi progressed through the youth setup, making his debut in the reserves in 1998 on 11 October against Sunderland.

Shola Ameobi made his first team debut two years later, on 9 September 2000, in a home game against Chelsea.

Shola Ameobi went on to make 22 appearances for Newcastle that season, in lieu of the injured Alan Shearer and Carl Cort.

Shola Ameobi had made 13 appearances and scored five goals.

Shola Ameobi and the Newcastle medical team reported his hip operation in the United States was a success and that the club doctors and medical staff would work on his rehabilitation.

However, after failing to impress Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, or Kevin Keegan on 27 March 2008, Shola Ameobi agreed a loan deal with Stoke City until the end of the season, to help their promotion campaign.

Shola Ameobi signed a new deal with the club in January 2009 to keep him contracted until 2012.

Shola Ameobi was sidelined with a hamstring injury but made the bench against Nottingham Forest on 29 March 2010.

On 22 September 2010 Shola Ameobi scored two goals in a surprise victory away at Chelsea in the League Cup, including the winner in the 90th minute.

On 11 August 2014, Shola Ameobi signed for Turkish club Gaziantep Buyuksehir Belediyespor on a one-year contract.

Shola Ameobi left the club on 29 December 2014, citing family reasons for his departure.

Shola Ameobi made 11 appearances and scored 4 goals during his time there.

On 29 January 2015, Shola Ameobi returned to the Premier League by signing for Crystal Palace until the end of the season.

Shola Ameobi was signed by Alan Pardew, his last manager at Newcastle.

In June 2015, Shola Ameobi was released by Crystal Palace on expiry of his contract.

On 23 October 2015, Shola Ameobi signed for Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a short-term contract and was handed the number 26 shirt.

On 12 February 2016, Shola Ameobi signed for Fleetwood Town until the end of the season, and was handed the number 9 shirt.

On 3 February 2017, Shola Ameobi signed for Notts County until 30 June 2017.

On 20 June 2017, Shola Ameobi signed a new contract with the club.

Shola Ameobi returned to Newcastle United on 22 June 2019 as the club's first ever loan manager.

Shola Ameobi is the older brother of fellow footballers Tomi and Sammy.

Shola Ameobi's father, Dr John Ameobi, is a pastor in Newcastle Apostolic church, a Pentecostal church.

All of the Shola Ameobi boys were brought up in the church and have a strong faith.

Shola Ameobi is on the board of reference for CSW, an organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights.

Nigerian-born Shola Ameobi had a three-year spell with England's under-21 team, netting seven goals between 2000 and 2003.

Shola Ameobi is the joint eighth highest goal scorer for the under-21s.

In late 2009, Shola Ameobi declared his interest in playing for Nigeria.

Shola Ameobi withdrew from the replacement game against Sierra Leone after breaking his cheekbone in a Premier League match.

In October 2012, Nigeria head coach Stephen Keshi expressed his interest in Shola Ameobi joining the squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

In November 2012, Shola Ameobi received his second call-up for the Nigeria national team against Venezuela.

Shola Ameobi scored his first international goal for Nigeria on 10 September 2013, against Burkina Faso in a friendly in Kaduna, Nigeria.