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Wycombe striker has become a cult idol
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According to a video game he is the strongest footballer in the world
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The journeyman forward is a legend in a legend’s eyes
Saheed Adebayo Akinfenwa was born on May 10th 1982 in Islington, North London, growing up on a council estate in the capital.
As a teenager he joined Watford’s youth academy but when a first-team spot continually eluded the forward he took a highly unusual detour at the beginning of his career, joining Lithuanian side FK Atlantis.
There he scored the winning goal in a domestic cup final and participated in European competition, but disgraceful racial abuse followed him from ground to ground, prompting the youngster to head back to the UK after two seasons, signing for Welsh side Barry Town.
At an age when most footballers are still breaking through, Akinfenwa was already amassing a distinctly unusual C.V. but his journeyman status is only one reason why he has become such a popular figure in the game, a cult idol no less.
His former employers may be plentiful but there really is only one Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Akinfenwa Clubs
Not many players have turned out for five different clubs in a single season but that was the dubious distinction achieved by Akinfenwa in 2003-04 when Barry released him due to the club experiencing financial difficulties.
Brief and unsettled spells at Boston United, Leyton Orient, and Rushden and Diamonds swiftly followed before the powerfully-built forward found his feet at Torquay United. On the south coast he stayed for all of five months.
Now a well-seasoned 39 years of age, the striker can boast a very respectable 137 goals from 450 professional appearances, and has represented 13 clubs in all, each of them – bar FK Atlantis – plying their trade in the lower rungs of the English ladder.
The longest he has stayed with any one outfit was a two-and-a-half year stint with Northampton.
Such an itinerant career has made the target-man a familiar presence across League’s One and Two but focusing on this does Akinfenwa a disservice.
He has won a Player of the Year merit for four clubs - Torquay, Northampton, Wimbledon and twice with current club Wycombe - while for the Dons he notched a famous FA Cup goal against his boyhood favourites Liverpool.
In 2018, aged 35 he was selected for that season’s PFA Team of the Year. Wimbledon may be out of this year’s FA Cup but the sports betting offers up decent odds for the latest underdogs.
How Much Is Adebayo Akinfenwa Worth?
The burly forward nicknamed ‘The Beast’ may have exclusively played his football beyond the Championship but he has still accrued a healthy bank balance with his salary only making up a portion of it.
Furthermore, there is his autobiography, The Beast: My Story, that sold well on publication along with a clothing range called Beast Mode On that capitalises on his bulky stature, selling work-out wear including vests and hoodies.
On his website, the player promotes training plans that can be purchased via an app.
It is impressive how the striker has monetised his popularity, as well as carving out a brand for himself that positively inverts what was initially intended as a slight.
Akinfenwa vs Liverpool
When Akinfenwa struck against Liverpool in 2015 – briefly sending those of us indulging in football betting online into a spin until the top-flight giants restored some order – it meant the absolute world to him.
As a kid he idolised John Barnes, and with his love of the Reds never waning he half-jokingly threatened there ‘would be trouble’ if any of his team-mates beat him to Steven Gerrard’s shirt after the game.
On achieving promotion with Wycombe Wanderers in 2020 meanwhile, he urged Jurgen Klopp to ‘hit me up on WhatsApp’ during his post-match interview, a clip that went viral.
Brilliantly, the German gaffer responded to the call, sending a video message of congratulations to the aging hit-man for finally reaching the second tier. Again, this was widely shared across social media becoming a rare and welcome feel-good story.
The latest Premier League odds have Liverpool a lengthy distance behind Manchester City for this year’s title but to Akinfenwa they will always be the champions.
Career Highs
In addition to the goals and promotions and cup adventures, Akinfenwa has achieved much in the game, some trivial, others worthy of high acclaim.
Earlier this season he was called a ‘legend of English football’ by none other than Pep Guardiola after the Chairboys encountered Manchester City in the EFL Cup.
Both clubs have now exited the competition but a sensible football prediction is that the Blues will lift the trophy again sometime soon.
There are also his dance moves to consider, with an eye-catching shimmy grabbing the public’s attention and becoming a trademark celebration that delights all who sees it.
Lastly, and much more importantly, Akinfenwa deserves huge praise for the manner in which he has repeatedly tackled racist abuse over the course of his career, speaking eloquently and passionately on the subject to anyone wise enough to listen.
We end as we began, by stating a simple truth. There really is only one Adebayo Akinfenwa.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
