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Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. - Sports - Nairaland

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Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:17am On Apr 15, 2021
The NFF @thenff

50 hearty cheers to former @NGSuperEagles forward, Finidi George. Thank you George for the memories and have a good one. Happy Golden Jubilee anniversary #Legend

https://mobile.twitter.com/thenff/status/1382638872966926337

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Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:17am On Apr 15, 2021
Finidi George's goal against Bayern Munich in the 1995 Champions League.


Archie McPherson screamed, "And Finidi Geeoorge!!!"


My sister said, "Look at Samuel Ossei Kuffour's mouth".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc8GF28Rkjs

32 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:17am On Apr 15, 2021
I had a friend whose father was a football star in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. His father also coached the Super Eagles in the 1980s and the Super Falcons in the 1990s.

You would think that my friend would love football but it was quite the opposite.

My friend was a tennis star and he represented Nigeria in the 1990s. He hated football. He was always ranting that football fans were violent thugs and that the government paid too much attention to football.

Anyway, Nigeria defeated Greece at the 1994 World Cup and then I saw my friend the next day. He was ranting that the players had gone to disgrace Nigeria. "It was shown all over the world!"

I was confused because we played well and beat Greece. Then someone else told me what he was ranting about. Finidi George's goal celebration!

"That thing was shown on CNN! They'll think that's how Nigerians are" he complained. I couldn't stop laughing.


Watch Finidi's goal and celebration.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_mwyGKBSwI

83 Likes 13 Shares

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:24am On Apr 15, 2021
Finidi George's top ten goals with Ajax Amsterdam.

He won the UEFA Champions League with them in 1995 and the silver medal in 1996.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGKH-2H-9kM

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Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:29am On Apr 15, 2021
Finidi George (born 15 April 1971) is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a right winger.

After making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the 1995 Champions League – he played several years in Spain with Real Betis, also having a brief spell in England before retiring.

Finidi was an important member of the Nigeria team during the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups.

Personal information

Full name: Finidi George
Date of birth: 15 April 1971 (age 49)
Place of birth: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Height: 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s): Winger




Club career

Born in Port Harcourt, Finidi played for three clubs in his country. In 1993, he arrived at AFC Ajax alongside compatriot Nwankwo Kanu. His impact with the Amsterdam side was immediate as he scored four goals in 27 games to help them win the Eredivisie title, which was also achieved in the following two seasons; additionally, as a starter, he appeared in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the 1994–95 edition against A.C. Milan.

On 10 July 1996, Finidi moved to Spain and signed with Real Betis for 1 million pesetas, where he netted in double digits in nearly every season, with the Andalusians finishing fourth in his first year, which also brought a Copa del Rey final loss to FC Barcelona (2–3 after extra time), where he scored; before joining the club he was close to moving to Real Madrid, but the deal fell through.

After Betis' 2000 top-flight relegation, Finidi stayed one more year in Spain with RCD Mallorca, after which he joined Premier League team Ipswich Town, managed by George Burley, for £3.1 million. He scored twice in a 3–1 victory over Derby County at Portman Road but underperformed overall, with them also suffering relegation; he was released from contract in June 2003.

In November 2003, the 32-year-old Finidi underwent a trial at former club Mallorca, following which he signed with the Balearic Islands team, helping them finally finish in 11th position after constantly battling relegation. He retired from the game in the summer.

In mid-November 2010, Finidi returned to Betis as its director of international football. He continued, however, to live in Palma, Majorca, where he had relocated to after his retirement.


International career

Finidi made his debut for Nigeria in 1991, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso, providing three assists for Rashidi Yekini and scoring once in a 7–1 rout. He helped the national team win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia, and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.

Finidi represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups, 1994 and 1998. In the former, held in the United States, as the national team won their group and exited in the round of 16 against eventual finalists Italy, he scored against Greece in a 2–0 win, proceeding to mimick a urinating dog whilst celebrating.

In the 1998 tournament in France, Finidi also played in all the matches, with Nigeria meeting the same fate at the hands of Denmark. He had already vowed to quit international football prior to the competition, and earned a total of 62 caps.


Playing style

Considered to be one of Nigeria's greatest wingers, Finidi was a tall player who was known for his pace and dribbling skills.


Personal life

Finidi means "Future full of sun" in his language. Two of his 11 brothers, Igeniwari and Celestine, were also footballers, and the former was killed during crowd problems in a match.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finidi_George

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Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by naptu2: 11:55am On Apr 15, 2021
Finidi's younger brother, Iginaware George was killed during an FA Cup match at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba in Ibadan in 1995.


