Henry Makinwa
Encyclopedia
Henry Olufosoye Makinwa (born 6 November 1977 in Lagos
) is a Nigeria
n professional footballer who plays as a forward.
A journeyman, he represented nearly 20 teams in 11 different countries (his own included).
in the Spanish
second division
. In the following transfer window
, without having appeared officially for the club, he signed for F.C. Penafiel in Portugal
, in the same category.
Makinwa (known in Portugal as Maki) spent the following four 1/2 seasons in the country, mostly for Vitória de Setúbal
. In 2000–01, he scored a career-best - in Europe
- 11 goals in 28 games, as the Sadinos
returned to the top level immediately after being relegated; in late February 2003, he left S.C. Farense and switched to Romania
with FC Rapid Bucureşti.
, Portugal, Cyprus
, Israel
and China
. On 8 November 2007, he signed for newly promoted Scottish Premier League
side Gretna
on a free transfer, following his release from Chinese Super League
's Tianjin Teda FC.
Makinwa made his official debut on 25 November 2007 against Hearts, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw, with Laryea Kingston
scoring at both ends. He failed to score any goal in 14 official appearances and, after Gretna's relegation and dissolve, found himself again a free agent
.
, Makinwa signed with Maltese First Division
team Vittoriosa Stars FC
, on a free transfer.
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
) is a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n professional footballer who plays as a forward.
A journeyman, he represented nearly 20 teams in 11 different countries (his own included).
Early years / Portugal
After playing for three teams in his homeland, Makinwa moved abroad at the age of 19, his first stop being Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
. In the following transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, without having appeared officially for the club, he signed for F.C. Penafiel in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, in the same category.
Makinwa (known in Portugal as Maki) spent the following four 1/2 seasons in the country, mostly for Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
. In 2000–01, he scored a career-best - in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
- 11 goals in 28 games, as the Sadinos
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
returned to the top level immediately after being relegated; in late February 2003, he left S.C. Farense and switched to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
with FC Rapid Bucureşti.
Gretna
Over the course of the following four seasons, Makinwa never settled with a team, playing in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Portugal, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. On 8 November 2007, he signed for newly promoted Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
on a free transfer, following his release from Chinese Super League
Chinese Super League
The Chinese Football Association Super League , commonly known as Chinese Super League or CSL, currently known as the Pirelli Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional association football in China, operating under the auspices of the...
's Tianjin Teda FC.
Makinwa made his official debut on 25 November 2007 against Hearts, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw, with Laryea Kingston
Laryea Kingston
Laryea Kingston is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who is currently playing for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel...
scoring at both ends. He failed to score any goal in 14 official appearances and, after Gretna's relegation and dissolve, found himself again a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Late career
In October 2009, after spending one year in IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Makinwa signed with Maltese First Division
Maltese First Division
The Maltese First Division is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.12 teams take part in the league...
team Vittoriosa Stars FC
Vittoriosa Stars F.C.
Vittoriosa Stars Football Club are a Maltese football club from the town of Birgu, which currently played in the Maltese First Division.-Current season:The club is taking part in the BOV 1st Division of the Malta Football Association....
, on a free transfer.