- Gabriel Agbonlahor
Infobox Football biography
playername = Gabriel Agbonlahor
fullname = Gabriel Imuetinyan Agbonlahor
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1986|10|13
cityofbirth =Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Aston Villa
clubnumber = 11
position =Striker , Right winger
youthyears = 1994–2005
youthclubs = Aston Villa
years = 2005–
2005
2005
clubs = Aston Villa
→ Watford (loan)
→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
caps(goals) = 91 (25)
02 0(0)
08 0(0)
nationalyears = 2006–2008
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 12 0(4)
pcupdate = 02:43, 6 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 22:08, 10 October 2008 (UTC)Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor (born 13 October 1986 in
Erdington , [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/12/sfnsmi112.xml Telegraph.co.uk] ]Birmingham ) is an Englishfootballer who plays for Aston Villa of thePremier League . He is of half-Nigerian [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Agbonlahor undecided on Nigeria|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6430879.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-03-08 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] and half-Scottish [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Scots consider Agbonlahor call|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6738707.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-06-10 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] descent, from his father and mother respectively. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy system. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gabriel Agbonlahor commits to Aston Villa|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2326247/Gabriel-Agbonlahor-commits-to-Aston-Villa.html |work= |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Playing career
Early career
Agbonlahor was first noticed playing for local side Great Barr Falcons [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Speedy Agbonlahor quick to make his mark|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/09/30/speedy_agbonlahor_quick_to_mak.html |work= |publisher=
The Guardian |date=2006-09-30 |accessdate=2008-08-18 ] , where his quick pace brought him success as a young teenager. He was spotted by boyhood team Aston Villa.In the 2002–03 season, playing his first season for the Aston Villa Academy, Agbonlahor notched an impressive nine goals in 18 appearances. He followed this up with a tally of 35 goals in 29 games in the 2003–04 season [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gabriel Agbonlahor eyes Wembley and England team|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article3216668.ece |work= |publisher=
The Times |date=2008-01-20 |accessdate=2008-08-18 ] , a feat which was comparable toDarius Vassell 's 38 goals in the 1997–98 season. With Agbonlahor showing promise for the Youth team, he made more of an impact for the Reserves in the 2004–05 season, although he still bagged 18 goals in 22 games to bring his youth record to 71 appearances and 62 goals.He made a good impression for Aston Villa's Youth team in 2005 at the U-20 International Football Challenge in
Adelaide , Australia. Agbonlahor netted in the opening match, a 2–0 victory over AIS, before scoring in the 2–2 draw againstA.C. Milan —which Aston Villa won on penalties—and once in the 4–1 demolition ofTokyo Verdy . He subsequently scored two goals in the final against Team S.A, in a match that was won 5–0.Agbonlahor made 37 appearances for the reserves between 2003 and 2006, scoring 19 times, most notably a
hat-trick against American goalkeeperTim Howard in a 3–0 defeat of Manchester United Reserves. He also captained an Aston Villa team in the 2006 HKFC Philips Lighting International Soccer Sevens, he was named "Player of the Tournament" as Aston Villa finished Runners-Up toUrawa Red Diamonds .His first taste of first-team action came in October 2005 when he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for two months, being signed by Paul Sturrock to cover for his striker injuries
Aston Villa
2005–06 season
Agbonlahor was given his Premiership début on 18 March 2006, against Everton at
Goodison Park . He scored on his début after 63 minutes, although Villa went on to lose the match 4–1. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Everton 4-1 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4796520.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-03-18 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]2006–07 season
In five pre-season games of the 2006–07 season, Agbonlahor netted four goals in five games for Aston Villa. After netting a quick double salvo against Walsall (the first a near-post header, the latter a close range finish) in a 5–0 victory. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Villa thrash Walsall in friendly|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5205308.stm |work= |publisher=
