->Billjones94: /* Career */

2021-12-21T15:01:22Z

Career

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{{Short description|Ghanaian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Yusif Yakubu
| image =
| image_size =
| fullname = Yusif Yakubu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|9|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kumasi]], Ghana
| height = 1.83 m
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 1997–1999
| youthclubs1 = [[Accra Hearts of Oak SC|Hearts of Oak]]
| years1 = 1998–2000
| clubs1 = [[Al Ahly SC|Al Ahly]]
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2001–2005
| clubs2 = [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]]
| caps2 = 103
| goals2 = 65
| years3 = 2005–2008
| clubs3 = [[Mahindra United F.C.|Mahindra United]]
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2008–2010
| clubs4 = [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
| caps4 =
| goals4 = 20
| years5 = 2010–2011
| clubs5 = [[Salgaocar F.C.|Salgaocar]]
| caps5 =
| goals5 = 15
| years6 = 2011–2012
| clubs6 = [[Prayag United S.C.|Prayag United]]
| caps6 =
| goals6 = 12
| years7 = 2012–2014
| clubs7 = [[Mumbai F.C.|Mumbai]]
| caps7 = 37
| goals7 = 18
| years8 = 2016
| clubs8 = [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| years9 = 2017
| clubs9 = [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]]
| caps9 = 0
| goals9 = 0
}}

'''Yusif Yakubu''' (born 4 September 1976) is a Ghanaian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]]. He scored a total of 147 [[I-League]] goals from 2000 to 2014,<ref name=Stats>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150117/jsp/sports/story_19347595.jsp#.VxdCgvl97IV Time to regain lost glory] ''Telegraph India''. Retrieved 22 September 2021</ref> and is regarded as one of the best foreigners in history of [[football in India]].<ref name="aiff">{{cite web |title= From the History Book|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=1965 |website=All India Football Federation |publisher=the-aiff.com |access-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717033518/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=1965 |archive-date=17 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Leading Goal Scorers |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/nflsco04.htm |publisher=Rediff.com |access-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828213707/http://www.rediff.com/sports/nflsco04.htm |archive-date=28 August 2004 |date=14 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/field/985042/indian-football-fred-pugsley-chima-okorie-ranti-martins-the-foreign-strikers-who-shone-in-india|title=Indian football: Fred Pugsley, Chima Okorie, Ranti Martins – the foreign strikers who shone in India|website= Scroll.in|access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>

==Career==
Yakubu was born in [[Kumasi]], [[Ashanti Region]], in 1976, and began his youth football career in Ghanaian side [[Accra Hearts of Oak S.C.|Hearts of Oak]] in 1997. He later moved to [[Egyptian Premier League]] side [[Al Ahly SC]] in 1998 and played until 2000, before settling in Indian clubs permanently.<ref>[http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2013/06/12/foreign-recruits-in-indian-football-a-short-recap/ Foreign recruits in Indian football – A short recap] ''Indianfooty.net''. Retrieved 23 September 2021</ref>

Before joining [[Kingfisher East Bengal FC|Kingfisher East Bengal]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Yakubu scores two as EB beat Churchill |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Yakubu-scores-two-as-EB-beat-Churchill/articleshow/5489394.cms |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=Times of India |date=22 January 2010}}</ref> he had played for the [[I-League]] clubs [[Churchill Brothers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2004.html|title=Season ending Transfers 2004:|access-date=2 November 2021|website=Indianfootball.de|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026212245/http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2004.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Nair |first1=Avinash |date=4–10 May 2002 |year= |title='Football is my profession' |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2518/25180690.htm |magazine=The Sportstar |publisher=The Hindu |volume=25 |issue=18 |page= |pages= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607003812/http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2518/25180690.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=usurped |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/sports/2004/feb/21nfl1.htm|title=Churchill pips Tollygunge 3-2|website=m.rediff.com|publisher=Rediff Sports|access-date=21 December 2021|date=21 February 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221145722/https://m.rediff.com/sports/2004/feb/21nfl1.htm|archive-date=21 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Mahindra United F.C.|Mahindra United]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Somnath Sengupta|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/indian-football-rewind-fransa-pax-how-mickky-pachecos-ego-destroyed-a-football-club/|title=Indian Football Rewind: Fransa Pax – How Mickky Pacheco's Ego Destroyed A Football Club|website=Thehardtackle.com|publisher=The Hard Tackle|date=19 March 2012|access-date=11 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108013609/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/indian-football-rewind-fransa-pax-how-mickky-pachecos-ego-destroyed-a-football-club/|archive-date=11 December 2021}}</ref> From 2001 to 2005, he scored 65 goals in 103 league matches with Churchill Brothers, finishing [[National Football League (India)|National Football League]]'s top scorer twice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Serrao |first1=Francis |title=Churchill, Salgaocar set to kick-off NFL |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2002/nov/14nfl.htm |access-date=19 October 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=14 November 2002}}</ref><ref name="end">{{cite news |title=Salgaocar finish second |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/apr/28salgaocar.htm |access-date=19 October 2018 |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=Rediff.com |date=28 April 2003}}</ref><ref name="rediff">{{cite web |title=NFL Champions and Goalscorers |url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/nflroll.htm |website=Rediff|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> He scored his first NFC hat-trick with Churchill on 5 March 2004 against [[Indian Bank Recreational Club|Indian Bank RC]] in a 4–1 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yakubu nets three in Churchill's big win |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/mar/05foot2.htm |access-date=24 October 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=5 March 2004}}</ref> In one season with Mahindra United,<ref>{{cite web|last=Chaudhuri|first=Arunava|title=1st "ONGC" I-League – Division 1 2007/08|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/seasons/2007-08il.html|work=IndianFootball.com|access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref> he won [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]] and NFL.<ref>[https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/top-five-foreigners-in-indian-football-isl-east-bengal-mohun-bagan-i-league-churchill-brothers-jose-barreto-majid-bishkar-odafa-okolie-chima-okorie-yusif-yakubu/article31218155.ece/amp/ Five best foreigners to grace Indian football] ''sportstar.thehindu.com''. Retrieved 16 July 2021</ref>

