Victor Anichebe
Nationality :
Nigerian
Squad No :
28
Position :
Forward
Birth Date :
Apr 23, 1988
Birthplace :
Lagos, Nigeria
Height :
1.85m
Weight :
79.9 kg
Victor is a powerful, pacy striker born in Nigeria who is a product of the Everton Academy.
Having progressed through the Everton youth system, he became a regular under 18 academy player before graduating to the reserves.
He made his senior debut as a substitute in an FA Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea at Goodison in January 2006.
His first goal for the club came on the final day of the same season, with Anichebe scoring in the 2-2 draw against West Brom after coming on as a late substitute.
He was a fixture in the reserve side during the 2005/06 campaign and was named as the Reserve Player of the Year at the inaugural club awards in May 2006.
In April 2006 he signed a two-year professional contract with Everton.
The 2006/7 season saw Anichebe establish himself as a regular in the matchday squad, and he started three successive home games, scoring twice against Newcastle.
At the end of the season he was rewarded with a new, long-term four-year contract.
Anichebe continued his progression in 2007/08, most notably in Europe. Having scored on the opening day of the Premier League campaign, he went on to score four times in the Uefa Cup.
In March 2008, he made his first appearance for Nigeria, scoring for the Super Eagles Olympic side in a qualifier against South Africa.
He was subsequently voted the Young Player of the Season by supporters.
Vic was with the Nigerian side all summer in 2008, making his debut for the senior squad before heading to the Olympics with the under 23s and returning with a silver medal.
His return boosted the Toffees and he scored his first goal of the campaign at Stoke, despite playing more of a right-sided midfield role.
He impressed in matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa in the FA Cup but his season was prematurely ended following a wild Kevin Nolan challenge in the 0-0 draw at Newcastle in February.
Anichebe required surgery on his knee and didn't feature for the rest of the 2008/09 campaign.
In fact, he was out for almost a year before returning in January 2010. Injuries continued to blight the Nigerian though and he was unable to force his way into Nigeria's World Cup squad.
An impressive pre-season at Everton was curtailed by anther knee injury and after his return in December a red card at Man City was a further blow.
But Anichebe battled back again and signed a new four-and-a-half year deal in January 2011.
The second half of the campaign was much better for Victor as he forced his was back in to David Moyes' starting line-up.
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