Joseph Yobo
| Date of birth | 06 September 1980 |
| Place of birth | Kono |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Weight | 76 kg |
| Height | 1.85 m |
| Position | Defender/Midfielder |
One of the younger members in the Nigerian squad at the 2002 World Cup finals, Joseph was also a member of the team that reached the Quarter Final of the World Under-20 Championships in 1999 and then moved to Europe.
He started at Michelin - a club in Port Harcourt owned by the tyre manufactuers - then moved to Belgium in 1998 to play for Standard Liege before joining Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2001.
A versatile player who began as a striker, he is mostly used in a wide position either in defence or midfield.
Joseph's contract at Everton was extended to June 2010 in July 2006 then to June 2014 in May 2009.
His elder brother Albert has also played in Europe for Auxerre, Osnabruck, Grazer AK and Zwolle.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin | 01 Jul 1996 | 01 Jul 1998 | |
| Standard Liege | 01 Jul 1998 | 01 Jul 2001 | |
| Olympique Marseille | 01 Jul 2001 | 22 May 2003 | |
| Tenerife | 24 Aug 2001 | 24 Sep 2001 | L |
| Everton | 06 Aug 2002 | 21 May 2003 | L |
| Everton | 22 May 2003 | 04 Aug 2012 | |
| Fenerbahce | 31 Aug 2010 | 31 May 2011 | L |
| Fenerbahce | 05 Sep 2011 | 31 May 2012 | L |
| Fenerbahce | 04 Aug 2012 | ||
| Norwich City | 30 Jan 2014 | 31 May 2014 | L |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Standard Liege | Jupiler League | 26 | 4 |
2 |
2
|
|
| 2001-02 | Olympique Marseille | French Championnat | 23 |
4
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Everton | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Everton | Premier League | 22 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 2003-04 | Everton | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Everton | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Everton | Premier League | 27 | 1 |
2 |
||
| 2004-05 | Everton | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Everton | League Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2004-05 | Everton | Premier League | 19 | 8 |
1
|
||
| 2005-06 | Everton | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Everton | Premier League | 29 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2005-06 | Everton | UEFA Champions League | 2 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Everton | UEFA Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Everton | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Everton | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Everton | Premier League | 38 | 2 |
3
|
||
| 2007-08 | Everton | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Everton | Premier League | 29 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2007-08 | Everton | UEFA Cup | 7 |
3
|
|||
| 2008-09 | Everton | FA Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2008-09 | Everton | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2008-09 | Everton | Premier League | 26 | 1 |
1 |
2
|
|
| 2008-09 | Everton | UEFA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2009-10 | Everton | Premier League | 14 | 3 |
1 |
2
|
|
| 2009-10 | Everton | UEFA Europa League | 6 | 1 |
|||
| 2012-13 | Fenerbahce | UEFA Champions League | 2 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Fenerbahce | UEFA Europa League | 10 |
1
|
|||
| 2013-14 | Fenerbahce | UEFA Champions League | 3 | ||||
| 2013-14 | Norwich City | Premier League | 8 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2012 | Spartak Moskva v Fenerbahce | L | 2-1 | UEFA Champions League | Play-off 1st leg |
| 29 Aug 2012 | Fenerbahce v Spartak Moskva | D |
1-1 Agg: 2-3 |
UEFA Champions League | Play-off 2nd leg |
| 20 Sep 2012 | Fenerbahce v Olympique Marseille | D | 2-2 | UEFA Europa League | Group C |
| 08 Nov 2012 | Fenerbahce v AEL Limassol | W | 2-0 | UEFA Europa League | Group C |
| 22 Nov 2012 | Olympique Marseille v Fenerbahce | W | 0-1 | UEFA Europa League | Group C |
| 21 Feb 2013 | Fenerbahce v FC BATE Borisov | W | 1-0 | UEFA Europa League | Round of 32 1st leg |
| 07 Mar 2013 | Viktoria Plzen v Fenerbahce | W | 0-1 | UEFA Europa League | Round of 16 1st leg |
| 14 Mar 2013 | Fenerbahce v Viktoria Plzen | D |
1-1 Agg: 2-1 |
UEFA Europa League | Round of 16 2nd leg |
| 04 Apr 2013 | Fenerbahce v Lazio | W | 2-0 | UEFA Europa League | Quarter-final 1st leg |
| 11 Apr 2013 | Lazio v Fenerbahçe | D |
1-1 Agg: 1-3 |
UEFA Europa League | Quarter-final 2nd leg |
| 25 Apr 2013 | Fenerbahce v Benfica | W | 1-0 | UEFA Europa League | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 02 May 2013 | Benfica v Fenerbahce | L |
3-1 Agg: 3-2 |
UEFA Europa League | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 31 Jul 2013 | Red Bull Salzburg v Fenerbahce | D | 1-1 | UEFA Champions League | 3rd qualifying round 1st leg |
| 06 Aug 2013 | Fenerbahce v Red Bull Salzburg | W |
3-1 Agg: 4-2 |
UEFA Champions League | 3rd qualifying round 2nd leg |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Fenerbahce v Arsenal | L | 0-3 | UEFA Champions League | Play-off 1st leg |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | Nigeria | World Youth Cup | 2 | 3 |