With [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]], Yakubu formed an impressive partnership with [[Bhaichung Bhutia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/grief-stricken-yakubu-does-it-for-east-bengal/story-w7DixI2m8sNHcVX6zZli7O.html|title=
Grief-stricken Yakubu does it for East Bengal|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> and scored nine goals in the [[2008–09 I-League]].<ref>[https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/ind-i-league-2008-2009-spieltag/22/ I-League 2008-2009 points table and statistics] ''worldfootball.net''. Retrieved 22 July 2021</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2014/yusif-yakubu-indias-very-own-black-star/|title=
Yusif Yakubu: India’s Very Own Black Star|website=thehardtackle.com|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> He was part of the team's friendly matches of Myanmar tour, against [[Myanmar National League]] teams, in which they won two, drew one and lost one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2009/08/24/1457890/east-bengal-end-myanmar-tour-with-a-draw|title=East Bengal end Myanmar tour with draw|work=Goal.com|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>

He is one of the all-time top scorer in Indian League and has scored 100 goals in the top tier of Indian football.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laha |first1=Somshuvra |title=Grief-stricken Yakubu does it for East Bengal |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/grief-stricken-yakubu-does-it-for-east-bengal/story-w7DixI2m8sNHcVX6zZli7O.html |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=22 January 2010}}</ref> On 26 May 2010, left East Bengal Club and signed for [[Salgaocar SC]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Salgaocar sign Yakubu, Seoka |url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/salgaocar-sign-yakubu-seoka_629455.html |website=Zee News |access-date=24 February 2021 |date=26 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2010.html|title=Season ending transfers 2010|access-date=18 February 2021|website=Indianfootball.de}}</ref> From 2011 to 2012, he appeared with [[United SC|Prayag United]] and was in the squad that emerged as runners-up of [[2012 IFA Shield]].<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/players/yusif-yakubu/167680/ Yusif Yakubu player profile] ''Soccerway.com''. Retrieved 15 July 2021</ref><ref name="final">{{cite web|first=Abhishek|last=Ganguly|date=17 March 2012|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/gurpreet-hands-east-bengal-ifa-shield-title/articleshow/12300716.cms|title=Gurpreet hands East Bengal IFA Shield title|work=The Times of India|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Arunava|last=Chowdhuri|date=17 March 2012|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/sports/116th-ifa-shield-east-bengal-crowned-champions|title=116th IFA Shield: East Bengal crowned champions!|work=Sportskeeda|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref> He is considered as one of the finest foreign football players in the history of Indian Club football.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2010/high-five-best-foreigners-in-indian-football/ | title=High Five: Best Foreigners in Indian Football | date=7 December 2010 | first=Somnath | last=Sengupta | publisher=TheHardTackle.com | access-date=31 January 2019 }}</ref>