BBC Sport |date=2006-07-21 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] Agbonlahor also netted in the second match of Aston Villa's tour against NEC Nijmegen, which turned out to be a consolation goal, in a 2–1 victory for NEC Nijmegen. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=NEC Nijmegen 2 Villa 1|url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-match-reports/2006/08/08/nec-nijmegen-2-villa-1-97319-17531850/ |work= |publisher=Birmingham Mail |date=2006-08-08 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Agbonlahor started the season on the right wing in
Martin O'Neill 's new look Villa side, and would be part of the team that managed a get a point from the first Premiership game at Arsenal's newEmirates Stadium . [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4786655.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-08-19 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] Agbonlahor's first goal of the season came at home against Charlton Athletic, in a 2–0 win. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 2-0 Charlton|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5351926.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-09-23 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] On 30 September, Agbonlahor scored a crucial equaliser against Premiership champions Chelsea just before half-time, heading inLiam Ridgewell 's cross with a glancing header to earn Villa a hard-earned 1–1 draw. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5373472.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-09-30 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Agbonlahor also provided cup heroics in 2006, scoring an extra-time injury time winner to beat Leicester City at the
Walkers Stadium , by a score of three goals to two. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Leicester 2-3 Aston Villa (aet)|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6072636.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-10-24 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] The following game, he scored a consolation effort in Villa's first loss of the season, on 28 October, ten games in. [cite news |first=John |last=Sinnott |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6072868.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-10-28 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Agbonlahor completed his run of scoring at the big teams, when he added Manchester United to a list of his victims that included Chelsea and Liverpool. Villa were beaten 3–1 in the game at
Old Trafford . [cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6236709.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-01-13 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] Agbonlahor then scored deep into injury time in the following game, against Watford on 20 January, to end a Villa winless run that stretched back to 11 November. [cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 2-0 Watford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6258655.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-01-20 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Agbonlahor had played every minute of Aston Villa's campaign in 2006–07, until he was replaced by
Patrik Berger , in the 2–0 away fixture against Reading, on 10 February, 2007. The following match was the first of the season that Agbonlahor did not start—he instead appeared from the bench, replacing new Villa signingShaun Maloney . Manager Martin O'Neill suggested that Agbonlahor, who had been playing out of position on the right wing for much of the season, had done superbly, and being dropped from the first 11 was in order to rest him, and alleviate growing crowd pressure.Following this break, Agbonlahor went on a scoring spree. He scored from the right-wing against Everton on 2 April, to gain Villa a valuable point. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 1-1 Everton|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6491145.stm|work= |publisher=
BBC Sport |date=2007-04-02 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] Following this match, Agbonlahor signed a new-four year contract at Aston Villa. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Agbonlahor signs new Villa deal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/6517409.stm|work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-04-03 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] The following Saturday, in the absence ofJohn Carew , he was moved back to his natural position at centre forward and again found his name on the scoresheet.Agbonlahor made it three in a row on Easter Monday, again scoring an equaliser, adjudged to have crossed the line by Assistant referee Dave Richardson.