Stationery Stores were playing against Rangers in Ibadan. Iginaware played for Rangers. Then there was crowd trouble and violence erupted. Some people claimed that Shooting Stars supporters, who were rivals with Stationery Stores, came to the stadium to fight stores supporters. Others claimed that the violence was started by Stores supporters.

Anyway, there was pandemonium and everybody ran for cover. Gunshots rang out amid the pandemonium and Iginaware lay on the ground bleeding. Some people say that the shots were fired by fans, while others say they were fired by the bodyguards of the military governor who was also at the stadium.

The governor, Colonel Chinyere Ike Nwosu, rushed Iginaware George to the hospital and prayed the rosary with him along the way, but Iginaware George died.

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Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by MANNABBQGRILLS: 12:04pm On Apr 15, 2021
From all of us @[/b] : Happy Birthday Finidi George. Happy Golden Anniversary.
Have fun and enjoy your day.
Make it a Barbecue-Filled Parry.
Thanks for all you did for our darling nation.
We will never forget you Living Legend. kiss kiss

CheedyJ:
One of the best wingers of his era, very technically sound too no be all the mumu wingers wey go just bend down Dey run like headless chicken .. happy birthday finidi...
Lol@headless chickens. cheesy wink cheesy
[b]SECONDED!


Addendum :
Sisi Yewande & Madam Ngo of @MANNA say Finidi comes to thier mind whenever they see a dog peeing, do you know why they both think like that?! wink

8 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Latidoh1: 12:04pm On Apr 15, 2021
Wow. Happy birthday
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Nobody: 12:05pm On Apr 15, 2021
Kanu na big boy o


Too bad okocha has better investment sense than him

1 Like

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Nobody: 12:05pm On Apr 15, 2021
HBD!
Many more in good health.
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by wink2015(m): 12:05pm On Apr 15, 2021
I hope he saved plenty of money for his future.

Life is not easy as an ex-footballer in Nigeria or africa.

Happy Birthday FINITO !

1 Like

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Nobody: 12:06pm On Apr 15, 2021
Happy Birthday
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by DanZenithh(m): 12:06pm On Apr 15, 2021
The passion of the third pic SpeaKs a lot

1 Like

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by iamoyindamola(m): 12:06pm On Apr 15, 2021
Better player

1 Like

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by michaellovaldo(m): 12:06pm On Apr 15, 2021
We need you guy!
Come out of retirement and help us win the AFCON

5 Likes

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Seniorwriter(m): 12:07pm On Apr 15, 2021
Happy Birthday
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by KingLennon(m): 12:07pm On Apr 15, 2021
He was an exciting player to watch: you will think he was South-american




Hbd Sir...

1 Like

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Princenady(m): 12:07pm On Apr 15, 2021
Ok
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Splendor4(m): 12:08pm On Apr 15, 2021
happy birthday to the legend

2 Likes

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by inumidun2010(m): 12:08pm On Apr 15, 2021
No start wetin you no go fit finish, I no be George Finidi oo ooo.. Wetin PSQUARE mean by this statement sef

14 Likes

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Pvin: 12:08pm On Apr 15, 2021
Hbd sirY
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by Houseofglam7(f): 12:09pm On Apr 15, 2021
Happy birthday to him
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by owobokiri(m): 12:09pm On Apr 15, 2021
Who remembers his talented younger brother, Igeniwari George, killed when a gunshot was fired into the team bus after sharks played against shooting stars of ibadan at ibadan.... It was even a mobile police officer who intentionally fired the shot..

5 Likes

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by lekki1444: 12:10pm On Apr 15, 2021
is he benin ?
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by CheedyJ(m): 12:10pm On Apr 15, 2021
One of the best wingers of his era, very technically sound too no be all the mumu wingers wey go just bend down Dey run like headless chicken .. happy birthday finidi...

7 Likes

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by CheedyJ(m): 12:10pm On Apr 15, 2021
lekki1444:
is he benin ?
Rivers
Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by MANNABBQGRILLS: 12:11pm On Apr 15, 2021
Mikecold:
Kanu na big boy o
Too bad okocha has better investment sense than him

1 Like 2 Shares

Re: Today Is Finidi George's 50th Birthday. by UDbester(m): 12:12pm On Apr 15, 2021
Then in those days when footballers where footballers

Age in grace

4 Likes

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