1
|
||
| 2000-01 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 6 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 5 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Nigeria | LG Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 6 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2003-04 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 6 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 4 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 4 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2007-08 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2008-09 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2008-09 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 2 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 6 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2011-12 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2011-12 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 4 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Nigeria | Africa Cup of Nations | 2 | 4 |
|||
| 2012-13 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2013-14 | Nigeria | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2013-14 | Nigeria | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Apr 1999 | Nigeria v Costa Rica | D | 1-1 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 07 Apr 1999 | Nigeria v Germany | W | 2-0 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 10 Apr 1999 | Nigeria v Paraguay | L | 1-2 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 14 Apr 1999 | Nigeria v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-1 (5-4) | World Youth Cup | 2nd round |
| 18 Apr 1999 | Mali v Nigeria | L | 3-1 | World Youth Cup | Quarter-final |
| 21 Apr 2001 | Sierra Leone v Nigeria | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group B |
| 05 May 2001 | Nigeria v Liberia | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group B |
| 01 Jul 2001 | Sudan v Nigeria | W | 0-4 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group B |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Nigeria v Ghana | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group B |
| 12 Jan 2002 | Ivory Coast v Nigeria | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 21 Jan 2002 | Algeria v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group A |
| 24 Jan 2002 | Mali v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group A |
| 28 Jan 2002 | Liberia v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group A |
| 03 Feb 2002 | Nigeria v Ghana | W | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals quarter-final |
| 07 Feb 2002 | Nigeria v Senegal | L | 1-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals semi-final |
| 09 Feb 2002 | Mali v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals 3rd place |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Scotland v Nigeria | W | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 16 May 2002 | Republic of Ireland v Nigeria | W | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2002 | Argentina v Nigeria | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 07 Jun 2002 | Sweden v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 12 Jun 2002 | Nigeria v England | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 29 Mar 2003 | Malawi v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group 1 |
| 30 May 2003 | Nigeria v Ghana | W | 3-1 | LG CUP | Semi-final |
| 01 Jun 2003 | Nigeria v Cameroon | W | 3-0 | LG Cup | Final |
| 26 Jul 2003 | Nigeria v Venezuela | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 27 Jan 2004 | Nigeria v Morocco | L | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group D |
| 31 Jan 2004 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 4-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group D |
| 04 Feb 2004 | Benin v Nigeria | W | 1-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group D |
| 08 Feb 2004 | Cameroon v Nigeria | W | 1-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Quarter-final |
| 11 Feb 2004 | Tunisia v Nigeria | L | 1-1 (3-5) | Africa Cup of Nations | Semi-final |
| 13 Feb 2004 | Nigeria v Mali | W | 2-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | 3rd place |
| 05 Jun 2004 | Nigeria v Rwanda | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 20 Jun 2004 | Angola v Nigeria | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 03 Jul 2004 | Nigeria v Algeria | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 26 Mar 2005 | Nigeria v Gabon | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 05 Jun 2005 | Rwanda v Nigeria | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 18 Jun 2005 | Nigeria v Angola | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 17 Aug 2005 | Libya v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Sep 2005 | Algeria v Nigeria | W | 2-5 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 07 Oct 2005 | Nigeria v Zimbabwe | W | 5-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa group 4 |
| 23 Jan 2006 | Nigeria v Ghana | W | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group D |
