Hakeem Araba

Hakeem Araba

Personal information
Full name	Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba[1]
Date of birth	(1991-02-12) 12 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Waltham Forest, England
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	IFK Göteborg (fitness coach)
Youth career
	Peterborough United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Peterborough United	0	(0)
2007–2008	→ Boston United (loan)	1	(0)
2008–2011	Dagenham & Redbridge	0	(0)
2008	→ Thurrock (loan)	7	(0)
2008–2009	→ Redbridge (loan)	23	(17)
2010	Bishop's Stortford	7	(0)
2010	→ Billericay Town (dual registration)	4	(1)
2011–2012	Bromley	46	(15)
2012	East Thurrock United	16	(8)
2012–2013	Whitehawk	16	(3)
2013–2014	AEK Kouklia	26	(10)
2014	Ermis Aradippou	1	(0)
2014–2015	Panthrakikos	7	(0)
2015–2017	Falkenberg	51	(9)
2017	Næstved	12	(1)
2017	Örgryte IS	14	(1)
2018	PS Kemi	9	(1)
2019	Koblenz	15	(1)
2019–2020	Akritas Chlorakas	19	(3)
2020–2021	Qviding	32	(7)
Total		297	(78)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:54, 19 December 2024 (UTC)

Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba (born 12 February 1991) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is currently fitness coach at IFK Göteborg.

Career

Hakeem Araba (2018)

Araba started his youth career at the age of 17 with Peterborough United.[2] He then signed his first professional contract at the age of 18 at Dagenham & Redbridge. While playing at Dagenham, he went on loan to Thurrock and Redbridge. After leaving Dagenham he played 7 games with Bishop's Stortford, before moving to Billericay Town.[3]

In 2013, Araba then headed southwards to Cyprus and AEK Kouklia before a short stint with Ermis Aradippou in July 2014, appearing in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Young Boys.[4] he moved to Greek Panthrakikos.[5] From Greece Araba moved to Sweden, he signed a contract with Falkenbergs FF where he was known as "Superman" by the fans.[6] Araba finished the season of 2015 as the top goal scorer for his club.

In February 2017 Araba signed for Danish team, Næstved. Six months later, he moved to Örgryte in Sweden.[7]

In January 2019, Araba joined Oberliga side Koblenz.[8]

On 23 August 2019, Araba returned to Cyprus to join Cypriot Second Division side Akritas Chlorakas.[9]

On 11 September 2020, Araba headed back to Sweden after more than two years to join Division 1 Södra side Qviding.[10]

Coaching career

In January 2025, Araba was named as the fitness coach of IFK Göteborg.[11]

Personal life

Araba was born in England and is of Nigerian descent.[12]

References

1. "Hakeem Ayodeji Ayodele Craig Araba". Cyprus Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
2. Hakeem Araba: The Englishman abroad who would give Akinfenwa a run for his money englishplayersabroad.com
3. "Bishop's Stortford striker leaves as new boy shines". Herts and Essex Observer. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
4. "Young Boys vs. Ermis Aradippou". Soccerway.com. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
5. "Hakeem Araba Signs On The Dotted Line For Panthrakikos". All Nigeria Soccer. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
6. "Firade som Stålmannen".
7. Næstved lader Araba fortsætte i Sverige‚ bold.dk, 24 July 2017
8. "Transfer-Knaller: TuS Koblenz verpflichtet Hakeem Araba" (in German). Das-Run.de. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
9. "Ανακοίνωσε Hakeem Araba/Έρχεται Κύπρο". protathlima.com (in Greek). 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
10. "Hakeem Araba klar för Qviding FIF" (in Swedish). Qviding FIF. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
11. "Han är vår nye fystränare" (in Swedish). IFK Göteborg. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
12. Brila (8 May 2018). "Superman 'Hakeem Araba' eyes World Cup place with Super Eagles".

External links

• Hakeem Araba at Soccerway
• Hakeem Araba at WorldFootball.net