Mutiu Adepoju, one of the famous Shooting Stars and Super Eagles Players, he played mostly as an attacking midfielder.
Nicknamed "The Headmaster", he played most of his career in Spain, and represented his country in three FIFA World Cups.
Adepoju (also called by his first name in Spain) left Nigeria in 1989 to join Real Madrid, but never made it past its B side. His first professional season was impressive, as he netted 11 league goals to help Racing de Santander return to the topflight, and he continue to feature and score regularly for the Cantabrians in the next three seasons.
Mutiu left for Real Sociedad, a larger club, in 1996-97 but, after a solid first campaign, struggled mightily to hold down a regular place with the Basque team. In 2001-02, he represented Saudi Arabia'sAl-Ittihad (Jeddah), but quickly returned to Spain, playing an unimpressive season with second level side UD Salamanca.
After two more weak years, in Turkey and Cyprus, Adepoju retired in 2006, in Spain's lower leagues.
Mutiu was a member of the Nigerian team that played in the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. His brace against the USA in the semifinals ensured a final against star-studded Portugal, in a 0-2 defeat.
He went on to collect 54 international full caps, with five goals. He made his debut against Togo in August 1990, but his breakthrough at international level came during the 1992 African Nations Cup, and he helped his nation win the next continental edition.
Adepoju was part of the squads for the World Cups in 1994, 1998 - scoring in a 3-2 win against Spain - and 2002 (although he did not play in the latter tournament).
He subsequently returned to his first team, Shooting Stars SC, as chief administrator.
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