Danny Shittu
Daniel Olusola Shittu is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a centre back. He made 346 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, including 190 for Queens Park Rangers.
In his 16-year-long playing career, Shittu played for Norwich City, Charlton Athletic, Blackpool, Watford, Millwall and Bolton Wanderers. He played 32 games for the Nigeria national football team between 2000 and 2013.
Early life
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Shittu moved to England when he was seven years old and raised in the "tough area of London's East End". Growing up as "one of seven brothers and sisters", Shittu started out his football career in the youth team of Carshalton Athletic of the Isthmian League, but struggled and was released. Shittu grew up idolising former England and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, who Shittu grew up just down the road from in the East End.Shittu was a childhood friend of rapper Dizzee Rascal, who described Shittu as "like a big brother".
When he was seventeen years old, Shittu was on the verge of going to university, studying computer science for a degree. However, Shittu decided against going to university, having realised that: ‘I can't work in an office all my life – I'm going to be a footballer’’ and had ambitions by becoming a professional footballer. Shittu wrote letters to over 92 clubs for a trial, but three clubs responded with a no. But Charlton Athletic gave him a one-week trial after convincing the club's academy that he was good enough in a "20 minutes phone call". Eventually, his one-week trial at Charlton Athletic turned into a six-week trial, leading him to sign a one–year professional contract with them and begin to play football seriously.
Club career
Early career
Shittu started his career at Charlton Athletic, after a trial at Norwich City as a teenager.Two years after joining Charlton Athletic, Shittu signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2003. Soon after signing a contract extension with the club, he was loaned out to Blackpool and scored on his debut on 22 February 2001, in a 2–0 win over Lincoln City. He then scored his second goal for the club on 30 April 2001, in a 3–2 win over Barnet. At the end of the season, Shittu appeared two times for the side in the Football League Third Division play-off before returning to his parent club, having "met the maximum number of days allowed" at Blackpool and the club was promoted after beating 4–2 Leyton Orient in the play-off finals. During his time there, he became a first team regular at Blackpool and became the club's fan favourite.
In the summer of 2001, Shittu was linked with a move away from Charlton, with Blackpool keen on signing him, but the move never materialised. But instead in October 2001, he was loaned out to Queens Park Rangers.
Queens Park Rangers
Shittu's debut for Rangers as a loanee, away at Peterborough on 23 October 2001 in a Football League One fixture, was rather inauspicious ending in his being sent off in the 83rd minute. His first goal came away at Chesterfield on 15 December 2001 in a game in which he was again sent off.QPR acquired his services permanently for £350,000 in January 2002. He was bought by brothers Alex and Matt Winton, who also paid Shittu's wages during his first season at the club. His first game as a permanent player was the home fixture with Bury on 12 January 2002, which saw QPR win 3–0. Shittu then scored his first QPR goal as a permanent player on 1 April 2002, in a 3–2 win over Notts County. At the end of the 2001–02 season, Shittu went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
Shittu went on to have a very successful spell at Loftus Road becoming a fan's favourite for his robust and combative performances in the heart of the defence. In the 2002–03 season, Shittu started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–0 win over Mansfield Town on 7 September 2002 and scored again two weeks later, on 17 September 2002, in a 3–-0 win over Huddersfield Town. On 2 February 2003, Shittu scored again, in a 4–2 win over Chesterfield. Shittu then went on to score three more goals between 15 February 2003 and 4 March 2003, against Port Vale, Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town. Shittu scored an opening goal in the derby on 19 April 2003, in a 2–0 win over Brentford. Despite missing out three matches, due to a groin injury sustained in November, He went on to be a part of the team that made it to the Division Two play-off final in 2003 where Rangers were narrowly beaten by Cardiff and the team that won promotion the following season. He made a total of 182 appearances in four seasons and scored 17 goals.
In the 2003–04 season, Shittu continued to be a first team regular for the side until he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for months in late–September, which he sustained during a 2–0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup. On 24 November 2003 he returned to the first team, coming on as a second substitute, in a 3–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. Following this, Shittu regained his first team place once again until he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the season. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Shittu went on to make twenty–four appearances in all competitions and the club were promoted to the Championship after finishing second.
Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Shittu regained his fitness when he returned to training and hoped he returned to action. However, Shittu continued to be in the sidelined for the side. On 18 September 2004 he returned to the first team, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute, in a 3–2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. After the match, Shittu later credited England Rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio as an inspiration to recover his injury. However, in October, Shittu suffered a medial knee ligament during a 1–0 win over West Ham United, resulting him out for six weeks. After returning to the first team the following month, Shittu scored his first goal of the season on 27 November 2004, in a 1–0 win over Cardiff City, which turns out to be a winning goal and scored again on 28 December 2004, in a 1–0 loss against Crewe Alexandra. Shittu went on to score two more goals later in the 2004–05 season against Ipswich Town and Sunderland. As the 2004–05 season, Shittu managed to regain his first team place since returning from injury and went on to make thirty–seven appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
In the 2005–06 season, Shittu received a red card in the 54th minute for a foul, in a 3–0 loss against Coventry City on 20 August 2005. After serving a one match ban, Shittu returned to the first team from suspension and then scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Southampton on 10 September 2005. Shittu went on to score two more goals by the end of 2005 against Preston North End and Watford. On 31 January 2006 Shittu scored his fourth goal of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Leicester City. Despite missing out once in the league, Shittu went on to make forty–six appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
In the summer transfer window of 2006, Shittu became a subject of a transfer speculation from Premier League clubs, but the club won't sell him for less than £3 million. On 3 August 2006, Queens Park Rangers accepted a £1.5 million bid accepted from West Bromwich Albion, which the bid could rise to £3m, based on his performance.
Watford
On 6 August 2006 he was signed for £1.6 million by Premiership newcomers Watford. This move was controversial, as Shittu had passed a medical at West Bromwich Albion, before a late call from Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd. Prior to the transfer move, Shittu hinted a move to the Premier League a year before in an interview with London Evening Standard.Shittu made his Watford debut, where he made his first start and played the whole game, as well as, being booked, in a 2–1 loss against Everton. Since making his debut, Shittu became a first regular for the side in the Premier League despite being left out of the squad on several occasions and has been praised by the Watford supporters. Shittu scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United in the League Cup on 7 November 2006. He powered a header past Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper to give Watford the lead. However Watford went on to lose the match on penalties. In a 4–1 loss against Middlesbrough on 7 April 2007, Shittu set up a goal for Damien Francis to only goal for the club in the game. Shittu scored his first Premier League goal on 5 May 2007 in a 2–0 win at Reading. Despite missing out, due to injuries, Shittu went on to make twenty–four appearances and scoring two times in all competitions in his first season at Watford. For his performance, Shittu was nominated for the Watford Observer Player of the Season Trophy, but finished fourth instead.
Ahead of the 2007–08 season, Shittu was linked away from the club, but Manager Aidy Boothroyd keen on keeping him at Watford. Shittu continued to be a first team regular at the start of the season and scored his first goal of the season on 16 September 2007, in a 3–2 win over Southampton. Shittu then scored three goals in two matches between 24 November 2007 and 27 November 2007 against Barnsley and Burnley. On 29 December 2007, Shittu scored against his former club, Queens Park Rangers, in a 4–2 loss. Shittu also scored twice in the FA third round on 5 January 2008, in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace, which his performance was praised by Manager Boothroyd. After missing out several matches throughout January, due to international commitment, Shittu then managed to score both for and against his former club, Charlton Athletic on 16 February 2008. Several weeks later, Shittu scored his seventh league goal of the season on 4 March 2008, in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City. After a successful 2007–08 season with Watford in which Shittu scored 9 goals in all competitions, he was named in the PFA Championship team of the year.
Following the club's failure reach promotion back to the Premier League, Shittu was linked a move away from Watford, with Rangers keen on signing him. Watford accepted a bid from Rangers for Shittu and expected the move to happen. However, the move collapsed over personal terms and wage problems. Despite this, Shittu remained keen on moving to Rangers. Shittu left Watford in August 2008 to join Premier League side Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £2m plus further add-ons. He made 69 appearances scoring 8 times for Watford between 2006–2008.