In 2012, he moved to [[Mumbai FC]] and with ''the Mumbaikars'', he scored his first hat-trick in [[I-League]] against [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]] in a 4–2 win on 13 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wifa.in/i-league-hattrick-hero-yusif-yakubu-powers-mumbai-fc-to-a-4-2-win-over-churchill-bros/|title=I-League: Hattrick-hero Yusif Yakubu powers Mumbai FC to a 4–2 win over Churchill Bros|publisher=[[Western India Football Association|WIFA]]|date=16 April 2014}}</ref> In the <ref name="Mumbai">{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Kaushal |title=Back home, Mumbai FC’s Pratik Chaudhari says he is thriving under Khalid Jamil’s faith |url=https://www.footballcounter.com/2016/back-home-mumbai-fcs-pratik-chaudhari-says-he-is-thriving-under-khalid-jamils-faith/ |access-date=16 June 2018 |work=Football Counter |date=26 January 2016}}</ref> [[2014–15 I-League]] season, they managed to acquire sixth position.<ref name="discipline">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/india/i-league/20142015/regular-season/r29929/players/|title=Players - I-League - India - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://i-league.org/statistics/|title=Hero I-League FairPlay Points Table|work=[[I-League]]}}</ref>

In January 2016, Yakubu moved to another [[Kolkata]]-based side [[Mohammedan S.C. (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://i-league.org/james-moga-yusif-yakubu-joins-mohammedan/|title=James Moga & Yusif Yakubu Joins Mohammedan|access-date=3 July 2021|website=i-league.org}}</ref>

On 7 August 2017, it was announced that Yakubu would return to India to sign for [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]] for their [[Goa Professional League]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mergulhao|first1=Marcus|title=Striker Yakubu Yusif set to return to Churchill Brothers|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/striker-yakubu-yusif-set-to-return-to-churchill-brothers/articleshow/59946753.cms?|access-date=9 August 2017|work=Times of India|date=7 August 2017}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Al Ahly'''
*[[Egyptian Premier League]]: [[1999–2000 Egyptian Premier League|1999–2000]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alahlyegypt.com/2019/07/24/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%87%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%8B%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84/|title=الأهلي الأكثر تتويجًا بالبطولات في العالم |work=Al Ahly SC Website |date=24 July 2019 |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>

'''Churchill Brothers'''
*[[National Football League (India)|National Football League]]: [[2001–02 National Football League (India)|2001–02]]<ref name="aiff"/>

'''Mahindra United'''
*[[National Football League (India)|National Football League]]: [[2005–06 National Football League (India)|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/field/963917/rise-of-a-new-champion-when-mahindra-united-became-the-first-mumbai-team-to-win-the-nfl-title|title=Rise of a new champion: When Mahindra United became the first Mumbai team to win the NFL title|website=Scroll.in|access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>
*[[Federation Cup (India)]]: 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=6148|title=From the history book, roll of honour|date=10 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Indian Super Cup]]: 2006

'''East Bengal'''
*Federation Cup: [[2009–10 Indian Federation Cup|2009–10]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The resurrection of East Bengal|url=https://www.sportstarlive.com/tss3303/stories/20100121502802600.htm|website=sportstarlive.com|publisher=[[Sportstar]]|access-date=14 July 2018|date=21 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211012546/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/the-resurrection-of-east-bengal/article29707283.ece|archive-date=11 December 2021}}</ref> 2010
*[[Calcutta Football League]]: 2010

'''Salgaocar'''
*Federation Cup: [[2011 Indian Federation Cup|2011]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111001195327/http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=2760 Salgaocar lifts the Federation Cup with style] ''the-aiff.com''. Retrieved 27 March 2021</ref>

'''Prayag United'''
*[[Durand Cup]]: runner-up [[2011 Durand Cup|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kolkatafootball.com/durand_cup_2011/final_round.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006154424/http://kolkatafootball.com/durand_cup_2011/final_round.html |archive-date=2011-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[IFA Shield]]: runner-up 2012<ref name="report">{{cite news |title=116th IFA SHIELD : "Gurpreet is the hero of the match today" James Morgan.|url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/indiafootball_news_2012/mar21stpart_2012.html|work=Kolkata Football|date=16 March 2012 |access-date=21 June 2021 }}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[National Football League (India)|National Football League]] golden boot: 2001–02 (''with 18 goals''),<ref name="end">{{cite news |title=Salgaocar finish second |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/apr/28salgaocar.htm |access-date=19 October 2018 |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=Rediff.com |date=28 April 2003}}</ref> 2002–03 (''with 21 goals'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Soccerway|167680}}
*[https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/yusif-yakubu/ Yusif Yakubu] at worldfootball.net

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yakubu, Yusif}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Kumasi]]
[[Category:Ghanaian footballers]]
[[Category:Association football forwards]]
[[Category:Egyptian Premier League players]]
[[Category:I-League players]]
[[Category:Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. players]]
[[Category:Al Ahly SC players]]
[[Category:Churchill Brothers FC Goa players]]
[[Category:Mahindra United FC players]]
[[Category:SC East Bengal players]]
[[Category:Salgaocar FC players]]
[[Category:United SC players]]
[[Category:Mumbai FC players]]
[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Egypt]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Egypt]]
[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in India]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in India]]
[[Category:Calcutta Football League players]]

Yusif Yakubu - Revision history

->Billjones94: /* Career */