Danny Shittu

Danny Shittu

Shittu playing for Millwall
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Olusola Shittu
Date of birth	2 September 1980 (1980-09-02) (age 31)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Queens Park Rangers
Number	28
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2002	Charlton Athletic	0	(0)
2001	→ Blackpool (loan)	17	(2)
2001	→ Queens Park Rangers (loan)	18	(1)
2002–2006	Queens Park Rangers	162	(16)
2006–2008	Watford	69	(8)
2008–2010	Bolton Wanderers	10	(0)
2010–2011	Millwall	9	(0)
2011–	Queens Park Rangers	7	(0)
National team‡
2000–	Nigeria	28	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 April 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2010

Daniel Olusola "Danny" Shittu (born 2 September 1980) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers.

"Olusola" is a nickname for the Yoruba name "Oluwanisola" (meaning "God creates wealth").^[1]

Club career

Early career

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Shittu started his career at Charlton Athletic. He spent most of his two years at the club on loan, first at Blackpool in January and February 2001, then Queens Park Rangers.

Queens Park Rangers

Shittu's debut for Rangers as a loanee, away at Peterborough on 23 October 2001 in a Football League One fixture, was rather inauspicious ending in his being sent off in the 83rd minute.^[2] His first goal came away at Chesterfield on 15 December 2001 in a game in which he was again sent off.^[3]

QPR acquired his services permanently for £350,000 in January 2002. He was bought by fan (and later Life President) Harold Winton, who also paid Shittu's wages during his first season at the club.^[4] His first game as a permanent player was the home fixture with Bury on 12 January 2002. Shittu went on to have a very successful spell at Loftus Road becoming a fan's favourite for his robust and combative performances in the heart of the defence. He was part of the team that made it to the League One play-off Final in 2003 where Rangers were narrowly beaten by Cardiff ^[5] and the team that won promotion the following season. He made a total of 182 appearances in four seasons and scored 17 goals.

Watford

On 6 August 2006 he was signed for £1.6 million by Premiership newcomers Watford. This move was controversial, as Shittu had passed a medical at West Bromwich Albion, before a late call from Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd.

Shittu scored his first goal for the club in a penalty shoot-out loss to Newcastle United after a 2–2 draw in the League Cup on 7 November 2006. He powered a header past Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper to give Watford the lead. However Watford went on to lose the match on penalties. Shittu scored his first Premier League goal on 5 May 2007 in a 2–0 win at Reading.

On 16 February 2008, Shittu managed to score both for and against his former club, Charlton Athletic.^[6] After a successful 2007–08 season with Watford in which Shittu scored 9 goals in all competitions, he was named in the PFA Championship team of the year.^[7] Shittu left Watford in August 2008 to join Premier League side Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £2m plus further add-ons. He made 69 appearances scoring 8 times for Watford between 2006–2008.

Bolton Wanderers

Shittu joined Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on 6 August 2008,^[8] on a three-year contract, for £2m plus further add-ons, beating off competition from Scottish Premier League club Rangers.^[9]

Shittu made his debut for Bolton on the 30 August during their 0–0 draw with West Brom. He then went on to start the next two games against Fulham and Arsenal, but then did not make another appearance until 28 December in a 1–0 loss at home to Wigan Athletic. Shittu went on to make 10 league appearances for Bolton in his first season at the club, nine of which were starts.

Shittu did not make a single appearance during the 2009-10 season, only managing to make four appearances as an unused substitute. During Shittu's absence from the Premier League, he made regular appearances for the Bolton reserves team, playing with the likes of Nicky Hunt before his release.

In May 2010, it was reported that Shittu was a target for Kayserispor of the Turkish league, with early reports suggesting that he was being offered a lucrative £1m a year contract.^[10]

On 1 September 2010, the club announced that they had a come to an agreement with Shittu to release him from his contract.^[11] He signed for Millwall on a three month contract, on 20 October 2010 and left the club on 25 January 2011.

Return to Queens Park Rangers

On 27 January 2011, Shittu rejoined Queens Park Rangers on a 6 month contract.^[12] He made his second debut for the club on 22 February in the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.^[13]

International career

Shittu made his international debut for Nigeria against Paraguay on 26 March 2002.

He was a regular under coach Berti Vogts and played a significant role for the Super Eagles team that lost in the quarter-finals of the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations to hosts Ghana. He was also a rock in the back four for Nigeria at 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria as the side finished third.

Shittu was involved in the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup making four appearances for the Super Eagles with his first coming in a 1-0 win away to South Africa on 6 June 2008. His second came in a 4-1 win at home over Sierra Leone. As well as the 0-0 draw away with Mozambique and the 1-0 home win in the reverse fixture.

Shittu was selected for the 23 man Nigeria squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He made his first appearance in the World Cup in their opening game of Group B against Argentina on 12 June 2010.

Honours

Club

Queens Park Rangers

• Npower Championship: 2010–11

References

1. ^ Meaning of Olusola in Nigerian.name
2. ^ "Result between Peterborough & QPR on 2001-10-23". www.soccerbase.com. http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=314519. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
3. ^ "Result between Chesterfield & QPR on 2001-12-15". www.soccerbase.com. http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=349160. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
4. ^ "Shittu's permanent move". BBC. 2002-01-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1747701.stm. 
5. ^ "Cardiff seal promotion". BBC. 2003-05-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3051017.stm. 
6. ^ http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=31994&newstype=m Official report
7. ^ Ronaldo named player of the year
8. ^ "Shittu secures switch to Bolton". BBC Sport. 2008-08-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7545339.stm. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
9. ^ "Shittu trots on". Watford FC official website. 2008-08-06. http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1359590,00.html. Retrieved 2008-08-17. 
10. ^ "Danny Shittu set to snub Bristol City, Portsmouth and Newcastle for £1m-a-year Kayserispor switch". Daily Mail. 2010-05-10. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1275875/Danny-Shittu-set-snub-Bristol-City-Portsmouth-Newcastle-1m-year-Kayserispor-switch.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 2010-05-10. 
11. ^ "Shittu Released From Contract". bwfc.co.uk. 2010-09-01. http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~2141505,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-01. 
12. ^ "Shittu Returns". qpr.co.uk. 2011-01-27. http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2276964,00.html. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
13. ^ "QPR 2 - 0 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 2011-02-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9402103.stm. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 

External links

• Danny Shittu career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Danny Shittu
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	2 September 1980
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Date of death
Place of death