Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed that he would have loved to be a doctor if he was not a professional football player, Soccernet.ng reports.
Just like many top-flight footballers, Awoniyi started from the bottom, playing football on the streets of Ilorin before getting his big break. The 27-year-old striker rose to prominence in the 2013 Under-17 FIFA World Cup, when he scored four goals in the run-up to NIgeria's triumph.
That performance earned him a move to Liverpool, but he could not play for them due to his inability to secure a work permit. Hence, he had to go on different loan deals at clubs in Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany. It was during a loan stint at Union Berlin that he impressed. He signed for them permanently and sealed a transfer to Nottingham Forest subsequently.
In a recent video released by the Premier League, he revealed that he aspired to become a medical doctor when he was younger, so he would have chased that dream if he had not become a footballer.
There was only ever one option for William Saliba ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/oqWWue0S67
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 11, 2025
Awoniyi has had a topsy-turvy time at Nottingham Forest so far, as he has been plagued by injuries since he arrived at the club. Despite saving the club from relegation two seasons ago, he has now been relegated to the bench, with Chris Wood now preferred as the first-choice striker at the club.
[Photo credit: Imago]
