Babajide Ogunbiyi

Babajide "Jide" Ogunbiyi (born October 30, 1986) is a retired American soccer player who played as a defender.

Babajide Ogunbiyi
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-10-30) October 30, 1986
Place of birth Rochester, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2005–2008 Santa Clara Broncos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Viborg FF 49 (6)
2012 New York Red Bulls 0 (0)
2013 Vendsyssel FF 12 (1)
2013–2016 Viborg FF 59 (2)
2016–2017 Hobro IK 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Ogunbiyi was born in Rochester, New York to Lai, a pharmacologist from Nigeria, and Elaine Ogunbiyi, a biochemist from Jamaica. He is one of three children in his family; his younger brother Ayotunde played soccer at University of New Hampshire and Ocean City Barons in the USL Premier Development League (PDL) while his elder sister Temitayo, is an artist. Ogunbiyi attended Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania. While at high school he played basketball as a forward as well as soccer as a defender. In soccer he lettered three years and was team captain in his senior year. He attended the Pepsi Football Academy as a youth and was a three-time most valuable player.[1][2][3]

Career

College

Ogunbiyi attended Santa Clara University. During his time with the Broncos, he also played as a forward and scored 11 goals in 77 total appearances with the team. He played the Broncos' West Coast Conference championship-winning teams in 2006 and 2007.[4][5]

Ogunbiyi while with Viborg FF

Club

Ogunbiyi was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. When he was drafted, New York officials cited his size - six foot, four inches and 212 pounds - as a potential asset. After refusing a developmental contract he and the club were unable to agree a deal.[6][7][8] He chose to continue his senior year at college.[9]

In April 2009, Ogunbiyi had an unsuccessful trial with English club Leeds United, later trialing with Oldham Athletic in July 2009.[10]

In 2010, Ogunbiyi signed for Viborg FF of the Danish 1st Division. Babajide was spotted by Viborg great Steffen Højer while he was on trial with Odense Boldklub in a match against FC Fredericia.[11] Højer was impressed by Babajide and offered him a trial with Viborg, this resulted in the defender signing his first professional contract with the club in August 2010. In June 2011 Babajide went on a three-day trial with German club Karlsruher SC, however the clubs were unable to agree on a transfer fee and he returned to Viborg.[12] In two and a half seasons with Viborg Babajide appeared in 53 matches for the team in total, 52 league and one cup, scoring six goals.[6] He had his best season for Viborg during the 2010–11 campaign in which he managed to score 5 goals in 28 league matches for the Danish side and was named as the club's player of the year. He was also named in the 1st Division team of the year for the 2010–11 season.[13] While in Denmark, Ogunbiyi wrote a regular column for Goal.com focusing on his observations of living in Denmark as a foreigner.[14]

Ogunbiyi signed a contract for the New York Red Bulls following a trial with the club in July 2012.[6][15] However, weeks later, he was released for health reasons.[16]

After playing in the Danish 1st Division with Vendsyssel FF for the latter part of the 2012–13 season, Ogunbiyi was re-acquired by Viborg in advance of the 2013–14 season.[17] His contract was not renewed after its December 2015 expiration.[18] He signed an 18-month deal with Danish Superliga club Hobro IK shortly after.[19] He retired following the 2016–17 season, citing lingering injuries.[20]

International

American-born to a Nigerian father, he was eligible for the United States and Nigeria.[21] Although Ogunbiyi was part of the Nigerian national team youth setup, he never appeared in a match for either nation at any level.[6][22]

References
  1. Konopki, Dave (March 3, 2005). "AREA CHAMPS OPEN THEIR RUNS". The Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: 12 Impressions Media. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  2. Jensen, Mike (July 20, 2008). "Philly-area brothers on cusp of Olympics Wissahickon grads may make the Nigerian soccer team". The Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  3. "Jide Ogunbiyi". Santa Clara Broncos. Santa Clara University. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  4. Akpayen, George (October 3, 2010). "Ogunbiyi aims high with Viborg". SuperSport. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  5. "WCC CHAMPIONS". West Coast Conference. p. 12. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  6. "Red Bulls Sign Defender Babajide Ogunbiyi". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  7. Udoh, Colin (October 3, 2011). "Viborg's Ogunbiyi aims high". Kick Off. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  8. Lewis, Michael (January 19, 2009). "Red Bulls feel selection Babajide Ogunbiyi can intimidate". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  9. "Red Bulls Pack Up and Head to Florida". New York Times. January 31, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2012. Babajide Ogunbiyi, a 6-foot-4 defender from Santa Clara University, has decided to finish his senior semester and will not be available until May.
  10. "Leeds United: Whites take Nigerian defender on trial". Yorkshire Evening Post. April 2, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  11. "Babajide Ogunbiyi: "Dette er en kæmpe oplevelse for mig!" (in Danish). surrender-crew.dk. May 4, 2010.
  12. "VFF's forsvarskrumtap prøvetræner i Tyskland" (in Danish). viborg-folkeblad.dk. June 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  13. Seltzer, Greg (June 14, 2011). "American Exports: Ogunbiyi drawing interest from Germany". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  14. Ogunbiyi, Babajide (November 9, 2011). "Jide Ogunbiyi's Journal Vol. 2: If the New York Red Bulls are interested in me, I'll listen". Goal.com. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  15. "New York signs defender Ogunbiyi". Fox News. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  16. "Red Bulls, Ogunbiyi Part Ways". New York Red Bulls. August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  17. "American Exports: One-time New York Red Bulls target Babajide Ogunbiyi rejoins promoted Viborg | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on August 22, 2013.
  18. "Viborg bryder med forsvarsklippe". bold.dk. December 12, 2015.
  19. Christensen, Ole Kirchert (January 4, 2016). "Babajide Ogunbiyi til Hobro IK" [Babajide Ogunbiyi to Hobro IK] (in Danish). Hobro IK. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  20. http://hikfodbold.dk/1.-division-nyheder?id=1201
  21. Labidou, Alex (November 12, 2010). "New York Native Babajide Ogunbiyi Considering International, Club Futures". Goal.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  22. "Ogunbiyi Rises To The Occasion". West Coast Conference. September 15, 2005. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2012. a member of the Nigerian Youth National Team Program since 2001
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