 Sodje training withCharlton Athletic in 2009. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Okeremute Samuel Sodje[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-05-25)25 May 1979 (age 46)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Greenwich, London, England | ||
| Position | 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 | (2) |
| 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 professionalfootballer who played as acentre back.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Sodje representedNigeria at international level.
Sodje was born inGreenwich, London[2] and joinedMargate at the beginning of the2002–03 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 atYeovil Town andChester City, but neither team signed him. He returned to Margate to playConference football for the2003–04 season and impressed once again.
At the beginning of the2004–05 season, he moved from Margate toLeague One sideBrentford on afree transfer. He became popular with the Brentford fans through a combination of his goal-scoring, and his crazy hairstyles. At the end of that season he won a local newspaper award for player of the season, and at the end of the2005–06 season he was honoured with a place in thePFA League One team of the year.[4]
It was revealed Sodje had turned down a move toSouthampton 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 toWigan Athletic on 26 August 2006 because of a suspension toIbrahima Sonko, and scored his first Reading goal against Burnley in the FA Cup on 9 January 2007.[8] However, his first team opportunities in the2006–07 proved to be limited, so on 16 March 2007 he signed a month's loan deal withWest Bromwich Albion,[9] which was subsequently extended to the end of the 2006–07 season.[10] Whilst there, he helped The Baggies to a place in theChampionshipPlayoff Final, which they lost 1–0 toDerby County.[11] He scored once for West Brom, in a 2–1 win over Norwich City on 9 April 2007.[12]
In the summer 2007transfer window,Sheffield Wednesday agreed a fee with Reading for Sodje, with Sodje given the opportunity to think over the move.[13] However, Sodje eventually joinedCharlton Athletic on loan for the remainder of the2007–08 season.[14] He made his Charlton début in the club's 2–0 victory overNorwich City as a late substitute on 18 September 2007. His performance in Charlton's 3–1 home win overIpswich Town on 8 December 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[15]
In September 2008, Sodje joined fellow Championship sideWatford on a month's loan as cover for the team's injuries.[16] He played in one game away atSheffield United before returning to Reading after aggravating a knee injury.[17]
On 26 March 2009, Sodje joinedLeeds United on loan for a month with an option to extend the loan until the end of the2008–09 season, after impressing in his first month the loan was extended until the end of the season.[18]Sodje partneredRichard 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]
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 clubLeeds United. The club being local to his birthplace of Greenwich, he stated that the club was 'in my blood'. On 14 November, Sodje's brotherAkpo, joined him at the club on loan from Sheffield Wednesday. Sodje was part of the Charlton side which reached the League 1 playoffs, they were knocked out of the playoffs after losing on penalties toSwindon Town. Sodje missed the two semi finals after suffering an injury. In total Sodje scored four goals for Charlton during the 2009–10 season.
In July 2010, Sodje joined Greek clubSkoda Xanthi, the club also signedGeorge Boateng. However Sodje was released from his contract only a month after joining Xanthi.[20]
On 18 August, Sodje joinedPortsmouth 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]
On 29 October 2010, Sodje became new managerPaul Ince's first signing atNotts County, joining them on a free transfer.[24] He made his County début on 6 November in an FA Cup 1st round match againstGateshead.[25]
In May 2012 he was released by the club, along with 12 other players.[26]
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 toColchester United on 2 February 2013.
Although born in England, Sodje's family originate from Nigeria so was eligible to represent bothEngland andNigeria national football team, he chose to represent Nigeria the same as his older brotherEfe.
In November 2005, Sodje made his debut for Nigeria in a 3–0friendly defeat toRomania inBucharest, playing the full 90 minutes.[28] After some impressive performances for Leeds United Sodje was recalled to the Nigerian squad for friendlies against theRepublic of Ireland andFrance at the end of the 08/09 season.[29] He started both games and played the full 90 minutes each. Sodje made his competitive debut for Nigeria in June 2009, starting in a 3–0CAF third round 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying win overKenya in June 2009.
Born in Greenwich, London, his family originate fromWarri, inDelta State, Nigeria.[30] Sodje has four brothers who also play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Akpo, Efe, the eldest of the four, who also has represented Nigeria at international level. Steve, the third brother has never played aFootball League game. Another brother,Bright, used to playrugby league andrugby union. His nephewOnome Sodje, also played professionally in England.[31] Sodje is also related to currentLeyton Orient midfielderHarrison Sodje.[32]
On 23 February 2013, Sodje was sent off for punchingOldham Athletic'sJose Baxter in the groin. In December 2013, a report byThe 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]
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 theOld Bailey in London, he was found not guilty of two charges and cleared of a further two charges.[35]