| 27 Jan 2006 | Nigeria v Zimbabwe | W | 2-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group D |
| 31 Jan 2006 | Nigeria v Senegal | W | 2-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group D |
| 04 Feb 2006 | Nigeria v Tunisia | W | 1-1 (6-5) | Africa Cup of Nations | Quarter-final |
| 07 Feb 2006 | Nigeria v Ivory Coast | L | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Semi-final |
| 09 Feb 2006 | Senegal v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | 3rd place |
| 02 Sep 2006 | Nigeria v Niger | W | 2-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group 3 |
| 08 Oct 2006 | Lesotho v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group 3 |
| 06 Feb 2007 | Ghana v Nigeria | L | 4-1 | International Friendly | |
| 24 Mar 2007 | Nigeria v Uganda | W | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group 3 |
| 02 Jun 2007 | Uganda v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group 3 |
| 21 Jan 2008 | Ivory Coast v Nigeria | L | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group B |
| 25 Jan 2008 | Nigeria v Mali | D | 0-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group B |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Nigeria v Benin | W | 2-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group B |
| 03 Feb 2008 | Ghana v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals quarter-final |
| 27 May 2008 | Austria v Nigeria | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 01 Jun 2008 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 1st round group 4 |
| 07 Jun 2008 | Sierra Leone v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 1st round group 4 |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Equatorial Guinea v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 1st round group 4 |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 1st round group 4 |
| 11 Oct 2008 | Nigeria v Sierra Leone | W | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 1st round group 4 |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Nigeria v Jamaica | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Jun 2009 | Tunisia v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 2nd round group B |
| 06 Sep 2009 | Nigeria v Tunisia | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 2nd round group B |
| 11 Oct 2009 | Nigeria v Mozambique | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 2nd round group B |
| 14 Nov 2009 | Kenya v Nigeria | W | 2-3 | FIFA World Cup | Africa 2nd round group B |
| 12 Jan 2010 | Egypt v Nigeria | L | 3-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group C |
| 16 Jan 2010 | Nigeria v Benin | W | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Group C |
| 25 May 2010 | Nigeria v Saudi Arabia | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jun 2010 | Korea DPR v Nigeria | W | 1-3 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 2010 | Argentina v Nigeria | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Greece v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Nigeria v Korea Republic | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 01 Jun 2011 | Nigeria v Argentina | W | 4-1 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Sep 2011 | Madagascar v Nigeria | W | 0-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Qualifying group B |
| 06 Sep 2011 | Argentina v Nigeria | L | 3-1 | International Friendly | |
| 08 Oct 2011 | Nigeria v Guinea | D | 2-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Qualifying group B |
| 11 Oct 2011 | Ghana v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Nov 2011 | Nigeria v Botswana | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 15 Nov 2011 | Nigeria v Zambia | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 29 Feb 2012 | Rwanda v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | 1st round 1st leg |
| 08 Sep 2012 | Liberia v Nigeria | D | 2-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | 2nd qualifying round 1st leg |
| 09 Jan 2013 | Cape Verde Islands v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 21 Jan 2013 | Nigeria v Burkina Faso | D | 1-1 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group C |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Ethiopia v Nigeria | W | 0-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Finals Group C |
| 03 Feb 2013 | Ivory Coast v Nigeria | W | 1-2 | Africa Cup of Nations | Quarter-final |
| 06 Feb 2013 | Mali v Nigeria | W | 1-4 | Africa Cup of Nations | Semi-final |
| 10 Feb 2013 | Nigeria v Burkina Faso | W | 1-0 | Africa Cup of Nations | Final |
| 28 May 2014 | Nigeria v Scotland | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Jun 2014 | Greece v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 07 Jun 2014 | USA v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Iran v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Nigeria v Bosnia and Herzegovina | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 25 Jun 2014 | Nigeria v Argentina | L | 2-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 30 Jun 2014 | France v Nigeria | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals - Round of 16 |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.