Sam Sodje
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Okeremute Samuel Sodje[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 25 May 1979||
Place of birth | Greenwich, London, England | ||
Position(s) |
Centre back[2] | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–2002 | Stevenage Borough | 29 | (3) |
2002–2004 | Margate | 68 | (8) |
2004–2006 | Brentford | 83 | (12) |
2006–2009 | Reading | 3 | (0) |
2007 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 7 | (1) |
2007–2008 | → Charlton Athletic (loan) | 27 | (2) |
2008 | → Watford (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2009 | → Leeds United (loan) | 8 | (0) |
2009–2010 | Charlton Athletic | 27 | (4) |
2010 |
Skoda Xanthi | 4 | (0) |
2010–2012 | Notts County | 27 | (2) |
2013 | Portsmouth | 9 | (0) |
Total | 293 | (32) | |
International career | |||
2005–2009 | Nigeria | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Okeremute Samuel Sodje (born 25 May 1979) is a former professional
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Sodje represented Nigeria at international level.
Club career
Early years
Sodje was born in Greenwich, London[2] and joined Margate at the beginning of the 2002–03 season and scored on his debut with a header. He won the Supporters' Player of the Year award at the end of his first season with Margate.[3]
In the summer of 2003, he went on trial at
Brentford
At the beginning of the
Reading
It was revealed Sodje had turned down a move to Southampton on 31 January 2006, the final day of the transfer window.[5] Much transfer speculation followed until it was announced on 12 July 2006 that Sodje would join Reading, subject to a medical;[6] the transfer was completed on 14 July 2006.[7]
Sodje made his Reading début away to
In the summer 2007 transfer window, Sheffield Wednesday agreed a fee with Reading for Sodje, with Sodje given the opportunity to think over the move.[13] However, Sodje eventually joined Charlton Athletic on loan for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.[14] He made his Charlton début in the club's 2–0 victory over Norwich City as a late substitute on 18 September 2007. His performance in Charlton's 3–1 home win over Ipswich Town on 8 December 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[15]
In September 2008, Sodje joined fellow Championship side Watford on a month's loan as cover for the team's injuries.[16] He played in one game away at Sheffield United before returning to Reading after aggravating a knee injury.[17]
Leeds United (loan)
On 26 March 2009, Sodje joined Leeds United on loan for a month with an option to extend the loan until the end of the 2008–09 season, after impressing in his first month the loan was extended until the end of the season.[18] Sodje partnered Richard Naylor at centre back and formed a strong partnership with him during his loan spell, even though Sodje only played 8 times during his loan spell with Leeds including the playoff semi finals against Millwall[19]
Second spell at Charlton Athletic
On 28 May 2009, Reading told Sodje that he was free to leave the club. Sodje returned on a free transfer to the club he was on loan with two-seasons prior, Charlton Athletic. Sodje made his full début in the 0–0 game at his former club
Skoda Xanthi
In July 2010, Sodje joined Greek club
On 18 August, Sodje joined Portsmouth on trial.[21] After finishing his trial at Portsmouth, Milton Keynes Dons were linked with a move for the player.[20] Then on 14 October, Sodje joined Sheffield Wednesday on trial, his brother Akpo Sodje used to play for the Owls.[22] After picking up niggling injuries whilst on trial at Sheffield Wednesday, the Owl's decided not to sign Sodje.[23]
Notts County
On 29 October 2010, Sodje became new manager Paul Ince's first signing at Notts County, joining them on a free transfer.[24] He made his County début on 6 November in an FA Cup 1st round match against Gateshead.[25]
In May 2012 he was released by the club, along with 12 other players.[26]
Portsmouth
On 18 January 2013, he went on a trial at Portsmouth. Six days later, he signed a one-month deal with the club.[27] He made his debut in a 3–2 home defeat to Colchester United on 2 February 2013.
International career
Although born in England, Sodje's family originate from Nigeria so was eligible to represent both England and Nigeria national football team, he chose to represent Nigeria the same as his older brother Efe.
In November 2005, Sodje made his debut for Nigeria in a 3–0
Personal life
Born in Greenwich, London, his family originate from
Legal issues
Match fixing allegation
On 23 February 2013, Sodje was sent off for punching Oldham Athletic's Jose Baxter in the groin. In December 2013, a report by The Sun on Sunday suggested that Sodje intentionally attempted to get sent off to receive a cash payment. Sodje allegedly admitted to having been paid £70,000 to be sent off in the match.[33]
Money laundering allegation
In January 2019, Sodje was alleged to have laundered money from a scam in 2013, in which companies in Colombia, India and Italy were tricked into handing over money by fraudsters who sent emails posing as the firms' suppliers.[34] Later that month, after a trial at the Old Bailey in London, he was found not guilty of two charges and cleared of a further two charges.[35]
Honours
- 2005–06 Football League One[36]
- Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 2004–05[37]
References
- ^ "Efe, Bright and Stephen Sodje jailed for fraud last September, court reveals". Sky Sports. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Sam Sodje". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ "Welling United 1–2 Margate (AET)". Margate F.C. 1 May 2003. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
- ^ "Sodje turns down move to Saints". BBC Sport. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2006.
- ^ "Reading swoop for Bees defender Sodje". ESPN FC. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Reading | News | Latest News | Latest News | Sam Sodje has completed his £350,00 move from Brentford to Reading". world.readingfc.co.uk. 14 July 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (9 January 2007). "Reading 3–2 Burnley". BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Baggies complete Sodje loan deal". BBC Sport. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "West Brom extend Sodje loan spell". BBC Sport. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (28 May 2007). "Derby 1–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
- ^ "Norwich 1–2 West Brom". BBC. 9 April 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Sodje thinking over Owls move". Reading F.C. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Friday's lunchtime transfer update". Reading F.C. 1 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week (10/12/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
- ^ "Sodje signs to soothe injury woe". Watford F.C. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Sodje heads back". Watford F.C. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
- ^ "Leeds capture Sodje & Flahavan". BBC Sport. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ "Leeds United 1 Millwall 1: Match report". The Daily Telegraph. London. 14 May 2009.
- ^ a b SAM SODJE on the radar of MK Dons:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal
- ^ "Pompey trial Sodje". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ "Owls look at Sodje". Sky Sports. 14 October 2010.
- ^ "Owls will not sign defender Sodje". BBC News. 27 October 2010.
- ^ "Notts County seal deal for defender Sam Sodje". BBC Sport. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
- ^ "Notts County 2–0 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 6 November 2010.
- ^ "Curle Confirms Retained List". Notts County FC. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Four Players Join Blues". Portsmouth F.C. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Sodje doubt for Bees". Football.co.uk. 17 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ Nigeria Squad, Fulham F.C. 27 May 2009. Retrieved on 12 December 2013.
- ^ Ocholi, Danusa (24 February 2009). "Nigerian Soccer Stars Abroad". Newswatch. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Onome Sodje to be his own man". MTNFootball.com. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ "Leyton Orient XI 4 Arsenal XI 1 : Seven players of Nigerian descent in starting lineup". All Nigeria Soccer. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Sam Sodje at centre of new match-fixing allegation". The Telegraph. 8 December 2013.
- ^ "Sam Sodje: Ex-Reading footballer accused of money laundering". BBC News. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Three Sodje brothers jailed for taking charity money". BBC News. 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ISBN 0955294916.
External links
- Sam Sodje at Soccerbase