Stephen Sunday

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Sunny
Stephen sundy.jpg
Sunny before a game with CSKA Sofia in 2014
Personal information
Full name Stephen Obayan Sunday
Date of birth (1988-09-17) 17 September 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
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Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Alanyaspor
Number 4
Youth career
FC Ebedei
2003–2004 Jegede Babes
2004–2005 Poli Ejido
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Poli Ejido 63 (0)
2007–2011 Valencia 10 (0)
2008–2009 Osasuna (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2010 Betis (loan) 7 (0)
2011 Numancia (loan) 14 (2)
2011–2013 Numancia 62 (2)
2013 Bnei Sakhnin 2 (0)
2014–2015 CSKA Sofia 36 (0)
2015– Alanyaspor 12 (0)
International career
2007 Spain U19 5 (0)
2007 Spain U20 4 (0)
2009 Spain U21 1 (0)
2010– Nigeria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 January 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2010

Stephen Obayan Sunday (born 17 September 1988), nicknamed Sunny, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Alanyaspor as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Early years

Born in Lagos, Sunny began his career in Nigeria with FC Ebedei and Jegede Babes. In 2003, he participated in two youth championships in Sweden and Spain: in the latter he appeared in Madrid's third edition of the Annual Immigrants World Cup, where he impressed so much he was given a five-year-contract with Polideportivo Ejido, in the second division.[1]

Valencia

Sunny became a regular player for the Andalusia side, making 63 league appearances between 2005 and 2007 and signing for Valencia CF in the summer, but after one season where he was scarcely used, he was loaned to fellow La Liga outfit CA Osasuna. In late January 2009 he was linked with a move to England's Portsmouth, but the deal eventually collapsed due to financial complications.[2]

On 30 June 2009, after a season which was marred by injury, Sunny was loaned to Real Betis in a season-long deal, with a view to a four-year permanent move. He also appeared rarely during the second level campaign as the Verdiblancos failed to return to the top division (seven matches out of 42).

In July 2010 Sunny had a trial in England with newly promoted Premier League side Blackpool, playing in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra on 27 July,[3] and then four days later, against Bristol City, but nothing came of it.

Numancia

Sunny spent the first months of the new campaign training on his own, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Valencia manager Unai Emery. On 19 January 2011 he was again loaned, moving to CD Numancia in the second level.[4]

In the following two years, still in the category and already as a permanent signing,[5] Sunny was first-choice for the Soria side.[6] On 11 May 2011 he scored his first goal as a senior, netting the 2–1 winner away against Albacete Balompié.[7]

Bnei Sakhnin / CSKA Sofia

On 30 July 2013, Sunny signed a two-year contract with Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin FC.[8] On 3 January of the following year he moved teams and countries again, joining Bulgaria's PFC CSKA Sofia after penning a two-and-a-half-year deal.[9]

International career

Sunday (middle) playing at the 2007 U-20 World Cup against Uruguay.

Although born in Nigeria, Sunday was eligible to play for Spain under FIFA rules, which allowed players with dual nationality to change their international allegiance before the age of 21, had they still not won their first full cap. After first appearing for the under-19 side, he was called up by his adopted nation to the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada,[10] playing in four games as Spain exited in the quarterfinals.

In September 2010, Sunny was called up for Nigeria's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Guinea,[11] and made his debut in the game as a starter as the Super Eagles lost it 0–1.

Honours

Valencia

References

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  8. Presenting: the 2013/14 Israeli Premier League; Maccabi's official website, 19 August 2013
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  11. Taye Taiwo gets Nigeria recall, Danny Shittu dropped; Kickoff, 29 September 2010

External links