The former Nigeria international was a prolific striker in his prime and, after hanging his playing boots, he still can't walk away from the game that brought him so much fame
Ex-Super Eagles forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni retired from football three years ago and has picked up a new career as a football agent.
Aiyegbeni was one of Nigeria's most prolific strikers, with the former Super Eagles star netting 21 goals in 57 outings for the Nigerian national team.
Only the legendary duo of Rashidi Yekini and Segun Odegbami has scored more goals for the three-time African champions than the one-time Everton ace.
At the club level, ‘the Yak' had an even more impressive goalscoring record.
After scoring an incredible 24 goals in 49 games to help Maccabi Haifa claim two Israeli Premier League titles, Aiyegbeni moved to England to join the then-Championship side Portsmouth.
His goals lifted Pompey to Premier League promotion shortly after. He became an African great in England, featuring for Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester, and Blackburn, and racking up a total of 96 Premier League goals – the third-highest African goalscorer in Premier League history.
Now the 37-year-old is striving to inspire others to fulfil footballing ambitions.
Aiyegbeni's company, Wilbury Sports Management, helps aspiring players and coaches find their pathways into football, with a training centre in Florida and another planned for Cyprus.
“I’m now retired, but I can’t walk away from football,” the former Portsmouth star told Portsmouth's The News.
“It’s not just all about being a football agent, it’s about hard work, just like the way I played football. This is the next chapter, and I want to learn, I’m learning every day.
“I have seen so many young players thinking they are going to the top, but up there (in the mind), they are not strong. Mentally zero. So you make them believe they can do it.
“Other agents just want to sign the players; they don’t care if they train, it’s up to you. But I don’t want to be one of those agents just taking the money. I want to teach these boys how to become a better player.
“You have to be there for these boys. When things are going well, agents want to be there. When things are not going so well, they don't.
“I have ten players now. We are not in a rush. Just take it day-by-day. I want to try to help these boys follow their dreams. Like I did.”
Aiyegbeni represented Nigeria at four African Cup of Nations finals, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning three Afcon bronze medals.
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