Ramon Azeez

Ramon Azeez
Personal information
Full name Ramon Olamilekan Azeez
Date of birth (1992-12-12) 12 December 1992
Place of birth Abuja, Nigeria
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Almería
Number 18
Youth career
Future Pro Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011–2016 Almería B 78 (7)
2012– Almería 46 (2)
National team‡
2009 Nigeria U17 7 (1)
2011–2012 Nigeria U20 9 (1)
2014– Nigeria 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 January 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2014

Ramon Olamilekan Azeez (born 12 December 1992) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Spanish club UD Almería as a central midfielder.

Club career

Born in Abuja, Azeez began playing football in the Future Pro Academy. In 2010 he agreed a move to UD Almería in Spain, but had to wait until July 2011 to complete the transfer.[1]

On 17 August 2012, after one full season with the B-side in Segunda División B, Azeez made his debut with the first team: he came on as a substitute for Javier Casquero in the 55th minute of an away fixture against FC Barcelona B for the Segunda División championship (5–4 win), but was himself replaced after just ten minutes after being booked and, according to manager Javi Gracia, risking a subsequent sending off.[2]

On 28 June 2013, Azeez was definitely promoted to the Andalusians' main squad, with the club having just recently promoted to La Liga.[3] He made his debut in the competition on 30 August, playing roughly 20 minutes in a 2–2 home draw against Elche CF.[4]

Azeez scored his first professional goal on 21 December 2013, netting the game's only in a win at Real Betis.[5] He repeated the feat in the second meeting between the two teams, scoring in the 94th minute for a 3–2 triumph at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.[6]

Azeez appeared rarely during the 2014–15 campaign, as his side suffered relegation. In June 2015 he requested a transfer,[7] and after failing to sign a professional contract, he was demoted back to the reserves in August.[8]

On 26 January 2016, Azeez returned to the main squad, seriously threatened with relegation, after agreeing to a professional deal.[9]

International career

Azeez appeared with the under-17's in 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and was a regular in the team which eventually finished runner-up. Two years later he appeared in another World Cup in the category, also as a starter.

On 3 February 2014, Azeez was called up to the full side for a friendly against Mexico.[10][11] He made his debut on 5 March, playing the entire second-half in a 0–0 draw at Georgia Dome.[12]

On 6 May 2014, Azeez was named in the provisional 30-man squad ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[13] He was included in Stephen Keshi's final list for the tournament,[14] and made his debut on 16 June by starting in a 0–0 draw against Iran.[15]

Statistics

Club

As of 24 January 2016[16]
Club Season Competition League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Almería B 2011–12 Segunda División B 282—282
2012–13 313—313
2015–16 192—192
Total 787—787
Almería 2012–13 Segunda División 2020—40
2013–14 La Liga 30220—320
2014–15 14030—170
2015–16 Segunda División 0000—00
Total 46270—532
Career totals 124970—1319

International

As of 6 September 2014[17]
Nigeria
YearAppsGoals
201440
Total40

References

  1. ↑ Ramon Azeez sigue mostrando un excelente nivel en el Mundial sub-20 con Nigeria (Ramon Azeez keeps showing excellent level at the under-20 World Cup with Nigeria); Ideal, 12 August 2011 (Spanish)
  2. ↑ Festival goleador para abrir la Liga Adelante (Goalscoring party to open Liga Adelante); Marca, 17 August 2012 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Dieciséis jugadores tienen actualmente contrato en vigor con la primera plantilla de la UD Almería (Sixteen players currently on contract with UD Almería's first team); Almería's official website, 28 June 2013 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Almeria denied first win; ESPN FC, 17 August 2013
  5. ↑ Azeez effort enough for Almeria; ESPN FC, 21 December 2013
  6. ↑ El Almería nunca se rinde (Almería never surrenders); Marca, 4 May 2014 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Azeez pide al club que escuche ofertas (Azeez asks the club to listen to offers); Mundo Deportivo, 16 June 2015 (Spanish)
  8. ↑ El club baja a Azeez al filial y Sergi piensa en José Ángel (The club demotes Azeez to the reserves and Sergi thinks of José Ángel); Diario AS, 10 August 2015 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ Ramón Azeez vuelve al primer equipo (Ramón Azeez returns to the first team); Marca, 26 January 2016 (Spanish)
  10. ↑ Azeez, convocado por la selección absoluta de Nigeria (Azeez, called up by Nigeria's full team); Almería's official website, 3 February 2014 (Spanish)
  11. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 February 2014). "Uncapped trio called up by Nigeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Nigeria cancel out Mexico again". MTN Football. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (6 May 2014). "World Cup 2014: Peter Odemwingie in provisional Nigeria squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Nosa Igiebor cut from Nigeria squad". BBC Sport. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Goals dry up as Iran, Nigeria draw". FIFA.com. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ramon Azeez". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  17. ↑ Ramon Azeez at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

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