Izzy Iriekpen

Football player infobox
playername = Izzy Iriekpen


fullname = Ezomo Iriekpen
height = height|ft=6|in=2
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|5|14
cityofbirth = East London
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Scunthorpe United
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1998-2003
2002
2003
2003-2007
2007-
clubs = West Ham United
→ Leyton Orient (loan)
→ Cambridge United (loan)
Swansea City
Scunthorpe United
caps(goals) = 000 (0)
005 (1)
013 (1)
123 (7)
019 (4)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 19:36, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Ezomo "Izzy" Iriekpen (born 14 May 1982 in East London, England) is an English footballer with Scunthorpe United. He is a defender.

Club career

West Ham United

Iriekpen joined West Ham United as a trainee in August 1998cite web | title = Ezomo Iriekpen | work = Soccerbase | publisher = Racing Post | url =http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=16130
accessdate = 2007-07-11 ] and was part of West Ham's Youth Cup winning team of 1999 that included the likes of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole. [cite news | title =The class of '99| publisher =TheFA.com | date =2006-01-01 | url =http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/02/FAYouthCup_WestHam.htm | accessdate = 2008-08-11 ] Injuries disrupted his seasons with West Ham as he twice broke down with cruciate ligament problems. He was loaned out to Leyton Orient and Cambridge United in 2002-03, [cite news | title =Iriekpen stays at Cambridge| publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-03-13 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/2903919.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] making 21 league and cup appearances and scoring three goals. Despite being viewed as a promising prospect, he was released in June 2003 without playing a single senior game for the Hammers.

wansea City

Iriekpen joined Swansea City on a free transfer in August 2003, signing an 18-month contract in November 2003. [cite news | title =Iriekpen signs new deal| publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-11-26 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/3223970.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] An ankle injury requiring surgery in July 2004 meant that he missed pre-season training but despite this, he helped Swansea to automatic promotion from League 2 in May 2005. [cite news | title =Injury sidelines Iriekpen | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-07-12 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/3887207.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] [cite news | title =Iriekpen secures new Swans deal | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-05-07 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4500929.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] He signed a further two-year contract in May 2005, tying him to the club until 2007. [cite news | title =Bury 0-1 Swansea | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-05-31 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4596653.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] A serious knee injury sustained during a match against Nottingham Forest in February 2006, which saw Iriekpen stretchered off and needing an operation, ruled him out for the rest of the 2005-06 season. [cite news | title =Swansea hit by double injury blow | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2006-02-17 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4723876.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] He had made 118 league and cup appearances for the club scoring five goals when he was dropped to the bench and fined following his arrest outside a Swansea nightclub in November 2006. [cite news | title =Swans fine Iriekpen for incident | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-11-16 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6146708.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] [cite news | title =Iriekpen to bounce back - Jackett | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-11-20 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6163760.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] Frustrated with the lack of games and with his contract ending at the end of the 2006-07 season, Iriekpen asked for a transfer in January 2007 which the Swans accepted, but withdrew his request the following month after returning to the side. [cite news | title =Iriekpen ready to stay at Swans | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-02-20 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6379573.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] At the end of the season, Iriekpen rejected an offer by Swansea of a one-year contract, describing it as "an insult", and left the club. [cite news | title = Swans offers insulting - Iriekpen | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-06-08 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6733959.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] [cite news | title =Akinfenwa & Iriekpen leave Swans | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-06-19 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6768907.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] He had made a total of 137 league and cup appearances for Swansea, scoring eight goals.

cunthorpe United

Iriekpen signed a two-year contract with Scunthorpe United on 19 June 2007, with the option of a third year. [cite news | title =Scunthorpe sign defender Iriekpen | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-06-20 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/6221036.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-11 ] He scored on his debut against Charlton Athletic.He has also been given captincy of the team for the upcoming season

Honours

* FA Youth Cup: 1999

References

External links

* [http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10442~19045,00.html Izzy Iriekpen player profile] at scunthorpe-united.co.uk
* [http://www.swanseacity.net/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10354~19045,00.html Izzy Iriekpen player profile] at swanseacity.net
*soccerbase|id=16130|name=Izzy Iriekpen