34 Facts About Taye Taiwo

Taye Ismaila Taiwo was born on 16 April 1985 and is a Nigerian retired professional footballer who last played as a defender for Kakkonen club SalPa.

However, after joining Serie A side Milan, Taye Taiwo's career declined, with Goal.

Taye Taiwo was brought in to fill the void Bixente Lizarazu had left when he departed for Bayern Munich.

Taye Taiwo later helped Marseille win the Intertoto Cup after beating Lazio and Deportivo de La Coruna.

Taye Taiwo then helped the club keep four consecutive clean sheets in the first four league matches for the side.

Taye Taiwo then helped the club progress through Coupe de France, eventually reaching to the final.

Taye Taiwo then started the next five matches for the rest of the year before being called up by Nigeria for the African Cup of Nations.

Taye Taiwo made amends of his performance by helping the club keep five clean sheets in the next five matches between 8 February 2009 and 7 March 2009.

Taye Taiwo then scored two goals in two matches between 14 August 2010 and 21 August 2010 against Valenciennes and Lorient.

However, Taye Taiwo received a one-match ban for his action, and apologised for his action.

Since returning to the first team from suspension, Taye Taiwo later found himself rotating in and out as the season goes by.

On 5 July 2013, Taye Taiwo signed a three-year deal with Turkish side Bursaspor.

Taye Taiwo was linked with a move to the Premier League by joining newly promoted club Cardiff City, but opted to move to Turkey.

Taye Taiwo then helped the club keep three consecutive clean sheets between 4 October 2013 and 27 October 2013.

On 27 April 2015, Taye Taiwo mutually agreed to have his contract terminated with Bursaspor.

On 23 August 2015, Taye Taiwo joined HJK Helsinki for the remainder of the season with an option for a one additional year.

Ahead of the 2016 season, Taye Taiwo was linked a move away from HJK Helsinki, but he ended up staying at the club.

Taye Taiwo then scored two goals in two consecutive matches between 12 June 2016 and 18 June 2016 against RoPS and SJK.

Taye Taiwo called time on his playing career with HJK Helsinki after their final league game against SJK on 23 October 2016.

On 7 March 2018, Taye Taiwo joined Veikkausliiga side Rovaniemen Palloseura for the 2018 season after leaving AFC Eskilstuna.

At the start of the 2019 season, Taye Taiwo captained Rovaniemen Palloseura in the first two months to the season.

On 3 July 2020, Taye Taiwo signed for Cypriot First Division club Doxa Katokopias after leaving ROPS.

However, he failed to make a single appearances for the club and it was announced on 22 October 2020 that Taye Taiwo joined American club Palm Beach Stars in the United Premier Soccer League.

In December 2021, Taye Taiwo returned for a third spell in Finland when he joined third tier side Salon Palloilijat.

In May 2005, Taye Taiwo was called up to the Nigeria U20 squad for the FIFA World Youth Championship.

In July 2008, there were questions whether Taye Taiwo would be included in the Nigeria U23 squad for the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

In January 2006, Taye Taiwo was called up to the Nigeria squad for the African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Taye Taiwo then helped Nigeria win the next two matches to help the national side go through to the knockout stage.

Taye Taiwo eventually made it to the 23 men squad the following month.

In January 2010, Taye Taiwo made the Nigeria cut when he was called up to the national team squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Taye Taiwo made his World Cup debut against Argentina on 12 June 2010 and started a match before suffering an injury in the 74th minute, resulting in him being substituted.

Taye Taiwo is married to his wife, Nimota, and together, they have two children.

When he first moved to France, Taye Taiwo began learning French and managed to speak the language fluently.

Taye Taiwo then learned Ukrainian during his brief time at Dynamo Kyiv.