2007–08 season
Agbonlahor also scored the vital second goal in the match between Aston Villa and Chelsea on 2 September, in which Villa won 2–0. [cite news |first=Andrew |last=McKenzie |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6963719.stm |work= |publisher=
BBC Sport |date=2007-09-02 |accessdate=2007-09-02 ] [cite news |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007400967,00.html |title=Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 0 |publisher=The Sun |last=Self |first=Janine |date=2007-09-03 |accessdate=2007-09-03] Agbonlahor scored the winning goal in the 86th minute of theBirmingham Derby , 60 seconds after saving the ball on the line from a Liam Ridgewell shot. After 13 games, Agbonlahor was the clubs top goal scorer, with six Premier League goals. On 7 December it was announced that Agbonlahor had won the Barclays Premier League Player of the month award and ManagerMartin O'Neill had won the Manager of the month award for the same month. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Villa claim maiden Barclays Awards double|url=http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/4d/c4/0,,12306~115789,00.pdf |work= |publisher=Premier League |date=2007-12-07 |accessdate=2008-08-18 ]On 12 April 2008, Agbonlahor scored the fourth goal against Derby County in a 6–0 victory at
Pride Park in thePremier league . [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Derby 0-6 Aston Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7332038.stm|work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-04-12 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ] In theBirmingham derby on 20 April 2008, he scored the fifth and final goal in the 5–1 victory. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 5-1 Birmingham|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7344139.stm|work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-04-20 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]2008–09 season
On 15 August 2008, Aston Villa announced that Agbonlahor had signed a new four-year deal, tying him to the club until 2012. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Agbonlahor commits to Villains|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1366836,00.html |work= |publisher=
Premier League |date=2008-08-15 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]Following his contract extension, on 17 August 2008, Agbonlahor scored a "perfect"
hat-trick (scoring a goal with his head, right foot and left foot) against Manchester City in Villa's opening game of the 2008-2009 season at Villa Park. The three goals were netted in the space of seven minutes, making it the second fastest hat-trick in the history of thePremier League . He was later namedman of the match due to his impressive performance which led to a 4-2 victory. [cite news |first=Chris |last=Bevans |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Aston Villa 4-2 Man City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7551172.stm |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-17 |accessdate=2008-08-17 ]International career
On 20 September 2006, Agbonlahor was pencilled in as a player in the Nigeria U-20 team for the match against Rwanda. He turned down the chance, whilst not ruling out playing for the country in the future. [cite news |title=Agbonlahor turns down Nigeria |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/5375596.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-09-24 |accessdate=2007-09-05] He has since pledged his future to England. [cite news |title=Gab: England for Me |url=http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/HeadlinesDetail/0,,10265~1109003,00.html |publisher=Aston Villa F.C.'s official website |date=2007-09-11 |accessdate=2007-09-11]
On 28 September 2006, Agbonlahor received his first call-up to the England U21 squad, and won his first U21 cap as a substitute against Germany U21s, on 6 October.
Agbonlahor was then omitted from the England's U-21 Championship squad, by manager
Stuart Pearce , on 30 May 2007, as a result of missing the England U21 training camp in Spain.David Bentley , also included in the England first team lineup, took his place.Agbonlahor was later recalled to the side by Pearce, in September 2007, [cite news |title=Agbonlahor in England U21 squad |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6949403.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-08-16 |accessdate=2007-09-05] netting his first goal for the U-21s, by scoring the second in a 3–0 victory, over Montenegro U-21.
On 1 February, Agbonlahor was named in
Fabio Capello 's 23-man squad for the England National Team to play Switzerland in February 2008. Although injury forced him to withdraw from the squad.Gabriel Agbonlahor was also an unused substitute in England's respective 2-0 and 3-0 friendly victories against the U.S.A. and Trinidad & Tobago in May/June 2008.
Career Statistics
Last Updated 23/08/08
Honours
Aston Villa:
FA Youth Cup
*Runners Up (2003–04)HKFC Philips Lighting International Football Sevens
*Runners Up (2006)
*Player Of The Tournament (2006)International Football Challenge
*Winners (2005)
*Player Of The Series (2005)Young Player Of The Season
*Winner (2006–07)
*Winner (2007–08)Player's Young Player of the Season
*Winner (2006–07)
*Winner (2007–08)Top Goalscorer
*Winner (2006–07)Premiership:
Player of the Month November
*Winner (2007–08)References
External links
*soccerbase|id=42183|name=Gabriel Agbonlahor
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/a/agbonlahor_291930.stm Gabriel Agbonlahor] atbbc.co.uk
*http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/article.php3?id_article=822
* [http://www.stv.tv/content/sport/exclusive/display.html?id=opencms:/sport/exclusive/Craig_Levein_interview_120607 Levein backs Scots' Agbonlahor bid]Persondata
NAME= Agbonlahor, Gabriel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Agbonlahor, Gabriel
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= 1986-10-13
PLACE OF BIRTH=Erdington ,Birmingham , England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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