Celestine Babayaro Biography: Age, Wife, Children & Net Worth

Celestine Babayaro – Footballer

Celestine Hycieth Babayaro, born on 29 August 1978, is a former Nigerian professional footballer renowned for his versatility, predominantly playing as a left-back or a midfielder. He marked his name in the world of football with an illustrious career, representing esteemed clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle United. His journey, laden with both triumphs and challenges, is a testament to his passion and dedication to the sport.

Early Years

Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, Babayaro’s football journey commenced with Plateau United, a Nigerian football club. His talent didn’t go unnoticed, and soon, he found himself playing for Belgian club Anderlecht in 1994. Babayaro quickly gained a first-choice status, setting records as the youngest player to make an appearance and receive a red card in the UEFA Champions League. He was sent off in a match against Steaua Bucuresti in a 1–1 draw, aged just 16 years and 86 days.

Chelsea Years

Babayaro’s talent was spotted by Chelsea scout Lewis Durkin in April 1997. He moved to Chelsea for a transfer fee of £2.25 million, which was a club record for a teenager at the time. He made his debut in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup against Slovan Bratislava. However, an injury sustained in the 6–1 win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur in December 1997 ruled him out for the rest of the season, causing him to miss their victories in the 1998 Football League Cup final and the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final. Nevertheless, he went on to win the 1998 UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and the Charity Shield in 2000 with Chelsea, reaching the 2002 FA Cup final as well. Despite facing competition from Graeme Le Saux during his seven-year spell, Babayaro managed to play over 200 games for the club. His acrobatic celebrations with backflips were noted and loved by the fans of the club.

The arrival of Wayne Bridge saw Babayaro start only four FA Premier League matches for Chelsea in 2004–05 under the new manager José Mourinho. However, Chelsea ended the season as Premier League champions.

Newcastle United Years

In January 2005, Babayaro left Chelsea to join Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee, where he established himself as the first-choice left-back. He scored his first and only Newcastle goal in a 3–1 win over Coventry City in the FA Cup.

In September 2006, Babayaro was given a three-match ban by The Football Association for slapping Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt in the face while Liverpool took a corner. The incident, unseen by the referee Mark Halsey, was later revealed through footage. Babayaro accepted the allegations and apologized to Kuyt.

On 10 February 2007, after a 2–1 win over Liverpool, then-Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder revealed that just 12 hours before kick-off, Babayaro had called him saying his younger brother David had died from tuberculosis. Despite this, Babayaro insisted he would still play and put in a solid performance which earned him praise from Roeder and the fans. This fine form continued into United’s 3–1 away victory against Zulte Waregem in the UEFA Cup.

Due to his many injury problems, it was mutually decided on 10 December 2007, that Babayaro should be released from his contract with immediate effect, and a compensation figure was agreed upon.

Later Career Challenges

In January 2008, Babayaro came to an agreement with the LA Galaxy to join them on a three-year contract. However, his move to the MLS turned sour quickly. Babayaro felt the club didn’t provide him with adequate accommodations, feeling disrespected by the situation. His lack of commitment in training and preseason games reflected those feelings, and he soon got on the bad side of the club’s management.

On 3 March, Babayaro was waived by the Galaxy after playing only 45 minutes in a preseason friendly against FC Seoul, receiving a yellow card and conceding a penalty in the process. The reason for this unexpected release was not stated explicitly by Galaxy front office.

During pre-season for the 2008–09 English league season, Babayaro trained with Premier League club Portsmouth at the invitation of manager Harry Redknapp. However, he didn’t secure a contract with them.

On 8 July 2010, Babayaro officially announced his retirement from football.

International Journey

Babayaro’s international career began after being part of the victorious Nigerian team at the Under-17 World Championships in 1993. He made his international senior debut in the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations in 1995, against Uzbekistan. The following year, he was part of the Nigeria Olympic gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, making the tournament’s all-star team and scoring in the gold medal game itself against Argentina. After getting a knee injury in December 1997 in the Premier League, Babayaro recovered just in time to make the France 98 squad. He was also Nigeria’s captain at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and took part in the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Babayaro was part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia but was controversially sent home, alongside Yakubu and Victor Agali for indiscipline. Although never officially announcing his retirement from international football, his final appearance from the national team was against Morocco in a group stage match.

Read Asisat Oshoala Biography: Age, Husband, Children & Net Worth

Personal Life

Celestine Babayaro’s brother, Emmanuel, a goalkeeper, was also part of Nigeria’s 1996 Olympics gold medal-winning team. Babayaro was acquitted of indecent assault in 1999. He later sued the Daily Star for a headline suggesting he had been charged with rape and won an apology and damages. He was declared bankrupt in 2011.

Celestine Babayaro Net Worth

Celestine Babayaro is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left-back for the Nigeria national team and several European clubs, including Chelsea FC and Newcastle United. His successful football career has earned him an estimated net worth of $3 million. Babayaro’s net worth is a result of his earnings from his playing career, as well as endorsement deals and other business ventures. After retiring from football, he has remained involved in the sport, working as a football agent and scout, which has likely contributed to his net worth.