Taye Taiwo


Taye Ismaila Taiwo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Cypriot club Doxa Katokopias.

Club career

Lobi Stars

After spending a year at Nigeria Division 1 club Gabros International, Taiwo was bought by Nigeria Premier League side, Lobi Stars. He spent one season at Lobi Stars.

Olympique de Marseille

In 2005, at the age of 20, Taiwo was signed by French club, Olympique de Marseille. Taiwo was brought in to fill the void Bixente Lizarazu had left when he departed for Bayern Munich. The Nigerian left back scored Marseille's winning goal against Olympique Lyonnais on 21 March 2010, with a trademark left-footed strike from long range. He also scored Marseille's winning goal against US Boulogne on 17 April 2010. On 23 April 2011, Taiwo scored the only goal at the Stade de France against Montpellier HSC to win the 2011 Coupe de la Ligue. After the match, Taiwo grabbed a microphone and joined fans in singing an expletive-laden chant aimed at the club's rivals PSG, narrowly escaping a ban from the LFP. However, Taiwo received a one-match ban for his action, missing out on the last games of the season, which could have been his last match and since apologised. Though keen to sign a contract with the club, Taiwo announced that he would leave Marseille at the end of the 2010–11 season, to seek new challenge elsewhere.

Milan

On 9 May 2011, A.C. Milan coach, Massimiliano Allegri, confirmed the signing of Taiwo along with French defender Philippe Mexès. The two were to play for Milan for the 2011–12 season. He made his debut with the club on 24 September 2011 in the home league match won 1–0 against Cesena where he was eventually replaced by Luca Antonini. In December 2011, Taiwo made an interview for the French sports newspaper L'Équipe where he said that he was disappointed with his current experience at A.C. Milan, commenting on problems with Massimiliano Allegri and on the fact that he wasn't playing. Despite the player spending much time on the substitutes bench, Taiwo iterated that he remained committed to the Italian club.

Queens Park Rangers

On 24 January 2012, Queens Park Rangers secured the signing of Taiwo from A.C. Milan on a loan deal until the end of the season, with the option to buy for a fee of around £3.5 million. After making a move to QPR, Taiwo said he was expecting to make an impact at the club, rather than sitting on the bench. He made his debut on 1 February against Aston Villa in Birmingham, in a match which ended 2–2. After making two appearance at Queens Park Rangers so far, Taiwo claimed that he would stay at QPR. He scored his first goal for QPR through a fantastic executed curling effort from a free kick 27 yards out in a 3–1 defeat against Sunderland on 24 March 2012.

Dynamo Kyiv

On 31 July 2012, Taiwo joined Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv on a one-year loan deal with the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season.

Bursaspor

On 5 July 2013, Taiwo signed a three-year deal with Turkish side Bursaspor. He was linked with a move to the Premier League by joining newly promoted club Cardiff City, but opted to move to Turkey. On 1 August 2013, Taiwo scored on his Bursaspor debut, in a 2–2 draw Vojvodina in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie. On 27 April 2015, Taiwo mutually agreed to have his contract terminated with Bursaspor.

HJK

On 23 August 2015, Taiwo joined Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi for the remainder of the season with an option for a one additional year. In October of the same year, HJK exercised their option of keeping Taiwo under contract for the 2016 season. Taiwo called time on his playing career with HJK after their final league game against SJK on 23 October 2016.

Lausanne-Sport

On 30 January 2017, Taiwo signed for Lausanne until the end of the 2016–17 season.

AFC Eskilstuna

Taiwo joined Allsvenskan side AFC Eskilstuna for the remainder of the season August 2017.

Rovaniemen Palloseura

In 2018, Taiwo joined Veikkausliiga side Rovaniemen Palloseura for the season 2018.

Career statistics

Club

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria200410
Nigeria200520
Nigeria200681
Nigeria200793
Nigeria2008120
Nigeria200940
Nigeria201070
Nigeria201191
Nigeria201210
NigeriaTotal535

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef
1.23 January 2006Port Said Stadium, Port Said, Egypt1–01–02006 Africa Cup of Nations
2.6 February 2007Griffin Park, London, England1–31–4Friendly
3.17 June 2007Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger2–13–12008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4.20 November 2007Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland1–01–0Friendly
5.9 February 2011Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria1–02–1Friendly

Honours

Marseille