Some Everton fans have been lauding former Toffees striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni on social media, after the Nigerian turned 37 on Friday.
Yakubu moved to Goodison Park from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2007 for a then-club-record fee of £11.25million, signing a five-year contract on Merseyside having been second only to Thierry Henry in the Premier League goal charts over the previous four seasons.
His numbers in front of the goal remained high during his debut campaign in Royal Blue, too, with Yakubu striking 15 in 29 games. However, an Achilles tendon rupture in the following term meant he could only play 14 games, and he never hit double figures in a league season again for the Blues.
The 57-cap Nigeria striker would go on to join Blackburn Rovers in 2011 following a year on loan with Leicester City, and later played for Guangzhou R&F, Al Rayyan Sports Club, Reading, Kayserispor and Coventry City before retiring in 2017.
Yakubu played 456 games in his professional career and scored 175 goals, while claiming two Israeli championship titles with Maccabi Haifa and two Chinese Super League crowns with Guangzhou R&F.
Who is our best striker currently?
Moise Kean
Cenk Tosun
Calvert-Lewin
Richarlison
Here are some of the messages shared as fans celebrated Yakubu’s 37th birthday…
Legendary finisher.
— Darren Kennedy ???????? (@dkreativedesign) November 22, 2019
Could do with him now class act..
— Craig Stockham (@stockyblue1981) November 22, 2019
We need the Yak in today’s team. Someone who can finish from 6-10 yards
— Blake Olsen (@blakeyboy83) November 22, 2019
Forget how good he was. Proper striker. I wonder if we could get Kean the same.
— Gwyn Jones (@strongmangwyn) November 22, 2019
Yakubu positioning >>>
— underground ???? (@gbolahan93) November 22, 2019
Loved the Yak. A beast on his day and technically excellent in front of goal. Should’ve scored more
— Paul (@BlueFG) November 22, 2019
One of the most nonchalant finishers I’ve ever seen.
— the blue soccers (@thebluesoccers) November 22, 2019
That injury ended his time at Everton. It was a short couple of years at his best, he was up there with Lukaku, lethal in front of goal. How we could do with that now!!
— Lee Leadbetter (@leelead91) November 22, 2019