- Sone Aluko
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Sone Aluko 
Sone AlukoPersonal information Full name Omatsone Aluko Date of birth 19 February 1989 Place of birth Hounslow, England Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Playing position Left winger Youth career 1997–2007 Birmingham City Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2007–2008 Birmingham City 0 (0) 2007–2008 → Aberdeen (loan) 20 (3) 2008 → Blackpool (loan) 1 (0) 2008–2011 Aberdeen 82 (7) National team‡ 2004–2005 England U16 4 (0) 2005–2006 England U17 3 (0) 2006 England U18 1 (0) 2007–2008 England U19 3 (0) 2009– Nigeria 1 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 May 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 May 2009Omatsone "Sone" Aluko (born 19 February 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger. Aluko began his career at Birmingham City but failed to make any league appearances. He joined Aberdeen on loan in the 2007–2008 season and was loaned to Blackpool at the beginning of the 2008–2009 season. After just one appearance for Blackpool, he signed for Aberdeen permanently in August 2008. He left Aberdeen in July 2011 at the end of his contract. He is currently on trial at Rangers.
Born in England, Aluko was capped by England at all levels up to under-19 before accepting an offer to play for Nigeria.
Contents
Club career
Birmingham City
Aluko was born in London[1] and brought up from a young age in Birmingham. He progressed through Birmingham City's youth system, which he joined at the age of eight.[2] He was given a first-team squad number in the 2005–06 season, and was an unused substitute in the Premier League match against Arsenal at Highbury in October 2005.[3] He made his first-team debut for Birmingham on 28 August 2007 as a late substitute in the League Cup tie against Hereford United.[4]
Aberdeen loan
In August 2007, Aluko joined Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen on loan until January 2008.[5] He made his debut for Aberdeen as a late substitute in the UEFA Cup group match against Panathinaikos on 25 October 2007. He scored his first goal for the club the following week, opening the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Dundee United.[6]
On expiry of the initial loan, it was extended to keep Aluko at Aberdeen for the rest of the season.[7]
In February 2008, as part of a performance which earned him the man-of-the-match award, he scored Aberdeen's second goal in a 2–2 draw against FC Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.[8][9]
Blackpool
Aluko signed for Blackpool on a month's emergency loan on 8 August 2008,[10] and made his debut the following day as a late substitute in the Seasiders' 1–0 home defeat to Bristol City.[11]
Aberdeen
Aluko playing for Aberdeen.
On transfer deadline day, 1 September 2008, Aluko returned to Aberdeen on a permanent basis, signing a three-year contract for a fee of £50,000 with the club.[12][13] He made his return in a 2–1 home defeat to Hamilton on 13 September,[14] and scored his first goal since rejoining the club to clinch Aberdeen's first home win of the season, a single-goal victory over Kilmarnock on 1 November.[15] Aluko went on to win the SPL Young Player of the Month award for November 2008.[16] In September 2009, the tabloid press reported that he had put his Aberdeen future in jeopardy by going to play in the U-20 World Cup against manager Mark McGhee's wishes.[17] He left the club at the end of his contract in July 2011.
Free Agent
Following his release from Aberdeen, Aluko had a trial with Juventus.[18] He was offered a move to Leicester but the deal was never matalerlised.[citation needed] He is currently on trial at Rangers.[19]
International career
Aluko represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level before making his debut for the England under-19 team on 11 September 2007 in a friendly against Belarus under-19.[20] He was involved in two of the goals in a 4–0 win.[21] He was selected in the 23-man provisional squad for the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship[22] but did not make the final 18.[23]
Aluko was called up to the Nigerian national team for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 29 May 2009,[24] an offer which with the support of his family he chose to accept.[1] He made his full international debut in the starting eleven, forcing the Irish goalkeeper to save his 40-yard lobbed free kick and playing the first 61 minutes of the game.[25][26]
In April 2010, he was named in the provisional Nigeria squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,[27] but failed to make the final cut.
Personal life
Aluko's older sister, Eniola, is also a footballer who has played for England's women football team at full international level.
References
- ^ a b "Dons Ace Receives". Aberdeen F.C.. 2009-05-26. http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0,,10284~1667288,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Player profiles: Sone Aluko". Birmingham City F.C.. http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10412~35471,00.html. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
- ^ "Arsenal 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2005-10-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4277850.stm. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
- ^ "Birmingham 2–1 Hereford". BBC Sport. 2007-08-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6963483.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ^ "Dons bring in two young strikers". BBC Sport. 2007-08-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/6969302.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "Aberdeen 2–0 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 2007-11-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7074113.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
- ^ "Aberdeen extend Aluko loan deal". BBC Sport. 2008-01-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7188521.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ Taylor, Julian (2008-02-14). "Aberdeen 2–2 Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7236397.stm. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
- ^ Gilfeather, Frank (2008-02-16). "Aberdeen want more of same from youngsters". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3379230.ece. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "Aluko joins Blackpool". Sky Sports. 2008-08-09. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_3957706,00.html. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
- ^ "Blackpool 0–1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2008-08-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7540942.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ "Aluko rejoins Dons". Aberdeen F.C.. 2008-09-01. http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0,,10284~1381890,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ "Aluko joins the Dons". Birmingham City F.C.. 2008-09-01. http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1381978,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ "Aberdeen 1–2 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. 2008-09-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7611539.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ "Aberdeen 1–0 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. 2008-11-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7701221.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ BBC Sport (2008-11-09). "Aluko named young player of month". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7772986.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ^ MacKay, Ronnie (2009-09-17). "Aluko gone AWOL". London: The Scottish Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2641124/Alukos-gone-AWOL.html. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ STV (2011-08-13). "Sone Aluko offered trial with Italian giants Juventus". STV. http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/scottish-premier/aberdeen/266152-sone-aluko/. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ "Sone Aluko begins trial with Rangers". BBC Sport. 14 November 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15721331.stm. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ "Sone Aluko". The Football Association (The FA). http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players?p=332422. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ "That's the way to clinch it, Magpies" (reprint). Nottingham Evening Post (NewsBank). 2007-09-12. http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:NEPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11BAC4EA70124A28&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ "Duo Called Up By Young Lions". Birmingham City F.C. 2008-06-17. http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1329847,00.html. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ (PDF) UEFA Under19 Championship Technical Report. UEFA. 2008. p. 30. http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Publications/uefa/UEFAMedia/75/74/64/757464_DOWNLOAD.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ "Amodu Lists Four New Players For Exhibition Game". Complete Sports (Nigeria). 2009-05-25. http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/details.php?category=news&id=8281. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Keane strike seals draw". Sky Sports. 2009-05-29. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3126020,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ^ "Match facts". Sky Sports. 2009-05-29. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3126020,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ^ "Utaka gets Nigeria recall". Kickoff.com. 2010-04-22. http://www.kickoff.com/news/14936/utaka-gets-nigeria-recall.php. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
External links
- Sone Aluko career stats at Soccerbase
- Official website (registration with valid email address required)
- Sone Aluko on Twitter
Categories:- 1989 births
- Living people
- People from London
- English footballers
- Nigerian footballers
- Nigeria international footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Aberdeen F.C. players
- Blackpool F.C. players
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Premier League young player of the month awards
- The Football League players
- English people of Nigerian descent
- Black British sportspeople
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